6 Best Sheep Blankets For Newborn Lambs In Winter That Prevent Chilling
Protect newborn lambs from winter’s chill. Our guide reviews the 6 best sheep blankets for preventing hypothermia and ensuring survival and warmth.
There’s nothing quite like walking into the barn on a frigid February morning to find a new lamb, steaming in the cold air but already shivering. That first hour is a race against the clock. A lamb that gets chilled struggles to stand, struggles to nurse, and can go downhill with frightening speed.
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Preventing Chilling: The Role of Lamb Blankets
A newborn lamb is born wet and exhausted into a cold world. Its primary job is to get dry, get up, and get that first critical dose of colostrum. A lamb blanket, or coat, is a tool to help it conserve precious body heat during this vulnerable window.
This isn’t about dressing up livestock. It’s a strategic intervention. The blanket traps the lamb’s own body heat, reducing the energy it has to expend just to stay warm. This frees up that energy for more important tasks, like bonding with its mother and nursing.
Not every lamb needs a coat. A big, vigorous single born in a deeply bedded stall to an experienced ewe will likely be licked dry and nursing in minutes. But for a small twin, a weak triplet, or any lamb born in a drafty corner on a windy night, a coat can be the difference between thriving and failing. It’s a temporary bridge, not a permanent solution.
Weaver Leather Lamb Tube: A Snug, Stretchy Fit
The lamb tube is simplicity itself. It’s essentially a stretchy fleece sock with leg holes, designed to be pulled over the lamb’s body. There are no straps, buckles, or adjustments to fuss with when your hands are cold and wet.
Its main advantage is the snug, consistent fit. The gentle pressure can have a calming effect, and the all-over contact provides excellent insulation. This makes it a fantastic choice for a weak lamb you’ve brought inside to warm under a heat lamp. It keeps the lamb’s core warm without getting in the way.
The tradeoff is its lack of waterproofing. A lamb tube will soak up moisture from a wet fleece or damp bedding, which can make the chilling problem worse. Think of it as indoor-use-only or for lambs that are already mostly dry in a protected environment. They are best for providing immediate, simple warmth in a controlled setting.
Premier 1 Prima Lamb Coats: Durable & Reusable
If you plan on lambing in the winter for years to come, the Prima Lamb Coat is a solid investment. These are built more like a traditional animal blanket, with a chest piece and a belly strap, and are typically made from a thick, durable synthetic material that mimics wool.
The real benefit here is longevity. These coats are designed to be washed and reused season after season. The material holds its shape, the straps are secure, and they provide excellent insulation without being overly restrictive. The open design around the rear end also ensures they stay cleaner than a tube-style coat.
Be prepared to spend a bit more upfront. You also need to pay attention to the fit; a loose strap can be a hazard if a lamb gets its leg caught. But for a reliable, multi-year solution that you can count on for dozens of lambs, this style is hard to beat. It’s the workhorse of a well-stocked lambing kit.
Tough-1 Waterproof Blanket for Wet Conditions
Some years, winter lambing feels more wet than cold. For those sleeting, rainy days or in barns with persistent dampness, a waterproof blanket is the right tool for the job. The Tough-1 is essentially a miniature horse blanket, with a tough nylon outer shell and a soft fleece lining.
The primary function is to keep external moisture out. A standard fleece coat will get saturated in the rain, chilling a lamb faster than no coat at all. This design creates a barrier, allowing the fleece lining to insulate the lamb with its own body heat while the shell sheds rain and snow.
This is a specialized piece of equipment. The waterproof layer is, by nature, less breathable. You must remove it once the lamb is dry and the weather has passed to prevent overheating and skin irritation. It’s the perfect answer for a lamb born unexpectedly in an exposed pasture during a storm, but it’s overkill for a dry, draft-free barn.
JorVet Lamb Coats: Vet-Designed for Protection
When a product is designed with veterinary input, you can usually trust that the animal’s physiology was the top priority. JorVet coats are a prime example. They are shaped to provide maximum coverage over the lamb’s most critical areas for heat retention—the back, loin, and kidneys.
These coats often use soft, non-irritating materials and feature a secure but simple fastening system. The focus is on a proper anatomical fit that allows for full range of motion. A lamb needs to be able to stretch, arch its back, and nurse without the coat getting in the way.
This level of design comes at a cost, making them one of the more premium options. However, for a producer who wants to ensure the absolute best fit and function, especially for valuable or vulnerable lambs, the investment can be worthwhile. It’s a choice that prioritizes the small details of a lamb’s health.
Intrepid International Lamb Blanket: Easy On & Off
In the middle of a chaotic lambing, simplicity is king. The Intrepid blanket excels here. It’s typically a straightforward fleece design with a single, easy-to-use belly strap, often secured with a quick-clip buckle or a large velcro patch.
The main selling point is speed. You can get this coat on a wet, wobbly lamb in seconds, which minimizes stress on both the lamb and the ewe. There’s no fumbling with multiple straps or trying to thread a leg through a tight hole.
This isn’t the most durable or weatherproof option on the list. The single point of failure means if the velcro gets clogged with lanolin and straw, or the buckle breaks, the coat is useless. But for its intended purpose—providing fast, temporary warmth with minimal fuss—it’s an excellent and affordable choice for any hobby farmer’s kit.
Agri-Pro Burlap Covers: A Breathable Option
Sometimes the old ways are still good ways. A simple burlap cover is the most traditional, and by far the cheapest, option for protecting a newborn lamb. It’s less of an insulating blanket and more of a breathable windbreaker.
The key advantages are cost and breathability. Burlap blocks the wind, which is a major source of chilling, but its open weave allows moisture to escape easily. This prevents the lamb from getting "sweaty" underneath. The rough texture can also provide a bit of stimulation to a sluggish lamb when you first put it on.
This is not a solution for deep cold or wet weather. Burlap offers minimal insulation and will soak through in the rain. Think of it as a disposable tool for a lamb born on a surprisingly windy but otherwise mild day. It’s cheap enough to have a stack on hand for unexpected needs.
Choosing and Fitting Your Lamb’s First Blanket
The right blanket depends entirely on your specific situation. There’s no single "best" choice for everyone. Before you buy, think through your own lambing setup.
- Your Environment: Are you lambing in a warm, dry barn? A simple fleece tube or easy-on blanket will do. In a drafty shed or open pasture? You’ll need the durability of a Premier 1 or the waterproofing of a Tough-1.
- Your Budget & Scale: If you only have a few ewes, a couple of high-quality, reusable coats are a smart buy. If you have a larger flock, having a mix of premium coats for vulnerable lambs and cheaper options like burlap for general use makes sense.
- Ease of Use: Don’t underestimate the value of simplicity. A coat that is quick to put on is one you’re more likely to use when you’re tired and it’s 3 AM.
Proper fit is non-negotiable. The coat must be snug enough to trap heat but loose enough that it doesn’t chafe or restrict movement. Most importantly, make sure the ewe can still easily sniff the lamb’s rear end. This is how she identifies her baby, and a coat that covers too much can lead to rejection. A lamb blanket is a tool to get a lamb through the first few hours, not the first few days. Check on them often, and remove the coat as soon as the lamb is dry, vigorous, and has a belly full of milk.
Ultimately, the best tool is your own observation. A lamb coat is a fantastic intervention, but it doesn’t replace a dry stall, a good mother, and a shepherd’s watchful eye. Choose the right coat for your farm, use it wisely, and it will be one of the most valuable items in your lambing kit.
