Fostering is a process used by sheep farmers for rearing abandoned lambs onto non-natal ewes and in the case of triplets, providing the surplus lamb a surrogate ewe. Over the years UK farmers have used a variety of techniques which all have been shown to affect the behaviour and welfare of the ewe. Previous research has debated the varying success rates of these methods; however, no empirical comparison between the methods exists. The aim of the survey was to identify which fostering methods are currently in use in the UK and to gain an insight of farmer's attitudes towards them, in relation to lamb production and ewe behaviour and welfare. Data were collected using paper and online questionnaires and were distributed with the help of the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). Seventy five farmers responded and results showed that they used birth fluids (c2 = 12.973, p<0.01), restraint (c2 = 31.60, p<0.001) and a combination of birth fluids and cervical stimulations (c2 = 36.419, p<0.001) more often than the other methods. Farmers felt that different fostering methods can have negative welfare implications (c2 = 47.63, p<0.001) which was determined by the ewe's behaviour. They also felt that the birth fluid method was preferred by the animals compared to all of the other methods (c2 = 113.27, p<0.001) as it was less disruptive to the ewes involved. Overall, farmers acknowledged that the selection of the 'correct' foster method is a means to increase lamb productivity which can influence the farmers return. However, they also recognised that the display of positive or negative ewe behaviours play a vital role in the selection process of the fostering technique. Subsequent research will investigate the welfare implications to the ewe by means of behavioural and physiological measures.