Author Topic: Ewe with wet tail (Read 2744 times)

Rhea · « **on:** November 25, 2016, 02:09:52 pm »

When checking my sheep earlier, one was on her own in the field shelter and a bit slower to come over than the others. When I looked closer she seemed to have a line of moisture running down her tail, but there was no obvious signs of scouring.

I'm wondering if she's stopped lifting her tail/squatting like normal when going for a wee, and if so, is there anything that could cause this? Or, is it something to do with her being in with the ram at the moment?

I can't see anything obvious in my books, and I'm reluctant to catch her without having an idea what I might be looking for (esp as she's with the ram). She's alert and bright apart from that, and eating well.

I'm not sure why I bought a shelter as whenever one of them uses it I worry something is wrong!

Foobar · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2016, 03:04:33 pm »

In with the ram?

... perhaps he missed the target

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2016, 03:23:47 pm »

I agree - poor marksmanship is the most likely explanation. Or if the girly is a first-timer he may not have made his amorous intentions clear enough.

Rhea · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2016, 05:07:36 pm »

I was wondering about that, although he hadn't left any raddle paste on her (which also might point to a lack of 'finesse' on his part!)

As long as people aren't telling me it's a sign of a specific disease I'm happy

kelly58 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2016, 06:42:30 pm »

Nothing wrong with having field shelters, l have them in every field.
People say sheep dont need shelter they have a wooly coat !
All my sheep use our shelters , l like to know when the weather gets really bad they have the choice to use them

Also really useful when one is poorly, you can put a hurdle across and keep them seperate without causing the stress of taking them out of the field away from the rest of the flock