Author Topic: At my wits end! (Read 7277 times)

Remy · « **on:** December 20, 2012, 01:07:22 pm »

Went out to do a headcount today and found my little Herdwick ram lamb dead, stripped of everything just the skull, backbone and fleece left, just like my Gotland ewe. He was a well grown lamb too, the one I had for sale in Marketplace

. He was fine on Tuesday, typically yesterday I was ill so didn't get out so it has to have happened then or overnight. It just has to be a fox or a dog, but that little ram had a real go at my Staffie X who was going for him and she is a strong dog so he wouldn't have been an easy target as he was flighty too. He was with a smaller Gotland who I would have thought would have been the easier of the two to get, as he's not so substantial and friendly. He is now in a stable, and am wondering do I dare risk putting him in with the other three adult rams?

I have 29 sheep out the back field 10 of whom are ewe lambs, I don't have space to bring them in. They are with the horses so don't know if this would keep them safer. I don't know what else I can do short of sit in the field 24/7 with a gun?! $:-\$

trefnantbach · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2012, 01:23:30 pm »

I have a similar problem with a fox - not lambs but have lost two geese. Neighbours have spotted him in broad daylight. Rather than stake him out with a gun I've borrowed a fox trap as I have a good idea where he hangs out. Will let you know how we get on. We have to sort him out before lambing.

Remy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2012, 01:26:17 pm »

I have lost geese before to foxes which is why I no longer keep them, much as I like them. But this lamb was well built (see pic in marketplace) and I don't know if foxes can take them that size?

Anke · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2012, 02:15:40 pm »

The stripping of the carcass is probably down to crows, magpies, buzzard or other, plus of course fox, badger and possibly mink(?) will also come for a meal. I have both foxes and badgers in my fields every night (fresh footprints most mornings) and so far have not lost any of the sheep (bar a very young lamb in spring), so I would think that a fox is highly unlikely to go for a healthy fit tup lamb.
If I were you I would re-booster all my stock with an new batch of Heptavac P+.

Pedwardine · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2012, 02:22:24 pm »

The problem to a fox/dog regarding the size of the sheep that has died was kind of why I was wondering if it were a problem on the land with some of your animals being more resistant than others. My feelings are the animal dies and then scavengers come along. All animals are hungry at this time of year so the carcass would be stripped alarmingly quickly. Worth a consideration? The Moredun Foundation MAY be able to advise as they specialise in this sort of research.

colliewoman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2012, 02:54:12 pm »

I'm with Anke on this one, I would booster your flock now. I lost a wether lamb to clostridia within hours even though fully jabbed. I wouldn't think a fox could take a ram, but a carcasse is another matter altogether.

It's horrible

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2012, 02:56:44 pm »

Poor you

Yes, get the flock jabbed up, and it wouldn't hurt to give them some minerals (a good drench - chelated is best) as well.

Ladygrey · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:55:25 pm »

Either badger or wild big cat maybe

We have had the same with three calves, all within weeks of eachother the only thing left was skull, backbone and hind legs, we had them looked at and apparently it was badgers! as they have stronger jaws than a fox has

Poor little herdwick

SteveHants · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2012, 04:38:25 pm »

The carcase damage is badgers. The sheep was probably down or dead when they got to it. Ive had that happen - the bones still smell fresh.

Remy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2012, 06:42:58 pm »

Well the man at my feed merchants said it sounded like badger, and that they could kill a sheep if they managed to get it while it was down. Incidentally three of the dead sheep were all found in the same area of the field near the badger sett. All that was left of the carcasses in two of the cases was skull, backbone and a pile of fleece. Another one was just a pile of fleece and the lower hind legs; the fourth one was found intact with a hole in its side which the man said was classic badger.

I think it's probably that the badgers are getting the carcasses, it's whether they are actually killing them? How would a badger kill - by attacking the throat?

Ladygrey · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2012, 09:28:48 pm »

In our case, the calves had been killed by something 1-2 days after birth and not born dead also in the same field and near where thier mums had hidden them, laying down in the longer grass at the edge of the fields. yes they were small and two were twins but we are sure the badgers (or whatever it was that stinks and left wirey silver hair) must have killed them.

I'm not sure how a badger would kill though

Pedwardine · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2012, 10:45:38 pm »

Been t'internetting the subject and general reports are that badgers may risk taking a newborn or very young lamb and indeed may well eat an already dead or dying sheep but very unlikely that they will attack them and kill them. I'm really concerned for you and your sheepies hon. Isn't it worth investigating into the land itself to see if any answers lay there? I'm not an expert on parasites but everyone's land is flooded and muddy and soiled right now, perhaps there are some very small nasty beasties attacking your sheep. I hope you solve the mystery as this must be just dreadful for you. I know how much you care for your animals.

colliewoman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2012, 11:15:47 pm »

I would definitely be walking your ground sweet, could someone be dumping hedge clippings? If it isn't clostridia, then poisoning is a likely culprit.
I really don't think that whatever is eating your sheep is what is killing them. For a badger/fox to take a well grown animal, that animal must IMO have been very sick if not dead already

What are you feeding? Is anyone else feeding them?
Have you moved grazing?
Does any other livestock share the ground or boundaries?

Is there any old roofing felt they can get to? Or polystyrene blown in?
Are you near me? I would gladly come help you scour the place if you want

ZaktheLad · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2012, 08:22:07 am »

Agree with those that have said it would be unusual for a fox to take a fit and healthy sheep/lamb. We have several foxes that come through our sheep field and paddock ever evening without fail, and we have never had an attack on the sheep from them. However, said foxes have taken several of our hens in broad daylight. I also do not think a fox would strip the carcass so much as described. I have had in the past apparently fit and healthy sheep just die in the field - running around one day with no signs of illness and then found dead in the field the next day. Perhaps this happened to your ram lamb and a badger or similar just took advantage of an easy meal. Horrible thing to have happened though -