The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: make.do.farm.vt on March 08, 2025, 03:13:25 pm

Title: how to help with wool slip?
Post by: make.do.farm.vt on March 08, 2025, 03:13:25 pm
context: caring for the farm owner's flock of North County Cheviots while working towards farm ownership. flock has been certified organic since 2008 and very hands-off. no culling until we started managing in October 2024.

we sheared the sheep ahead of lambing. sheep had lice so I've been treating with Pyganic (3oz:1 gal) as a spray.

after two treatments we noticed small bald spots on a few sheep. we weren't sure if this is from the lice, or wool slip due to stress? the sheep are practically feral and we've had to be pretty hands on during lambing to save the little ones.

one pregnant ewe has especially bad bald spots.

any recommendations what we can do for her? she's in good condition otherwise, not skinny and thankfully we're heading into warmer weather.

thanks!
Title: Re: how to help with wool slip?
Post by: Fleecewife on March 09, 2025, 12:19:06 am
Could that be healed fly strike?
Title: Re: how to help with wool slip?
Post by: shep53 on March 09, 2025, 05:38:26 pm
Looks nice pink skin  so agree it maybe old flystrike  , she will be fine .   Your lambing very early for  cheviots ? Wool slip is a break in the wool at a period in time and the wool  keeps growing  under the break so not down to bare  skin
Title: Re: how to help with wool slip?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on March 11, 2025, 11:30:13 am
Could she just be rubbing because of irritation?
coming in to spring mine seem to be running a lot, in much the same areas as her bald patches.
Title: Re: how to help with wool slip?
Post by: make.do.farm.vt on March 13, 2025, 06:27:44 pm
it is early but the rams were kept with the flock. it's been below freezing since December so no flies, but definitely lice.

seeing bare patches on other ewes as well and they are all very itchy.

they are so feral it's hard to treat them but maybe we need to make a chute and do a pourover instead of the spray
Title: Re: how to help with wool slip?
Post by: SallyintNorth on March 14, 2025, 10:05:45 pm
Do you get scab in your area?