The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Lostlambs on March 02, 2011, 12:47:40 am
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Don't know if anyone can advise on this but one of the ewe lambs fell into the water bowl today. Found her with 2 front feet over the edge,she couldn't get enough grip to jump out, It's pretty cold here-30C so we decided to bring her into the house to the basement to try and dry her out.She is just about a year old but not bred this year. I don't know how long she was in there-sometime between noon and 4PM when we found her.The bowl is for thecows as well so about 6 ft wide and 3 feet deep.By the time we pushed her all the way to the house she was was coated with big ice chunks. It's cooler down stairs but still alot warmer than outside but we don't have any other warm enough building to melt the ice off her and dry her.Should I be worried about the sudden temperature change and her getting too warm.? She seems alert and curious-nibbling on the hay we brought in for her.Thanks
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We once had a drake :&> who went for a swim just before the temp plummeted for the night. He froze very quickly so spent the evening indoors sitting on the arm of the settee thawing out while watching TV - with great attention and interest ;D
Is your sheep soaked to the skin? You need to watch for pneumonia. If she was mine I would give a dose of long acting antibiotic at the first sign of laboured breathing or anything else worrying. Can you pick the ice chunks off her, or even dry her with a hair dryer? I would expect that once the ice has melted she will give herself a good shake and be nearly dry. Some fleece types shake dry more easily than others, but most have plenty of lanolin close to the skin to repel water.
Is there anything you can put in the water bowl which would give a sheep better leverage to get back out if it happens again?
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Just checked her again-she's quite happily chewing on hay and seems to be none worse for wear yet .She's been in 3 hours and the ice has melted off her fleece. I will keep her inside tonight and hope she doesn't go down hill on us.Thanks I will watch her for any breathing problems
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Good result :) Yes, I'd get her back outside asap. Where are you that it's -30C :o
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Good result :) Yes, I'd get her back outside asap. Where are you that it's -30C :o
I'd already guessed but profile says Canada! My goodness aren't we TASers widespread! Welcome to the forum, LostLambs - hope you don't lose many ;D ;D Good luck with the one you rescued.
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Just an update-the ewe 'Alda' to be specific is back outside this afternoon after a comfortable night in the house.Gave her a long acting penicillin and got her mostly dry before taking her back to the barn Hopefully she will be good.I never seen so much ice on a animal before-I've heard of cows going thru the ice on dugouts and freezing but never seen that thankfully
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Hi Lostlambs -- I hope this wave--- :wave: reaches Canada!!!
----Pleased that Alda is o.k .
What breeds of sheep do you keep ?
Tilly
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I have two main groups.the meat are Charollais/Hampshire, Suffolk/Hampshire ,and one North Country ewe with a Hampshire ram. The fleece group are Shetlands.I am just in sheep the last 3 years so pretty new to a lot. We used to have sheep when I was growing up but I haven't been on a farm since then.I've been thinking about the water bowl problem and maybe a type of grate set inside like a large barbeque grate would stop anything from getting stuck in there.I would have to find something that wouldn't rust. The temp here has at least come up a bit to -20C so its a little better. Alda seems to not be any worse for wear.One question -on the long acting penicillin do most give it intramuscular or subcutaneous my vet said either after I already gave it IM
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IM. For the grate in the bowl, make sure the grid size is small enough that they can't get their feet stuck and drown :(