The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: agri293 on March 21, 2011, 08:53:06 pm

Title: is this normal
Post by: agri293 on March 21, 2011, 08:53:06 pm

hi there my foster lambs over the last couple of days have started licking and chewing each others ears i have noticed where they have been tagged is abit scabby what should i do cheers

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: jaykay on March 21, 2011, 09:10:35 pm

Tea tree oil (superdrug do a good, reasonably priced one  :D) - helps with infections and tastes nasty so stops the chewing too  :)

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: shrekfeet on March 21, 2011, 09:12:54 pm

tea tree is poisonous

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: jaykay on March 22, 2011, 06:46:49 am

It would be in large quantities  :P

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: shep53 on March 22, 2011, 12:58:20 pm

Do the same as you would if your ear studs became infected mild detol or similar and savlon most young lambs heal quickly

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: bazzais on March 22, 2011, 01:29:23 pm

Have you got any mineral licks in with them.  Sounds like they might be lacking in something?

Ta

Baz

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: Madcow on March 22, 2011, 09:25:53 pm

possible they want a dummy ! just like some babies want to suck more than others, tongue in cheek ofcourse, have you ever seen a lamd with a dummy  ;D
not much help sorry, but too much vino and a weird sense of humour, sorry ::)

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: Brucklay on March 23, 2011, 12:48:31 am

Goat kids always suck each others ears - have the pictures - and for the boys usually ends up with ear tags out in later life, did see the orphan lambs doing the same last year but they grew out of it thank goodness

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: shep53 on March 23, 2011, 12:29:59 pm

Licking and nibbling of heads seems to be a comforting thing in many animals like you having your head srtroked or hair combed, mothers do it to babys cows do it big time,sometimes i have ewes with tags chewed by their lambs. have they got pellets and hay to nibble?

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: agri293 on March 27, 2011, 09:38:07 pm

thanks everyone for your help yes they have hay and pellats they dont seem as bad this week

Title: Re: is this normal
Post by: Rosemary on March 28, 2011, 06:40:02 am

They're maybe outgrowing it. They'll be out on the thrash with their mates next week and you'll wish they were still ear sucking  ;D