The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: dyedinthewool on June 12, 2011, 10:30:35 pm

Title: How to bath a sheep???
Post by: dyedinthewool on June 12, 2011, 10:30:35 pm

I have two bolshy suffolk X girls that I want to send to the local market breeding sale in a couple of weeks time.

I want them to look their best so would like to give them a bath - will be the first time I've done this - but have a bad back at the moment.

So any thoughts/ideas on how to do without any stress to them and me. 

Do I keep them in overnight due to the lanolin being taken out of their fleece by the shampoo.

They've been sheared since April and have a nice covering of fleece.

 :sheep: :sheep:

Title: Re: How to bath a sheep???
Post by: PDO_Lamb on June 13, 2011, 12:40:22 am

"how to do without any stress to them and me?" How about giving their bath a miss. Instead spend the time relaxing and look after you back. If your girls are fit and healthy and you are calm and relaxed when you take them to market they should show themselves well.

Title: Re: How to bath a sheep???
Post by: ellisr on June 13, 2011, 08:53:45 am

Trim around any dirty bits and then off they go

Title: Re: How to bath a sheep???
Post by: feldar on June 13, 2011, 03:59:56 pm

We wash our show sheep by hosing them with cold tap water and use a good quality horse shampoo,
you need to do this a week before you take them to the sale to allow their fleeces to recover, and keep them in for a day or so out of the weather.
but it is stressful for the sheep if they have not been handled much .Our show sheep are halter broken and used to us messing about with them before we get to the washing stage.