The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bullseye on September 11, 2012, 06:57:18 pm

Title: Greedy boy
Post by: Bullseye on September 11, 2012, 06:57:18 pm
We put a mollassed mineral bucket lick in the boy's field this evening for the first time and our big greedy tup just stood scraping and licking away for 10 minutes until I removed it.....none of the others got a look in (no change there!) Will they just stand there and go at it all night or regulate their own intake?  :sheep:
Title: Re: Greedy boy
Post by: Fleecewife on September 11, 2012, 07:46:57 pm
After the initial novelty value has worn off, they should regulate their own intake.  But too much can give them the skits, so you could put the lid back on once everyone has had a go and open it up for an hour or so each day.  They tend to drink more water when they have a lick too.
Title: Re: Greedy boy
Post by: Bullseye on September 11, 2012, 08:24:29 pm
I never thought of putting the lid back on  ::)  Thanks so much
Title: Re: Greedy boy
Post by: bangbang on September 11, 2012, 09:02:10 pm
I never thought of putting the lid back on  ::)  Thanks so much
Me neither..I would have come up with other strenious, technical ways to deter him.......anything but the obvious.! :innocent:
Title: Re: Greedy boy
Post by: Blackbird on September 14, 2012, 03:54:20 pm
We have a similar problem with a big greedy ewe who hogs the lick. I've also been keeping the lid on when there are lots of flies around as the molasses gets stuck to their faces and makes them more attractive to the flies.
Title: Re: Greedy boy
Post by: Bullseye on September 14, 2012, 04:10:42 pm
Tell me about it- lifting a 25kg bucket over the fence whilst warding off eager tups with a bad back isn't the easiest option....
 
Title: Re: Greedy boy
Post by: Mallows Flock on September 14, 2012, 08:21:01 pm
We have a similar problem with a big greedy ewe who hogs the lick. I've also been keeping the lid on when there are lots of flies around as the molasses gets stuck to their faces and makes them more attractive to the flies.
I cured this with a garlic lick... it is so strong the flies don't wanna go anywhere near it or the sheep :o0