The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Pasture Farm on April 04, 2013, 08:27:59 pm

Title: Dead lamb
Post by: Pasture Farm on April 04, 2013, 08:27:59 pm

Just walked the fields to find a lamb with all its innards eaten    .....and a ewe with a gashed leg.Now i can't make my mind up if this is a fox or a dog. The lambs are between 3 and 6 weeks old now  alert and agile lots of them in a field full of full grown protective mothers.......angry and saddened   as if lambing isn't traumatic enough :rant: ....only walked the fields at 3.30  and at 8 it's done

Title: Re: Dead lamb
Post by: twizzel on April 04, 2013, 08:31:41 pm

:( such a shame. I would have thought it could be a fox, or possibly a badger especially if it was dusk when it happened. Is your field near a footpath? I'd be surprised if it was a dog but I suppose it could have been. Were your other ewes and lambs ok?

Title: Re: Dead lamb
Post by: Fosterlambfarm on April 04, 2013, 08:37:05 pm

I'd have thought it would be a fox or badger as a dog would most likely go for as many as possible jus to chase them. Such a shame tho, seen it happening up my way a few times, as if difficult lambings and all those hours arent enougj

Title: Re: Dead lamb
Post by: goosepimple on April 04, 2013, 08:49:25 pm

Och that's bad news PF, sorry for you and them.  It's a worry too, hope you find the culprit.  :fc:

Title: Re: Dead lamb
Post by: SteveHants on April 05, 2013, 01:08:12 am

Sounds to me like the lamb went down of something ad then badgers got it, eating them from the inside out is classic badger.

Title: Re: Dead lamb
Post by: MrsJ on April 05, 2013, 06:26:09 am

How sad.  Hope you find out what did it so you can avoid it happening again.
We were notified that 7 of the hunt dogs were on the loose from the kennels just up the road from us yesterday.  We spent an anxious few hours until we heard that they were all accounted for.  Not quite sure what we would have done if they'd got into the field.