The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: graceknotman on February 13, 2014, 10:49:35 am
-
I really need some sheep advice!
I’ve had a stray sheep roaming around for a few months now. I’ve informed all the surrounding farmers and no-one seems to want to do anything about it.
I’ve just had a look at it and it's starting to look so thin and it’s hind and back legs are black with poo - I’ve looked it up and it sounds like it’s got internal parasites.
I haven’t got no experiences or lots of money to throw at it, but I don’t think I can just leave it be now. I’ve got a outbuilding and some land to keep it on, but no idea how to keep it in good health and feed, etc...
I’ve no idea whether it’s beyond help or not - It’s in a sorry state, and it’s leaving awful, sloppy droppings everywhere, which my dogs keep going for - I don’t want my dogs getting ill too.
I need to do something seeing as no-one else will - I need some advice.
-Grace
-
Have you got any sheep at all? Has it got any ear tags?
Do you think you could corner it or catch it? If you can and it has tags you may be able to trace who owns it.
Could you ask a local farmer for a little bag of sheep nuts? see if you can feed it? Sometimes if they are used to being fed in the past, rattle some nuts in the bag or bucket. It may follow you? Ring a farmer and see if they could give you some advice/help.
If its really bad maybe ring the local vet and get it put down. It may just have really bad worms that needs treating!
-
No, I don't have any sheep or experience in handling them. It has a tag on each ear, I'm pretty sure it has come from the farm down the lane (the sheep field is very near our land - and the sheep tends to go and graze along the fence line where the flock is) - I've let this farmer know about the sheep.
I've tried getting near, it runs away and hides in the woodland - it always comes back and hides in a barn near our house - which is causing some trouble with ours dogs.
I've tired letting everyone I can think of know, but they just aren't interested.
I don't know what to do for the best - it's looks fairly ill and I don't want to distress it, not knowing what I'm doing.
-
If it goes into a barn, get some people together and trap it in there. Then read it's ear tag numbers and phone your local Animal Health (should be part of Trading Standards at your local council) and give them the numbers. Also tell them that it appears unwell. They will be able to find out who it belongs to, and they should call them and tell them to come and collect it asap. (do this on a weekday not a weekend!)
No point you wasting your own money on vets etc. Yes, the sheep will be stressed out by this for a short period, but if it means that it can be caught and returned to its owner and made better then its the best option.
If you can't muster up any bodies to help you trap it, you could call the (dreaded) RSPCA to help ... they do like a good run around after a sheep ;).
Other alternatives would be chase the sheep down the road to the farm that you think it's from and leave it there, but that doesn't guarantee a good outcome for the sheep, and it would be a bit rude if it turned out not to be their sheep.
-
btw, if you can stretch to buying/obtaining some hay you might be able to tempt it in somewhere where you can trap/catch it, as it's probably hungry.
-
Thanks for getting in contact Grace - you're obviously keen to do the right thing.
The messy backend is hopefully just worms and will be easy to fix once she's been caught.
Where are you? - just roughly...
-
Definitely, it's a shame to see an animal suffering. If I can do something for it, I'll give it a go.
For some reason, I'm not sure the farmer wants the sheep back. I'm on a small holding, so I'm in a position to take the sheep on if it comes to it, just not sure how much cost is involved with keeping a sheep.
I'm in the Scottish Borders.
-
It's nice that you are willing to take it on but you can't keep just one sheep though on its own - they need to be part of a flock, so you'd need a minimum of 3.
There was a thread on here recently about the costs involved in starting up in sheep ... let me see if I can find it...
-
It seems to be the practice around here to cut tags out and throw onto the road anything that looks like it has scab. Saw three separate sheep last winter running the roads apparently with scab, that really made me happy that did :rant:
-
here: http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=26741.0 (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=26741.0)
-
I'd try the local envirnmental health dept, they'll have an animal section, who should really take responsibility, as they are still suposed to be in control of 'movements', if it's a sick sheep who know what it could be spreading? or the RSPCA, if it's sick they should get involved.
-
Exactly, so please don't just put strays into the nearest field of sheep unless you are sure thats where they come from
-
Hi there,
SSPCA/RSPCA. It is an animal in distress and that is what they are there for.
-
If she's in that poor condition it'd be best to get something sorted asap. The weather at the moment will see off the poorly ones with pneumonia.
-
I would ring trading standards, there are a couple of really good guys in the Borders, if you ask for Richard Mackie I am sure he will sort it.
-
Thank-you for all the replies - much appreciated.
I've been to ask a farmer what to do about the sheep, and she has advised me to go round to the farm the sheep is from and ask the farmer to come round.
I will go round tomorrow.
Hopefully the sheep will be taken and given the proper care she needs.
Thanks
-
Sorry, I had misunderstood, I didn't realise you knew where it had come from, hope that goes well and and you get it all sorted.
-
Lots of good advice here. Many sheepkeepers do start "by accident" and go on to really enjoy it since it can be a truly fascinating and rewarding But I recommend you keep your feet on the ground and do not carried away by your heart with this poorly animal. Be realistic about what can be achieved.
The start- up costs ( including the cost of another two sheep and getting this one healthy again ) can be huge - and it's not a cheap hobby even if everything goes well. To do it properly will also take up your time. What will happen when you go on holiday for example?
I'm sorry to sound so negative when you are just trying to do your best, but keeping even just a few sheep is a big commitment with more to it than perhaps meets the eye.
Since you have taken the trouble to contact AS I am sure you will do the right thing. Good luck with whatever you decide.