The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: dizzykizzy on March 26, 2015, 03:47:03 pm

Title: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: dizzykizzy on March 26, 2015, 03:47:03 pm
 :( :(
I posted about this little fella a month or so ago but my post seems to have disappeared.
We were worried he was losing weight fast whilst the rest of the flock are all fine.
We brought him in and got the vet who gave him a thorough examination and could not find anything obviously wrong. His teeth were fine which was something someone mentioned.
He thought he might have a growth somewhere inside but otherwise suggested keeping him in, feeding him little and often and he had 2 weeks worth of extra vitamins/minerals as well as being wormed again.
He hasn't really picked up but I've been letting him out for a few hours a day to have a bit of grass in a small area on his own and I noticed his fleece is just peeling off him.
He's always keen to come back in and always eats all his nuts and hay.
How do I know when it's time to call it? He doesn't seem distressed but I don't want him in for much longer as we start going away most weekends at Easter.
Any help appreciated, thank you.
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Hellybee on March 26, 2015, 03:48:19 pm
After illness this can happen, he will grow a neat little fleece back x
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: dizzykizzy on March 26, 2015, 03:49:51 pm
so this could be him getting better? Oh I do hope so  :D
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Hellybee on March 26, 2015, 03:50:59 pm
Give him a few ml of combivit for a few days , rich in B vits, if he's lacking in B12 especially this can make them thrifty. 
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Hellybee on March 26, 2015, 03:52:56 pm
I'd don't know but weve had one or two drop fleece after illness and they've come bouncing back. 
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: shep53 on March 26, 2015, 07:32:13 pm
Give him a few ml of combivit for a few days , rich in B vits, if he's lacking in B12 especially this can make them thrifty.
     Contains B1 /B2 /B3 / B6  only  ,  you can buy B12 on its own
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Melmarsh on March 26, 2015, 09:00:26 pm
If your sheep has a B12 deficiency then it probably has cobalt deficiency as well as did some of my less thrifty lambs of last year. After blood tests FEC and a lot of head scratching they had cobalt boluses and improved well.  I hasten to say that my early lambs got away but the ones born just two weeks later all had a degree of the problem. Ewes had a bolus pre lambing and lambs will be done at weaning. Good luck with yours  :hug:
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: dizzykizzy on March 26, 2015, 09:14:53 pm
thank you for taking the time...surely they would all be showing the same signs though? I have 25 sheep in total and only him that looks rough. Even his half sister from the same year looks ok.
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Hellybee on March 27, 2015, 04:08:46 am
Shep I said combivit as it is more readily available, as I appreciate the other singular b bits come from vets :P


As said above dizzy, cobalt and b12 come hand in glove, perhaps he's a bit shy at the lick bucket and also if he's been I'll especially digestion wise, he wouldn't have been able to utilise b vits efficiently x
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: dizzykizzy on March 27, 2015, 09:27:36 am
I looked up combivit but it said prescription only. Since he's been in the stable, about 5/6 weeks he has had a lick of his own and he is using it.
Thanks for your help.
Poor little man, he looks so rough, I'll get a photo later  :-\
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: harmony on March 27, 2015, 09:47:22 am
Isn't it frustrating when you are trying everything! Seaweed is a good additive. Maybe he's ready for some company - he's been on his own for quite a while.
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Hellybee on March 27, 2015, 10:25:56 am
Ou can get combivit from farmers store, no vet prescription required x
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 27, 2015, 11:09:13 am
Despite coming from a narrower gene pool I find sheep are no more like each other than any brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Title: Re: Poorly wether still, fleece falling off now
Post by: Hellybee on March 28, 2015, 01:14:57 am
Yup get him some company, as a herd animal he should be with another x