The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Furryears on October 15, 2015, 06:43:54 pm

Title: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Furryears on October 15, 2015, 06:43:54 pm

 ??? why oh why oh why has my 5 month old ewe lamb started suddenly losing its fleece? She got fly strike 4 weeks ago now, but has survived that and is healing well from that. She is bright enough, eating and drinking, but as of this afternoon suddenly going bald? Help please! She Suffolk X

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Me on October 15, 2015, 06:47:12 pm

Woolslip, stress, large amounts of Pen.?

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Marches Farmer on October 15, 2015, 06:56:24 pm

It will grow back, but slowly.  If you're planning to keep her I suggest keeping shelter available through Winter, or fitting her with a calf jacket.

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Anke on October 15, 2015, 07:56:28 pm

If the skin was damaged by the flies/larvae, then it will grow back new and pink now. She will be fine in time, but if it is a large area definitely some shelter or even a coat of some sort would be useful as suggested above.

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Remy on October 15, 2015, 08:03:07 pm

When sheep have suffered a huge amount of stress they can often completely lose their fleeces - it's happened to 2 of mine. Coincidentally I have a 6 month old ewe lamb that had very bad fly strike and she almost died, she has also just shed her fleece and I've had to buy her a dog coat!


Yours will need some kind of coat and shelter over winter till her fleece grows  back (which it will)

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Hellybee on October 15, 2015, 08:29:16 pm

I'd say stress after being poorly, she ll be fine, it ll grow back xx

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Furryears on October 15, 2015, 08:57:07 pm

Thank you all. Remy, your situation sounds very similar to mine.

Currently she is in the barn with a buddy, as her sore rump was cracking/not healing out in the sun and rain, so I decided to bring her in last weekend. As soon as her sore has gone I will put her back out with some sort of jacket - would be awful to be bald outside at this time of year.

Thank you for the information and reassurance - I was very worried when I suddenly found her with two bare sides this evening - even though she is very bright / eating.

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: devonlady on October 16, 2015, 06:11:04 pm

Sudocrem or E45 cream will keep her skin from cracking.

Title: Re: Help, why would a 5 month old ewe lamb suddenly start losing its fleece (in Oct)
Post by: Furryears on October 16, 2015, 11:13:59 pm

Hi Devonlady, I have been using sudocream, it does seem to be doing the trick - looking at her this evening the fleece on her back seems to be well attached, she has just lost down her sides and around her neck.