The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: kelly58 on April 19, 2016, 05:28:52 am
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Having seen the post on a lamb being attacked by a fox, could anyone advise if the chances of them attacking a lamb being born first week in June are less due to them having a food source such as mice, voles etc ?
I know we have 2 nearby so now l am worried :-\
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We have to lamb inside here because our fox problem is so severe. Our girls don't actually need to be in, and they dislike it, but we loose some to the foxes otherwise.
Yes- the fox will still be around in June, especially if you have a vixen that's had cubs. Also keep an eye out for crows that want some little lamb eyeballs :yuck:
Get someone out to shoot them and hope no more move in would be my advice.
People say you can try putting a blob of Stockholm tar on the lambs necks once they're bonded with mum. The stink supposedly puts the fox off, but I'd worry it'd put the ewe off too! :D
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I hate to say it but you could argue that there will be less lambs to choose from in June
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No one tried the ORLDEN FOX REPELLANT from Ireland , ive used it with success ?
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We used to do the tar thing, would put down backlegs for fox and nape of neck for badger. It never caused a mum to not recognise they're baby. Just make sure there's none near bum, top of tail.
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Checked out Orlden, thank you Shep. Am l right in thinking as mentioned ( Hellybee) to put it round the neck and on back legs as with the tar ? It doesnt mention were to apply on the website :sheep:
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We did nape of neck n down side of back legs, flank side. Cos we keep them down close to home til they a bit bigger, they're fast n grown on, we touch wood don't seem to have a problem.
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Horned wether in with the ewes
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One of my flocks are Castlemilk Moorits they are horned , does that help protect the lambs then Kanisha ?
The others are Olde English babydoll Southdowns , they are too laid back and tame to chase a fox off !
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I use a horned wether, he is more agressive than the ewes when he feels threatened or more importantly he feels the lambs are threatened. A former charger ( bottle baby) who has found his niche and is ready to do harm to anything that looks the wrong way at his lambs. has never bothered the ewes when lambing although is not beyond trying to mount them when in season. adorable to see with the lambs he tempers his behaviour lets them climb all over him or will give them a gentle nudge if they are being a nuisance. Couldn't ask for better .
There is an active hunt scene here so I could benefit from that but where I keep my rams there are foxes seen to cross their paddock the rams are unconcerned. Very different attitude.
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Checked out Orlden, thank you Shep. Am l right in thinking as mentioned ( Hellybee) to put it round the neck and on back legs as with the tar ? It doesnt mention were to apply on the website :sheep:
I used a 2" wide paint brush and paint the back of the head / neck down to the shoulders and wear gloves . This is what the irish guy said to do
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I see your lambing in June. Be very wary of blowfly. I'd be more worried about them than foxy.