The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: PeterMiddle on April 09, 2019, 05:16:37 pm

Title: Newbie and sheep scouring question
Post by: PeterMiddle on April 09, 2019, 05:16:37 pm
My first post on here so go gentle.

We have four pet sheep (wethers) who are a bit scoury.  Two are polled Dorset Downs (we had three but lost one a couple of years ago to fly-strike, so got two crossbreeds from the local farmer). They have just under 2 acres to share and I have split it into three sections so they can be rotated.  Throughout the winter I have been feeding them Duffield sheep feed and hay.  The grass hasn't started growing much this year so I am concerned about overgrazing, so am still giving them nuts and hay, and have just moved them into a new field, which they havent been in for two months.

Like a mug I pick up a lot of their pooh (other words are avilable, I am sure) to keep the flys down and to stop them walking in it.  This is quite a task in itself.

They started being a bit scoury in the last field, which is why I thought I would move them.  Generally I move them every three weeks, so its six weeks until they return to the same field.

Do you think they need worming? Crovecting? 

Ive been reading through here and a few posts have said I shouldnt be feeding them any nuts.  Is it the mixture of nuts, hay and grass thats causing it, perhaps?

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Newbie and sheep scouring question
Post by: Possum on April 11, 2019, 08:49:24 pm
Hello Peter,


Which part of the country are you in? if your grass hasn't started growing yet, i guess you are in the north. Down here in Somerset the grass has been growing really strongly for about a month. We are having difficulty keeping up with it!


It is possible that the feed for your sheep is too rich and is causing the scouring. But, at  this time of year, worms are a real possibility. The quickest and cheapest  answer is to check some fresh droppings for worms. Your vet will be more than happy to do the test. If worms are causing the scouring they will be able to tell you which is the best wormer to use.
Title: Re: Newbie and sheep scouring question
Post by: PeterMiddle on April 11, 2019, 10:16:08 pm
Thanks for your reply.  We are bang in the middle of the country (england, not Uk), hence the user name.

The grass the sheep eat hasn't really started growing, but my lawn that I have to cut has!

As it took three days for my first post to be approved, things have moved on.

After reading other posts, I have stopped giving them nuts.  (Much to their disdain).  The scouring has improved massively, and hopefully it is sorted.
Title: Re: Newbie and sheep scouring question
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 11, 2019, 11:06:44 pm
Hi Peter, I don't know that much about sheep but wanted to welcome you to the forum. We're also in the middle of England going from top to bottom but nearer to Wales. Shropshire is our county and the grass if growing well here.
Title: Re: Newbie and sheep scouring question
Post by: PeterMiddle on April 12, 2019, 11:00:32 am
Thank you for your welcome.

The grass is indeed now growing here, as can be confirmed by the fact that my ride-on mower has a puncture!

Sadly I cannot let the sheep in this bit as the flowers, trees and laurel would be the first things eaten?