The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: cambee on April 27, 2019, 10:36:53 am
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Just to say that we have just treated our third ewe in a week for fly strike in her rear end and around her bag. I had noticed green bottles on the sheep in the heatwave and we have been keeping a close eye on them anyway as they all had difficult lambings but even so this third one took us by surprise. Just be aware of it as a possibility despite the time of year if one of your sheep looks off colour. We spoke to our shearer last week to try to get him over sooner and he was saying he is having an issue with it too. I don’t know if it is just in the Peak District or countrywide. It’s horrible.
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I think as a brand new keeper this is the thing I fear the most, along with foot rot (although I’m sure there are other equally bad things to watch out for).
Hope you’re sheep make a speedy recovery.
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The best approach, in my view anyway, is that prevention is better than having to deal with those horrible munching maggots. It's more the weather - hot and humid - than the month which tells you the flies are waiting to pounce. We use Crovect, but every shepherd has their favourite. If they need to be sprayed before they are shorn because there are maggots, then we would discard the fleece.
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Yes Fleecewife totally agree and we are into our 3rd year of having the sheep and used Clik the last 2 summers so had no problems. But they haven’t been sheared yet this year and all the advice is don’t Clik before shearing and tbh we had no idea that you can get Fly Strike in April! Hence my ‘warning’ in case other less experienced sheep keepers like us are also under the impression that Fly Strike is a summer problem. We have cut away completely the back end wool of the rest of the flock today. I knew coloured Ryelands had a lot of wool but didn’t realise quite how much there is! We are investing in some electric clippers for next year for dagging and crutching.
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We had a ewe with the beginnings of flystrike yesterday too. Caught it early luckily, and have got the shearer coming on Friday.
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Thanks for the warning, warm weather coming so I will keep a closer eye on them.
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Fly strike in April, I keep looking at my wooly lumps but so far ok. My darlings have been known to have fly strike in October when it's particularly mild around here! The worst cases are those who sweat but don't release the fleece so look perfect. I've had it twice, and both looked fine and it was only when really badly infested do they decide to start rubbing! But then the damage is done and the maggots are crawling under the skin. Saline solution comes in very handy!! It puts me off sheep!