The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: tommytink on November 30, 2019, 09:10:39 pm
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My ram’s ear tag has moved. The front part with the numbers on has gone backward and it’s this part that’s going through the hole, and the small end that should be in hole is out the back. I’ve tried pushing it forwards again, without, and then with, someone to hold him but he’s jerking his head around, and running off, and I’m having no luck getting it back in place. Is it possible to unpopper it somehow and then put it back in right?
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If it’s still in his ear it’s fine. Unless you need to be able to see the numbers visually?
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Yes it’s still in his ear, just not sitting right. Didn’t want it causing discomfort. I don’t know how he’s moved it as he’s not one for sticking his head through fences or the like. Must have been something to force the corner bit through.
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If it goes septic (infected) cut it out, spray the wound and replace with a new one in a different part of the ear (use the same numbers that are printed on it- just order from your tag supplier). If it isn’t looking infected I’d leave it be.
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I think the fact that he's not letting you try to move the tag around indicates that it's hurting or annoying him. Is it crusty round about the tag hole? is it red? Before you try to move it again, soak with warm water to release any crusty bits, clean the tag too, then push the tag back through. The hole may have been stretched in which case it will just fall out or push through again, and you would need to replace the tag. I know many folk don't like using blue spray, but for a potentially infected ear, or one with a raw hole, I think it's justified. To hold him still, reverse him into a corner, hold him crushed into the corner by one of your legs at his neck and chest preventing him from pushing forwards, and the other in front of his back leg. Tags are hateful things.
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From what you describe I think it is possible to put the tag back on the right position (it came out of that position after all), but its taken quite a bit of force to get it back and probably hurt quite a bit, you might be best to cut it out and re-tag. If the 'wide' part of the tag is through the ear I think it does irritate them and you can end up with an open bloody wound
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I would leave it alone. He still has a tag and that is the important thing. Many sheep have rotated tags to no ill effect.
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I agree with Buttermilk. Provided there is no sign of infection leave it be. Poor lad has suffered enough with the bloody things
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Had another look today. It doesn’t look sore and it’s not bleeding. To the front/inside of his ear there is a largish lump by the tag, but if memory serves this was always partly visible when it was in the right place. I’d take a guess that it’s scar tissue from when he was originally tagged. It’s not swollen, crusty, or inflamed, but the oblong part is now going through. Typically it’s his EID tag ::)
I think I’ll keep an eye on it and see how he gets on. I would guess it’s probably me trying to correct it that’s causing him discomfort rather than it being sore. Plus as Fleecewife says, it could just keep rotating back through now if the hole’s been stretched. Bloody things >:(
Thanks for the tip on how to “restrain” him. He is a sweetheart but I’m no match for him if he sets his mind to something!