The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Fishyhaddock on April 18, 2014, 08:46:06 pm
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One of our established ewes, good mum etc has bitten off the tails below the ring off 2 of her lambs! She gave birth to triplets. Okay the first lamb had an accident and severed a bit off the end of her tail, so we sprayed the boney bit etc the next morning half had gone. Think mum was licking off the iodine and perhaps got carried away. Understand that as the tail was spilt HOWEVER the next day another lambs tail was hanging off!!! Mum must have chewed it and this afternoon bitten off. The first lamb born remains untouched and the biggest lamb. Has anyone had anything similar to this? :thinking:
Fishy
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Never come across this one. Be inclined to put Mama in an adopter until she's calmed down. If she still considers tails yummy when they taste of iodine ..... yeuch!
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And no glass of chianti to wash it down with. ::)
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I would hazard a guess and say she was trying to clean them up, like eating afterbirth etc, maybe they didn't smell right being rung. I knew of a rabbit who ate the ears off of her babies when they were born. our dog has an umbilical hernia and we were told it was caused by the bitch chewing his umbilical cord too far when he was born. :thinking: :thinking: :thinking:
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Shy girl I think you have something as she has always been a good mum. It was really surprising when she started on the second one though. I think it's the taste of the iodine. :tired:
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i think the same as shy girl, perhaps she sensed that that part wasnt smelling right, i suppose its a primal thing, any scent of injury could be very hazardous in the wild x
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We had one ate the tails off all three of her triplets, as if she had mistaken them for umbilical cords! Great mum though
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That's reassuring, thanks everyone for your replies. All 3 are thriving and mum is being good and leaving all other body parts well alone. :excited:
Fishy