The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: moprabbit on January 25, 2016, 11:48:27 pm

Title: Chewing on a shed
Post by: moprabbit on January 25, 2016, 11:48:27 pm

Wondered if anyone has any ideas for stopping my sheep chewing the wood on my shed? They only do it when I'm sitting in there -it's as if they're telling me to get out and go and open the gate to their other field. I wondered about some aerosol spray I've seen advertised to stop horses crib biting that's supposed to taste unpleasant, but thought I'd ask on the forum first.  Thanks.

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on January 26, 2016, 10:13:48 am

Chewing wood can often be a sign of mineral deficiency. Do they have access to a mineral lick?

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: moprabbit on January 26, 2016, 02:23:43 pm

Thanks for your reply Clydesdaleclopper! Yes they actually have 2 different mineral licks in the field, so I don't think it's that.

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: Foobar on January 26, 2016, 02:36:38 pm

Spray some vinegar on it?

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 26, 2016, 02:42:13 pm

Can you hurdle off the part they chew on - they can get into a habit of doing something like this.

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: goosepimple on January 26, 2016, 05:24:43 pm

Get some tree branches in there - preferably fruit trees or ones with crumbly bark, our sheep and goats eat the trees all the time, we've had to fence off specific trees so they can't get them or put a cylinder of chicken wire around the trunks, but they love us chopping and thinning out, they get loads of tree trunks and branches here - get some from the roadside or the like.

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: Anke on January 26, 2016, 06:01:54 pm

My sheep are currently de-barking the willow prunings and other stuff, ready to use as kindling next winter...

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: Tim W on January 26, 2016, 07:13:57 pm

If they only do it when you sit in the shed then don't sit in the shed

Title: Re: Chewing on a shed
Post by: Melmarsh on January 26, 2016, 09:57:43 pm

Cribox to stop horses wind sucking may not work but could be worth a try !!! Or just let them in the other field and see if they come back for a nibble !!   :roflanim: Naughty sheep  :excited: