[Dans]

I think I might have a rather silly question but you all know sheep far better than I do so hopefully you can help. I seem to do nothing but worry about them this last week!

One of our ewes, Arha, has always been the 'bravest' she will come up to us first, leading the others and has recently allowed us to touch her albeit lightly (couldn't do a BCS without holding).

Tonight my OH saw her against the hurdles with our gander on the other side having a go at her. She wasn't moving or responding to the gander at all. Normally the ewes will butt the geese through the fence. OH sent the gander packing and went to check on her. She seemed ok, but OH was able to stroke all along her back, much more so than normal, enough to concern him.

I went out, fearing twin lamb disease, but her breath smells fine, she was able to see me fine and no twitching at all but she let me do a BCS, and even turn her ear slightly so I could check the ear tag. The others still remained their normal curious but skittish. I was quite concerned at that point but then rattled the dregs of ewe nuts from the evening feed and she came charging up the polytunnel, so still has apetite and interest in food. She was also active in butting the others away from the few nuts that were there. Her interaction with the other sheep seems normal. Any ideas?

She is 2 weeks off lambing and scanned as single, possibly twin. They are out in the field during the day and in at night. She was her normal self this morning.

I can't see anything wrong with her at all other than this sudden change in behaviour.

Dans

[Buttermilk]

Hormones making her broody so more friendly? 

[JedM]

One of my ewes did this 2 weeks before lambing.  She wasn't very friendly before, but one day she started licking my hands every time I went into the field.  She did this every day up until lambing.  She also allowed me to give her a rub.
I was confused by it, but she didn't seem ill, and she is a first time lamber - maybe it is to do with hormones?!

[bj_cardiff]

My geese do it with the sheep and goats. I think their just a bit itchy and hot at this time of year and enjoy the scratches - they don't realise the geese mean business!

I have quite a few friendly sheep, one particularly friendly Ram that comes running over for a scratch

[in the hills]

One of our most timid Soay was really calm and chilled out when she was in the process of lambing.

She made her own way into the field shelter to lamb but let us lock her in and didn't make any fuss when we went in with her to break the bag for her second born lamb.

She seemed to want us there and was far more approachable than normal and came forward to nuzzle us.

Hopefully just something similar with your ewe. You're keeping a careful eye on them so all should be well.

Enjoy

[harmony]

Our three geese can turn our senior boar into a quivering jelly and they are gentle toulouse!


My sheep and goats will stand trance like amongst our poultry. It is really quite bizarre and I have never fathomed it out although in your case it sounds more like he had her cornered. Maybe she felt it was better not to stress out.

[Marches Farmer]

I'd still keep a very careful eye on her for TLD.

[clydesdaleclopper]

If you are worried about TLD get some Ketostik from the chemist and hold one under her as she pees.

[Fieldfare]

...change of behaviour sounds odd...but her charging about for food sounds 'healthy'. Another test you could do is to pull her eyelid down to get a reasonable guide to general condition (Google FAMACHA chart).

[Dans]

Sorry all, I thought I had replied.

She raced past OH for grass first thing in the morning and was her normal curious but skittish during the day but in the night again she was the same very sedate around us but normal around the other sheep. She had a good head scratch from me and when I moved my hand away she walked towards it and nudged it. They have been shorn but she still has hair to shed on the face on the head. Still no other sign of anything being wrong with her other than this increased friendliness. She certainly isn't allowing any of the other girls to push her around. Will be keeping a very close eye on her but the hormone explanation sounds right. I'll see if she'll let me check the eyelid tonight as during the day she still keeps her distance.

Dans

PS she was on the other side of the hurldes to the geese so able to get away but she just stood there.