Author Topic: Marking black sheep (Read 2952 times)

Claire B · « **on:** June 01, 2019, 09:01:41 am »

Can anyone recommend a marker for our Welsh Black Mountain sheep that will last longer than a day or two please?

Womble · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2019, 09:10:36 am »

Hi Claire, the simple answer is no, not really. However, you might find this thread useful.

Failing that, how about white gloss paint?

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2019, 09:47:57 am »

Tying some white or brightly coloured wool yarn into the fleece works. We tied yarn markers into the neck wool of two of our black lambs, stayed in for weeks and was very visible.

Me · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2019, 09:48:27 am »

Are the white sprays no good?

Fleecewife · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2019, 03:09:31 pm »

Quote from: Me on June 01, 2019, 09:48:27 am

Are the white sprays no good?

Oddly, yellow shows up better.

Claire B · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2019, 02:49:44 pm »

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions. Can’t find a white marker on the market; can anyone help? The yellow only lasts a couple of days. May have to try tying in wool yarn but would mean buying it specially as I’m no knitter!

Buttermilk · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2019, 08:19:29 pm »

Blue raddle used on our ewes was still faintly visible when we lambed them. I use a blue spray when I need to see the mark the following week. Yellow disappears the fastest.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2019, 08:43:15 pm »

Quote from: Claire B on June 24, 2019, 02:49:44 pm

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions. Can’t find a white marker on the market; can anyone help? The yellow only lasts a couple of days. May have to try tying in wool yarn but would mean buying it specially as I’m no knitter!

Charity shops often have yarn

macgro7 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2019, 09:51:44 pm »

Or eBay

Black Sheep · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2019, 04:43:39 pm »

Quote from: Claire B on June 24, 2019, 02:49:44 pm

The yellow only lasts a couple of days.

Try different brands. I've found the Carrs Billington own brand yellow and orange show up well and last longer than other makes such as Nettex Marksman.

Also some areas are more prone to rubbing off than others.

If you really need something long lasting then could you use raddle paste? There were traces in our tup's fleece for months after tupping. Just not sure if the oil would be an issue in the hotter months?