[The Chicken Lady]

My old boy Archie is 10years old. He does not work now but is a companion. He is a softie and I love him to bits. How long do they live for and when the time comes how do I have to dispose of him by law?

[colliewoman]

when i had an old favourite ewe who was nearing her final days, i couldnt bear to take her to the slaughterhouse.
after a quick call to the vets i was able to take her there and sit with her whilst they administered the lethal injection. they disposed of the body and the whole job cost 20 quid.
if you find him already gone one morning, i cant find the number to ring for carcasse collection. i know your not allowed to bury.

[SallyintNorth]

You are allowed to bury pets, and it sounds as though Archie is a pet. 

If you do eventually feel that you need to help him on his way, your local hunt will normally come to you, saving him that trip to the vet.  I can't speak for all hunts, but our local one is very sensitive.  Also, if you speak to the carcase collection service they can usually send someone to use a humane killer before taking him away - but I am bound to say I have seen one of these operatives fail to kill a sheep with the first bolt.  Equally I have watched a vet pump three or four doses of anaesthetic into a lamb before being sure it was dead. 

On a happier note, I have heard of 14 year old ewes still producing a lamb each year.  What breed is Archie?

[Fleecewife]

The people who do the carcase collection ie the knackers can also use a humane bolt on your tup, for no extra cost.  Just have him penned close and he will know nothing of it, whereas 'lethal injection' requires a bit of stress with the needle etc.  It's best to get it done before he gets too decrepit or starves to death from lack of teeth.  I have found that tups don't live as long as ewes - probably all that sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll - but it varies from breed to breed and between individual animals.  10 seems a pretty good innings 

Ah - Sally posted while I was writing, saying pretty much the same thing.  We have had no problems with the knackers getting it wrong, with the animal close-penned as said, and they have always been most sympathetic and efficient.

[feldar]

Yes you can bury your tup if he is classed as a pet but make sure he is the required 6 foot under, the courts will only prosecute if they find that you are burying loads of carcasses. 10 years is good and if his teeth are fine he could go on longer, my 12 year old girl had her last lamb this season but she is still fine.
I would favour the knacker man every time they are used to the job and are usually very sensitive.

[mmu]

I would agree with you all about the humane killer being better than the lethal injection, especially if an animal is already sick, as their veins collapse and getting injection in to them is very unpleasant ansd stressful.  the only problem hereabouts is we only have one knacker and they seem to be reluctant to despatch an animal unless it is off its feet.  It's a difficult situation, as I'd rather not wait that long.

[kanisha]

depends on your vet mine is a pretty good aim for the jugular everytime put my old girl down as calm as a baby. I know I find the captive bolt distressing  just to hear it fired.

[Corrie Dhu]

I actually think an injection is kinder than the humane killer, I suppose it depends on the vet administering it!

I had a lamb half eaten alive by a dog and I took it to the vet to see if he thought there was anything they could do (I knew it was highly unlikely).  There wasn't and he injected her, she fell over as if falling asleep and that was that.  Compared to the bolt gun where they twitch and there is loads of blood, I know what I'd prefer if I was them!

[bazzais]

{quote = Fleecewife} Sex, drug and rock and roll {quote} - lol

There is no law as to when an animal is old enough to dispose of - just keep looking over him like you have done - and keep him happy x

If he is that old - you cant really take him down the mart anyway, so in the end the choice is going to be down to you - and by choice I mean responsibility.

Poor old boy - i hope he lives onto next year and beyond.

Baz

[Roxy]

I used to bury my goats on my land - but when the foot and mouth came, I understood that as an agricultural animal they had to be disposed of in a proper way (taken away and not buried on my land).  Therefore thats what I have done, and assume sheep would be the same?  I know horses are classed as pets and can be buried in their field.

I dread Bertie our pet Shetland boy going - he is such a character, and more like a dog  than sheep.  He must be 10 now, but in good health.  Its when their teeth go, and they lose condition, thats the problem.

I usually have my goats shot here, before they are taken away. The last one was put to sleep by the vet, and it was, in my view, quick and no stress for the goat.

A neighbour had a ewe that lived until she was 16 - she was a pet, having being bottle reared.  She lambed every year, having twins, and I remember her having twns even in her teens, which I thought was amazing.  We were all worried when she was ill when she lambed the last time, but she rallied and recovered well.

[colliewoman]

I dread Bertie our pet Shetland boy going - he is such a character, and more like a dog  than sheep.  He must be 10 now, but in good health.  Its when their teeth go, and they lose condition, thats the problem.

Hey roxy, when your old fella's teeth start troubling him, get some liquid feed and feed in a ball roller feeder (thing giant roll-on). with no work to do that can tide them over till the teeth all fall out, or the vet assists with the teeth coming out. when shetlands are gummers with no teeth left they can eat with the best of them! its the ones with only a few pegs left that get problems 

[The Chicken Lady]

Thanks for all your replies. Archie is a Ryeland. I will just have to wait and see how he goes over winter. He has not been with the girls this year as on his last outing he only managed to produce 1 lamb and he tends to push the other tup away as he is the top dog! He has lost some weight recently so that's what made me think his days may be coming to an end, however he seems to have picked up again.

[SteveHants]

If you want to dispatch yourself you can use a .22 or a .410 shotgun. Its what I do when I have to kill an animal, then the fallen stock feller collects them all the same or the hunt kennels have em. Its hard on you, I know, but Id sooner do it myself, I'm not a fan of the injection.

[Sylvia]

I have heard of false teeth for sheep. If you can't bear to lose him yet you could go down that way, though it's just putting off the inevitable

[Roxy]

Thank you Colliewoman!!  Bertie is a tough old lad, and makes sure he is first in line for any food.  With his large fleece it is hard to see how well he actually is.  He lives a pampered life - goes out in the field all day with the llama and goats, and goes in the stable at night and helps the little pony eat his hay.

Chicken lady is only a few miles from me - perhaps we can have an old boys field, and two sets of false teeth arranged!!!!