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Author Topic: Shedding fleece  (Read 4465 times)

Remy

  • Joined Dec 2011
Shedding fleece
« on: February 28, 2012, 07:28:47 pm »
One of my ewe lambs (well she's nearly a year now) has started to shed her fleece  ???.  It's just dropping off her and she's probably ripe for shearing except it's not quite the right time!  None of my others have ever done this, just this one ewe lamb.  Is it normal?   I almost feel should shear it all off but she'd then need a coat!  ;D

She was also one of the poorly lambs of mine who was affected by worms but recovered.  Not sure if this has any bearing on it, but Tiny (the Gotland who nearly died) isn't losing hers in the same way.
1 horse, 2 ponies, 4 dogs, 2 Kune Kunes, a variety of sheep

SingingShearer

  • Joined Mar 2010
  • South Yorkshire
    • Singing Shearer
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2012, 07:50:03 pm »
Hi Remy,

It's probably the stress from having worms, stress causes the fleece to weaken and break as the sheep are putting all their energy into keeping condition, rather than the fleece.

You could shear her and she probably wouldn't need a coat, I have been shearing since the first week in January and as far as I know none of the lambs I have done have had coats on.

Hope that helps,
Philip :sheep:

Remy

  • Joined Dec 2011
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2012, 08:10:35 pm »
Thanks Philip, I may try it once I have help, i could probably pluck most of it off by hand tho  :D
1 horse, 2 ponies, 4 dogs, 2 Kune Kunes, a variety of sheep

robert waddell

  • Guest
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2012, 08:42:42 pm »
is that show sheep you are shearing philip :farmer:

FiB

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Bala, North Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2012, 08:48:16 pm »
HI Remy - is it definately not biting lice?  Some of mine have had this (and we've generally had a lot of this around here) and they didnt seem to be itching, no evident wounds, just fleece falling out and new stuff growing underneath.  When you look in the fleece though you can see tiny buff coloured 'bits' which look like lanolin but on longer look move!  Spect you know all this but thought I'd post for Newbies like me!  Was prescribed coopers 'spot on'.

cooper956

  • Joined Dec 2009
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2012, 08:48:50 pm »
what breed its it if shetland ect  they do this if not it will be when it was ill the wool stops growing  causeing a break in it it then sheds after a bit of new growth has a shearling jacob do this after going down hilll and loseing her lambs other year left it too all fall off and she looked better than any other sheep on the farm then lol no shearing marks

cooper956

  • Joined Dec 2009
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2012, 08:51:13 pm »
as posted look for lice has few hear  bought in coopers has worked well 2nd time round but if its not itching though it will be as my first post if it is lice you will have to treat all your sheep that have been anywhere near it!

SingingShearer

  • Joined Mar 2010
  • South Yorkshire
    • Singing Shearer
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2012, 09:04:58 pm »
Hi Robert,

Some are show sheep and there are some longwools and Angora goats that I shear twice a year.

Philip :sheep:

Remy

  • Joined Dec 2011
Re: Shedding fleece
« Reply #8 on: February 29, 2012, 09:26:27 am »
It's a Zwartbles.  She hasn't been scratching at all, but yes I will look for lice (esp as I've now put some more in with her!!  ::) ::) ).  I'm hoping it was stress as she was quite poorly, but is now looking really good (apart from the raggedy bits of black wool hanging all over her!).
1 horse, 2 ponies, 4 dogs, 2 Kune Kunes, a variety of sheep

 

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