Author Topic: If sheep aren't born to die ... (Read 3099 times)

Remy · « **on:** March 28, 2012, 01:17:26 pm »

... they have various ways of appearing that they are trying their best!

Yesterday afternoon I came home to see a sheep lying in an unusual position, flat out with head, neck and legs stuck straight out - a position only seen before in my deceased sheep! I thought, oh no, not another one, a pregnant Charollais too - what is going on?? I had to attend to something pressing before I could go and inspect the sheep, but I kept looking over to see if she was moving. All the other sheep moved a bit but not this one. So I went over, the other sheep got up but not this one. I was just trying to figure out how I was going to move her out of the field when she suddenly got up

.

Then later in the afternoon I was on the yard, looked over at the ewes all lying down then saw some legs waving around in the air in the midst of them. Went over and there was a pregnant ewe cast on her back like a turtle, so I had to roll her over

.

Then in the evening I went out again, all the flock came to the gate but I could hear a loud baaing from the other side of the field. On inspection it was a ewe with her head stuck in the stock fencing

Wonder what tricks they will have for me today?

HappyHippy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2012, 01:20:38 pm »

Which is precisely why I'll stick with my pigs thanks

Ah, the joys of animal ownership eh?!

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2012, 02:30:47 pm »

Or Remy you could look at it from the opposite angle - your sheep got into some tricky situations but because they are born survivors they didn't die. The stuck ewe was very bright to let you know she was stuck

OK so you had to help the cowped ones, but one did wave for you to come and rescue her

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2012, 03:58:10 pm »

That's sheep for you!

BTW, if you have a pregnant ewe lying down flat and not moving, get over there and check it out straight away - if it's hypocalcaemia, minutes matter.

VSS · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2012, 06:03:03 pm »

Quote from: Remy on March 28, 2012, 01:17:26 pm

Yesterday afternoon I came home to see a sheep lying in an unusual position, flat out with head, neck and legs stuck straight out - a position only seen before in my deceased sheep!

And if she is doing this post lambing it is probably staggers ie magnesium deficiency. Get some into her quick or she is a goner!

Remy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2012, 08:04:11 pm »

Flipping heck as if I don't have enough to worry about!!

hypocalcaemia
staggers

or it's dead!

so what do I add to my emergency list for these two potential disasters ..

Anke · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:01:30 pm »

Calciject for Hypocalcaemia (is it about 80ml( $:-\$ ) by injection under the skin in two or three places over the ribcage), usually occurs for sheep pre-lambing, and Magniject for grass staggers, same method of injection. use a thick needle, and if you have the time warm the slution up a bit in a bucket of warm water as you go out to the sheep.

Remy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2012, 08:56:07 am »

I have a high quality lick which I hope will help them get the correct vits and minerals, but will add these two - are they from the vet or can you get them from feed merchants?

SteveHants · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2012, 12:37:24 pm »

I had a wilts ewe who was in the habit of lying down on her side, as if shed been pushed over, eyes closed.....

Twice I came up on her and got close enough to read her tag, thinking shed died and twice she opened her eyes and shot off like a bolt into the distance. That was in autumn, she's never done it since and all seem to be in good nick.