[Buffy the eggs layer]

Although my sheep have been treated with click by the breeder they seem to be irritated by flies. Is this just an ocupational hazard of being a sheep or is there anything more that I can do for them?

[jaykay]

Unfortunately 

I use Barrier fly repellent on my goats. I'm sure it would help on sheep. Or one of the citronella horse repellents (flies off horses, not to repel horses you understand  ).

A bit on the top of their heads and tails might make the flies less annoying. You have to repeat every day though - how many sheep have you?

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi JayKay,
 
  I only have 6 so its not too bad I suppose. They seemed to be bitten under their tummies and their ears and noses seemed to be irritated on the sheared ones.
 

[jaykay]

The Barrier fly repellent is a spray, so I creep up on my goats and spray them as they try to escape 

[katie]

I creep around with the Barrier spray as well! Some of my sheep don't mind it - just look at me with the 'what on earth is she doing now? expression. The others are more tricky and I have to take them by surprise. It works well - I'm never bothered by flies as a fair amount always lands on me!

[ScotsGirl]

A couple of my ram lambs were particularly bothered with flies and I sprayed a little crovect around their head which worked.  also used horse fly repellent on the big rams and that seemed to work.

[Dougal]

Some folk swear by garlic tubs. You get them for horses and cattle to help keep the flies at bay and I have heard that they work for sheep. I think 'Tubby' make some. Another solution would be to spray them with crovect, especially around their heads and tail heads. Crovect has a different action to click and helps keep the flies off the sheep a little more. It will be expensive for a small number though. Last (but by no means least) If you can give them access to a good sized shed the flies don't tend to follow them inside so much as outside.

[Mallows Flock]

I am always suspicious when breeders say they have already Clik'd them as in most occassions in my personal experience, the only sheep I have that get bothered by flies are the ones so-called already done! Barrier Blow Fly is ace on sheep. For the first few years when I only had 8 sheep I always used this and only this with no strike forthcoming. We use a garlic lick but I am unsure of its efficacy really. I personally would re-Clik!

[jaykay]

Or maybe try Crovect? I prefer it, I feel it gives a bit of fly repellence at least initially. It doesn't last as long as Clik.

[luckylady]

Or maybe try Crovect? I prefer it, I feel it gives a bit of fly repellence at least initially. It doesn't last as long as Clik.

Sorry to hijack your thread Buffy, but Jaykay from your experience how often would you suggest repeating Crovect for a fly repellent effect?

[Buffy the eggs layer]

I suppose if you apply click and then shear you must loose alot of it in the disguarded fleece.  I would rather use something which has a residual effect rather than chase them round and squirt them each day so perhaps I should try the crovect or click rather than an equine treatment.
 In my years as a horse owner I never bought those equine fly products. When the weather was hot I used to give the horses a shampoo. Washing all the sweat and grease from their coats seemed to work really well in detering the flys.
Perhaps I should get the barbie padling pool out and give the sheepies a little shampoo. I'm sure that they would love it  

[Remy]

I use Crovect on my sheep , its the only thing that works well.  I've lost a lamb to strike and have had to deal with more than enough cases of it amongst the adults over the years - only last Thursday I had to bring a large lamb in that was struck all round his body and chest and ended up totally shearing him.  Poor little b*gger had insult to injury when I had to drag him across the field on his back by his front legs - he wouldn't get up, I was on my own and he was too heavy for me to carry.  I did keep stopping to give him a breather (and me!) and to tell him there wasn't far to go - it was across a six acre field  .  Thankfully he's looking perky again now.


IME if the sheep have been struck it gets rid of the maggots instantly, and also provides a fairly long-term protection.  Try not to breathe it in if you use it though as it's horrible stuff 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks Remy,
 
 do I need to orderit on line from somewhere?

[Remy]

No you can get it from local agricultural stockists 

[Blackbird]

Buffy, I only have 5 sheep and I managed to buy a small quantity (0.8l) of Crovect and applicator gun online from Mole Valley Farmers. My sheep were Clik'd when I got them a few weeks ago, but the 2 GFD lambs will be shorn this week (hopefully  ) and I'm planning to Crovect them after shearing to keep them covered to the end of the season - we've had warm weather into September and October in recent years, so some risk of flies for a while yet.