[moprabbit]

I've just been trying to sort out the muddy area around my shelter, using hardcore and hydrated lime as suggested on the forum. One of my sheep went onto the area just after I'd put a dusting of the hydrated lime. Shortly afterwards she started picking up one of her feet as if in discomfort. I caught her and washed her hoof, she was a bit tender between the claws so I sprayed her. I was just wondering if the lime caused the problem and if I should try to scrape/brush if off the liomestone hard core. I checked the lime and it was hydrated not hydraulic, but it did say on the bag it could cause skin irritation. Any advice please? Thank you

[FCA]

We are in exactly the same situation as you.  We have a muddy area outside our sheep's stables and followed this thread with interest.  3 days ago we spread 25kg of hydrated lime and within a day one of our old girls was in obvious discomfort - picking up her feet, stamping and generally looking sorry for herself.  Today we introduced 4 new sheep to our flock (have been in a separate field in quarantine until now)and within minutes one of the new ewes was stamping, limping, kneeling and lying down.


I have just e-mailed our vet to find out what could be happening.  I would hate to think we'd done something wrong and ended up burning their feet.  I'm surprised though because the EBLEX booklet on preventing lameness in sheep quite clearly suggests applying hydrated lime to poached areas.


Maybe we've got a couple of sheep with tender feet that need hardening up, because it certainly isn't affecting all of them.  Or maybe these 2 had a cut on the feet which the lime has got into.


Does anyone else have any ideas?  I'll let you know what our vet says.  Thanks.

[moprabbit]

FCA - It's amazing that we've had the same problem!
I've just put a search on google for 'sheep and hydrated lime' and there are a lot of sites extolling the virtues of hydrated lime in the control of footrot and improving the quality of sheeps feet,  so I'm sure we can't have done wrong. I'm just not sure what I'm going to do about it now. I'll be very interested to hear what your vet says.

[Old Shep]

The sheep could have scald - and the lime is stinging but it will be doing good.  Spookily I've just put lime down for my goats with scald.  Something in the air making us all do the same job???

[FCA]

Thank you for that reassurance Shep.  it helped.  And I think you were right about scald and the lime doing it good.  Neither of the sheep are stamping or holding their feet up any more, and no one else has started!  What a relief.  I hope yours is doing better now too moprabbit.
I haven't had a reply from our vet yet but I'll let you know what he says.

[moprabbit]

Thanks for the replies - Shep, I was wondering how the lime helps scald? How have your goats with scald re acted to the limed area? I hope all is well with them!
 I must admit that when one of my ewes started stamping her foot and looking most uncomfortable I closed the shelter off to them all. I have now re opened it so hopefully all will be Ok - I've read so many reports about the good that hydrated lime does, I just hope I haven't done the wrong thing! Glad to hear about your ewes FCA please let me know what your vet says - Thanks!

[Blackbird]

Well, this is interesting! I've just spread a load of bark chipppings outside the sheep shelter where it has got very poached and soggy (and it's STILL  ). I've got as far as taking a bag of hydrated lime up with a view to spreading it tomorrow. I will hold fire for some more advice before I go ahead. I've got no sheep limping, but with the totally saturated ground, I'm worried it's only a matter of time before we get foot problems. The GFDs have shelly hoof on at least 2 feet each, though the 2 primitives seem ok so far.

[dyedinthewool]

Don't worry girls/guys - if they are stamping and look a bit uncomfortable (well they are...) the lime dries out any wet between the cleats and 'disinfects' at the same time.  The discomfort will only last a day or so until the hooves harden up.  With all this wet weather their feet are getting soft so infections can get in, by getting them to walk through the lime (mine do it to get to their lick) they get a coating of the lime. It's also good if you can put it somewhere dry as the rain/wet will wash it away in time.
 
Since I've been putting lime down I've rarely had a sheep with scald and I don't have to trim so often either.
 
Blackbird - not sure your bark chipping with last long, they seem to go to mush and disappear into the mud.  Even the chicken pens which had a 8" layer in the summer have gone the colour of mud...
 
It's best to try to get somesort of stone down in the summer when it's dry as it has time to settle and go hard.  Putting it down in winter it also has a habit of disappearing into the mud.... 
 
Sorry don't want to sound    but just wanted you to be aware of what might happen.
 
Sorry moprabbit  only just read your post further down - been under the weather    for a few days so not been on TAS (thats how uughh I felt didn't even turn the computer on) you should only need one bag be careful spreading it - I use a childs sand spade and keeping it level shake it gently so only a fine layer is spread, do be careful as it is potentially hazardous.  You should wear gloves and goggles (not that I do as they steam up and I can't see....!!) but I make sure there is NO wind.  As said above it will wash away if TOOoooo much rain so best if you can do it on a dry/windless day - if only

[moprabbit]

Thanks Dyedinthewool for your reassurance! I hope you're feeling better now!

[Blackbird]

Thanks Dyedinthewool - hope you're feeling better. Bark chips were all that was to hand - I know they'll disappear quickly! Previous land owners sited shelter in the wettest part pf the field for some reason, but as it has about 80 bales of hay in it, it will have to stay put for now. Will put some lime down today as it is amazingly, not  !!

[Old Shep]

A couple of days on and the goats feet are much improved :-) Not sure why it works but it was yet another tip from TAS 

[moprabbit]

Shep - it's good to hear your goats are fine! I was wondering about putting a thin layer of lime in the dry area under the shelter, but that's where they lie down. Would it be a problem if they got it on their fleeces or inhaled it? It's also the area where we have the bonding pens in Spring - could it be a problem to the lambs? Thanks 

[dyedinthewool]

Shep - it's good to hear your goats are fine! I was wondering about putting a thin layer of lime in the dry area under the shelter, but that's where they lie down. Would it be a problem if they got it on their fleeces or inhaled it? It's also the area where we have the bonding pens in Spring - could it be a problem to the lambs? Thanks

I put a layer everytime I clean out any of the sheds/field sheds/barns etc and either keep the sheep out until it's weathered a bit or put a layer of straw down if it's raining and they insist on using them, it does keep the straw (sometimes old hay) drier -    as yet even though they sometimes get a bit on their fleeces if they use their sheds while it's still a bit 'fresh'. I've not had any reactions from my lot
 
I always put a good layer down in the bonding pens when changing from one pairing to another - just put a good thick layer of fresh straw down over it, though I usually clean any 'mucky' bedding out first.  I know you can't do that if you've a big flock but I've only got eight
 
As said previously Lime disinfects by 'killing' bugs by drying them out etc it's pretty  potent stuff.  Builders fingers get cracked and split on the ends mostly due to using cement (Contains lime) which dries out the skin.
 
I use it in the chicken sheds sprinkling a narrow strip along all the ledges, edges around the floor, where the perches are fitted,  under the straw in the nest boxes, (not anywhere where the hens could get it on their feet)    no Red mite as yet   but I do creosote the sheds every year as well. (Put the henny's in a spare shed until it stops smelling)

[moprabbit]

Thanks again Dyedinthewool for all the useful info. - this lime sounds to be a remarkably useful substance if used correctly!

[jaykay]

If you want a bit more info, in a light and funny read, 'Extra Virgin' is a good account of two English sisters whi buy an olive farm in Liguria. They're wet behind the ears and much of the funniness is their peasant neighbours teaching them what's what.

When they sign the deal on the house, the 'agent' gives them a bag of lime.

They find, in due course, that you can use it to whitewash your house inside, sprinkle it each time you use the earth closet, pour it down the well at the end of the summer to clear the pond-smelling water, paint it on the house beams to keep out the ferocious longhorn beetles.....,.they are impressed about how versatile it is!