[woollyval]

Anyone else affected? I drenched my Ryelands with Fasinec duo and they have all got a bit.....nothing i can do....bit cheesed off though!
I have them on an exceptionally dry and well drained field at the moment but wish it would take a break from raining....or drizzle/fog which we have had for last 5 days!

[jaykay]

Fingers crossed, not so far. I had it really badly (well, the sheep did  ) the past two years.

I know, could we pleeeeaaasse have some dry and some sun! 

[Bullseye]

3 of my Ryeland gimmers are the same, presume it's down to the wonderful Yorkshire weather we've been having, better start building an ark.....

[colliewoman]

I am just eternally gratefull that the pallet sheep house of wonderousness has remained standing and they can all fit in it.
I know these primitives of mine are supposed to be hardy, but none of em stay out in the rain for long and the pallet house is the only shelter they have till I can make the hedges safe.


I am convinced that is the only reason we haven't been affected with rain scald

[woollyval]

Well I have never had it in primitives and my remaining pet Ouessant is not affected, I think its the type of fleece and the broad back that does it!

[colliewoman]

Well I have never had it in primitives and my remaining pet Ouessant is not affected, I think its the type of fleece and the broad back that does it!

Oh yes I had forgotten the width!
Out of interest, do the ryland's  shake much?
My guys shake so much out of their fleeces if they do get wet, it's like watching a dog shake after a bath

[Jcrang]

My rather fat shearling is sodden and has turned a lovely green colour as a result of algae growing in her super wet fleece and very broad back. I posted on the Ryeland Facebook page and it seems that a lot of people have very wet sodden sheep with all sorts growing in their fleece. No scald or rot yet and having had a few days of dry weather they are looking a bit better. Just bought 2 more in lamb ewes Val that arrive on Thursday, older ewes but good breeding. Fingers crossed for a good lambing.

[lachlanandmarcus]

A few of mine have a touch of it. Annoying but they seem happy enough and its mild cases

[woollyval]

  I have one with green algae too!!! Jess....where did you get in lamb ewes??? I have hunted all over looking for some....have instead bought 5 ewe lambs from Nottingham!

[Jcrang]

From a breeder who I met at the RBST S&S at Sedgemoor back in September. There have also been a few advertised on facebook and there is a whole list for sale on the RFBS site. Worth joining the society and getting Dot to add you to to the closed Facebook group. The ewe lambs sound lovely, what flock were they from??? Are you lambing them this year??

[Bionic]

I have Ryelands. Can someone tell me what wool rot/rain scald looks like please.

[woollyval]

Looks like the wool has gone crusty at the skin and broken off....
Sheep have new wool that grows every year and a weak bit between where the old fleece was growing and the new bit. If water penetrates the fleece and stays wet  for a while it starts to rot and breaks at that point....! I will try and see if I can photograph some if the sheep will co operate!

[dyedinthewool]

  mine haven't got any - though my herdy had it for past two years, this year I had her sheared in late Sept, no sign of it
 
I clipped her back short for the two years (didn't look very nice, a bit like 'should have gone to spec savers) then lathered it in Nappy rash cream (Sudofed) which kept the rain off and helped to keep the scabs soft so they didn't get sore and bleed.  Fleece grew back as good as new in the spring, though I think it was more white than before where the scabs had been.

[Fleecewife]

It does seem to be a fleece type thing, with down-type sheep getting it most ie dense, fine coats, fibres all the same length.  We have had sheep like that and there's not a lot you can do except house them, but that has its own problems.
I can be smug    because Hebrideans have a shake-dry fleece which also naturally sheds water as it falls, so what you lose in fineness of wool you gain in resistance to rot.  Heb fleeces do have a bit of a tendency to felt in warm weather with heavy rain if you don't get the fleeces off pronto in June though.

[woollyval]

Well mine will just have to stay out....will put some vaseline on if gets too bad...just need DRY weather!!!