Author Topic: Shetlands going bald! (Read 3373 times)

egglady · « **on:** March 25, 2010, 04:53:07 pm »

As a relative newbie with sheep I am not sure if this is 'normal' or not. We have 4 shetland ewes, all due to lamb beginning of April, with two looking like they are carrying twins. All seem healthy but the last couple of days I've noticed that two of the ewes are almost bald on the area just above their docks (not sure if this is what this area is called in sheep but it is with horses!); basically it's the area above their tails (but not their tails) on their back - if that makes sense?

They arent in a new field or anything so presumably if there was somewhere to scratch they'd have done so before now?

Is there anything I should be worried about please?

All eating well.

woollyval · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2010, 07:22:22 pm »

Have you treated for lice? I would imaging that they are rubbing on something! Its too early for fleece to start to rise and therefore in Shetlands 'rue'...and too cold! I would treat them with some 'Spot On' for sheep!
If not lice and they have been treated it may be a bit of rainscald.....
If deloused and healthy I would not worry unduely.

garden cottage · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2010, 07:24:55 pm »

wool loss is extremely common, either caused by stress, parasites (if itching) or illness, or none of these, weve had a couple of ryelands with loss around necks, theyve lambed and are fine. worse case would be scrapie re constant itching develops scabs on skin, gradually lose weight.

Calvadnack · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:24:35 pm »

My Shetlands are starting to lose some of their undercoat and I caught one of the ewes rubbing her bum against the fence. My Wiltshires are also shedding, so if you've checked for lice it seems that Spring might just be here!