[the two Bs]

HI All,
Has anyone got any clever ideas about reassuring sheep when fireworks go off? My 3  3year old pet ewes are absolutely terrified of fireworks, even if they are not very loud/overhead.  They dash into their little house and really look petrified.
 Last couple of years I have just stayed with them if I have known about it and offered them their favourite treats.
 I tried asking the vet yesterday when I took the dog in, and she suggested putting cotton wool in their ears, but not sure how insulted they will be by me trying to stuff cotton wool down their ears.....suspect she has not tried it.
Any ideas welcome. Many thanks!!

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Would putting them in an empty, clean shed help? Until the fireworks stop?

[landroverroy]

 Give them some rescue remedy.

[Bionic]

I was going to recommend rescue remedy too. I only found out about it recently from a dog judge who said that they used to give it to dogs they rescued to help calm them during the process.

I recently used it for my dog who hates being groomed and this time he fell asleep whilst I was clipping him. :-)

[SallyintNorth]

Are we sure that Rescue Remedy is safe for sheep (or ponies or any other livestock we may wish to calm during fireworks.)?

[Fleecewife]

What are the active ingredients of rescue remedy?  How long is its effect?  If they are genuinely stressed and not just on hyper alert then putting them indoors in a familiar shed where they can't see the flashes, perhaps with the radio on really loud sounds a better option.
We get a lot of very low flying military planes here and the sheep do startle (so do I although I love the planes), but are grazing again almost immediately.  I suppose fireworks go on for longer.

[Foobar]

I can't see you really being able to do much about it, other than trying to dissuade your neighbours from having the really loud ones.

[Marches Farmer]

Must your neighbours let off fireworks?  Folks can, I know, be horrendously thoughtless about such things. 

[kelly58]

I agree with Fleecwife, put a radio in their shed and sit with them a while till they seem ok with the noise.
Hopefully it wont go on for too long .

[harmony]

Why would it insult a sheep to have cotton wool stuffed in their ears?  What do they do in a thunderstorm? They obviously see their shed as a safe place so lock them in with plenty of hay.


My neighbours used to let off fireworks for the grandchildren during half term week when they use the house for a week. After a discussion they now only use quiet ones.

[Womble]

Why would it insult a sheep to have cotton wool stuffed in their ears? 

I guess that depends on what you say about them when they can't hear you! 

How about some earmuffs?

[Fleecewife]

Womble - coming face to face with those coming out of the side of their chums heads would scare the living doodah out of the poor things  .  It might even take their minds off the fireworks     




ps I think the vet was not being serious but didn't appreciate your concern.

[Buttermilk]

Womble - coming face to face with those coming out of the side of their chums heads would scare the living doodah out of the poor things  .  It might even take their minds off the fireworks     




ps I think the vet was not being serious but didn't appreciate your concern.

The vet would be serious as it is often used with horses,  Although we use tampons as the string makes removal easy.

[the two Bs]

Thank you so much everyone. I will investigate rescue remedy but want to be sure its safe... and otherwise have a cosy hour in with a radio (not tried that), lots of hay, yummy lamb creep feed and 3 sheep. We also get low flying aircraft and yes, with fireworks they go on being scared, rather than just running around "hyper alert" as you say. I think it is because fireworks go on a while.
The vet did mention tampons - says she uses them occasionally in dogs at Guy Fawkes - but thought cotton wool might be softer. I am not sure if they will keep still enough to put them in, but will have a go. Not fair to formally "immobilise" them to do it I don't think ( they are huge and I am not very good at bringing them down, so it is traumatic for all of us).

Re the neighbours - one set of neighbours do at least warn me, but the other is a commercial sheep farmer and this is where the fireworks are to be on Sat. He would not be overly sensitive to the emotional needs of sheep re fireworks (although a very caring farmer to his animals in other respects, he does not identify with the smallholder/pet owner attitude to their flock) so no good there.

Thank you again. Will let you know if I find out anything definitive re rescue remedy. Might ask my sheep vet.

[Marches Farmer]

He would not be overly sensitive to the emotional needs of sheep re fireworks (although a very caring farmer to his animals in other respects, he does not identify with the smallholder/pet owner attitude to their flock) so no good there.

Well, he jolly well should be, or can he move his sheep well away from the display?  I've known sheep run headlong into fencing and do a lot of damage, even though they're used to low-flying aircraft.