[moprabbit]

Wondered if anyone has any ideas for stopping my sheep chewing the wood on my shed? They only do it when I'm sitting in there -it's as if they're telling me to get out and go and open the gate to their other field. I wondered about some aerosol spray I've seen advertised to stop horses crib biting that's supposed to taste unpleasant, but thought I'd ask on the forum first.  Thanks.

[clydesdaleclopper]

Chewing wood can often be a sign of mineral deficiency. Do they have access to a mineral lick?

[moprabbit]

Thanks for your reply Clydesdaleclopper! Yes they actually have 2 different mineral licks in the field, so I don't think it's that.

[Foobar]

Spray some vinegar on it?

[Marches Farmer]

Can you hurdle off the part they chew on - they can get into a habit of doing something like this.

[goosepimple]

Get some tree branches in there - preferably fruit trees or ones with crumbly bark, our sheep and goats eat the trees all the time, we've had to fence off specific trees so they can't get them or put a cylinder of chicken wire around the trunks, but they love us chopping and thinning out, they get loads of tree trunks and branches here - get some from the roadside or the like.

[Anke]

My sheep are currently de-barking the willow prunings and other stuff, ready to use as kindling next winter...

[Tim W]

If they only do it when you sit in the shed then don't sit in the shed

[Melmarsh]

Cribox to stop horses wind sucking may not work but could be worth a try !!! Or just let them in the other field and see if they come back for a nibble !!    Naughty sheep