RockyTopFarm
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Due soon! Pulling wool out of her side. Is this normal or a sign of something?
Pregnant ewe pulling wool
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Baymule
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It must be a sign of something. I don't have wool sheep, I have hair sheep, but have never witnessed this behavior.
@Sheepshape @misfitmorgan
@Sheepshape @misfitmorgan
misfitmorgan
Herd Master
Is she pulling it out or rubbing it off?
If she is pulling it out see if you can easily pull out a handful of wool....dont rip it out just kind of gently tug and see what happens.
If she is pulling it out see if you can easily pull out a handful of wool....dont rip it out just kind of gently tug and see what happens.
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RockyTopFarm
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She’s pulling it and eats it - I have watched her do it. She turns her head and hits her side then rips it out. She’s khatadin.
Hmmm maybe a "cone of shame" like they put on dogs who are "eating" themselves? Have you checked to see if she has some parasitic issue there like lice?
misfitmorgan
Herd Master
Ok several options.
Has there been any stress to her in the past few weeks? Pregnancy Toxemia, food change, habit change, to much handling, etc?
What are you feeding her? Does she have access to loose minerals?
Is she confined in a small space, have diarrhea?
Has there been any stress to her in the past few weeks? Pregnancy Toxemia, food change, habit change, to much handling, etc?
What are you feeding her? Does she have access to loose minerals?
Is she confined in a small space, have diarrhea?
misfitmorgan
Herd Master
It is most likely she is lacking something, the what is why i asked what i asked. If left untreated she could go down or die.
Mike CHS
Herd Master
The OP said they have Katahdin sheep so I'm wondering if what they are calling "wool" is a bad shedding season. Not that it matters but I have never seen a hair sheep do that.
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RockyTopFarm
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No stress
Grain hay and plenty of water
She’s eating good and acting normal - just end of pregnancy kinda cranky. She lost mucus plug Sunday.
It’s been cold (-45* wind chills) here but they have a barn with stall mats and bedding and heated water bucket.
She was cranky and pulling wool from other sheep so Sunday I put her in the stall next to everyone else alone - but again she’s content. The pulling seems to happen w discomfort from babies. I just didn’t know if it was typical of late pregnancy. She is not showing any signs at all of being sick.
Grain hay and plenty of water
She’s eating good and acting normal - just end of pregnancy kinda cranky. She lost mucus plug Sunday.
It’s been cold (-45* wind chills) here but they have a barn with stall mats and bedding and heated water bucket.
She was cranky and pulling wool from other sheep so Sunday I put her in the stall next to everyone else alone - but again she’s content. The pulling seems to happen w discomfort from babies. I just didn’t know if it was typical of late pregnancy. She is not showing any signs at all of being sick.
Sheepshape
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I'm assuming that she doesn't have ectoparasitic.
Could be that it is her 'stress ball' or that she is mineral deficient. Make sure she has a mineral lick available.
Good Luck.
Could be that it is her 'stress ball' or that she is mineral deficient. Make sure she has a mineral lick available.
Good Luck.
