Sheep with gross skin.

[damummis]

One of my newly aquired ewes had horrible crusty, flaky nasty skin. It looks like a bad case of cradle cap that babies get. Any ideas? I did not see any bugs, but that doesn't mean anything.

 

[damummis]

Ok, I just came in from the barn and EWWW. The goats and sheep have bugs. I used my little head light to look closer. Yucka. Now what?

 

[20kidsonhill]

They have lice, pretty easy to treat, and very common.

Can use a dewormer such as ivermectin
Or can use 7-dust or a spray on lice killer.

Your feed store or tractor supply store will have several options.

 

[damummis]

Can a prego ewe use an inject able wormer?

 

[20kidsonhill]

Can a prego ewe use an inject able wormer?

Yes, ivermectin is safe for pregnant animals.

 

[damummis]

Cool, I'll get that tomorrow when I go to the feed store.
Do they get sheered before or after lambing?

 

[20kidsonhill]

Cool, I'll get that tomorrow when I go to the feed store.
Do they get sheered before or after lambing?

Don't know, we only have show lambs for the summer and raise meat goats year round.
I am pretty sure the farm that we buy our show lambs from don't shear before lambing, since they lamb in very early spring, it would be pretty cold to shear them. Pretty sure I remember them looking very wooly, but they have meat lambs not wool lambs.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

You can shear before lambing, that's not a problem. Do you know when they're due? Having sheared ewes at lambing time makes things much easier. You can clearly see their udders and vulvas to help you know when to expect lambs. Plus they take up much less space when shorn so they're not as cramped if theyr'e in a barn. If it's still cold where you are, then just make sure they have access to shelter (which I think they do!) for the next 10 days after you shear them so they can acclimate.

 

[jhm47]

Shear them pre-lambing. They will be more likely to drop their lambs inside than out in a snowbank somewhere. The lambs will also be able to find the teats much easier.

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day there, do you not have "backline lice treatments " up there?.....We have quite a number of "off-shears" blackliners,apply back of the head to the tip of the tail within 8 hours of shearing....The lice are not able to move to the next stage in their life cycle and die............Google search. lice control/backliners for sheep ................hope the above is of some help...................T.O.R.