Shearing the sheep

Several sheep died this week with fly strike which is a gruesome way to go. Basically being eaten alive by maggots. We have treated them all with stuff called Coopers Spot On which I guess is a bit like the tick and flea stuff that goes on the dog. It should kill any maggots that hatch on the sheep. 

We did have one sheep die with fly strike before, but we thought he was ill before being struck. So overall we have thought there is not really a peoblem with it here and have not preventatively treated. I think the cool winter and then wet spring has made it worse than normal this year. But we will be applying the Spot On around this time in future years to try to avoid this happening again. Really sad to lose the sheep, horrible they suffered and gruesome for Doug disposing of bodies crawling with maggots.

Shearing is also meant to help, as it makes it easier for the sheep to rub off any fly eggs or kill the maggots when they hatch. We have sheared the bigger sheep and need to do the Ouessant next weekend.

We do it with hand shears as we don't have very many and it is easier not to cut them. They did still get a few little chunks taken out - and they end up quite tufty looking. Nice and cool in the hot weather though.

Mrs Suffolk

Missy (in front) with North Uist behind and a couple of the lambs

North Uist (he is a bit over a year old, half black face, quarter suffolk and quarter ouessant)

There are now only two ewes and one ram plus three lambs (one male and two female). Missy is Mrs Suffolks grand daughter and North Uist is Missy's son. So we need to get some new blood in now. The Mrs Suffolk blood line seems hardy as it is them who survived.