mysunwolf
Herd Master
Okay, this is my first cry for help in a long line this year.
I found my oldest (3-6 years, I haven't exactly figured out accuracy with teeth yet) and fattest ewe Darla limping in the pasture today, not too bad but she was definitely lying down more than usual. Checked her hooves and they are okay, may have to trim them just a touch but they are not too bad, no swelling or sores or rot. I think it might be a pulled muscle but I'm not sure.
She is HUGE and continuing to gain weight on just about nothing. My setup is very small so I have not separated her out and she has been getting a handful of wheat each evening, in addition to free choice hay and grazing (though everything is pretty much dead).
Should I try to build a small pen and separate her from the flock, feeding her something like alfalfa pellets in the evenings instead of wheat? She definitely hogs feed at the trough. I have to feed the flock something to get them into the barn at night since that is our setup right now, but I am concerned about her gaining more weight. However, I'm also concerned about putting her on a diet while she is pregnant.
Should I watch her for a little while and see if her leg gets better even without a diet?
My main concern is that she is this huge and only 2.5 months pregnant. I have no idea how she will carry her weight when she is closer to lambing. I'm also concerned for her to actually lamb at this rate, considering her size, and am definitely on the lookout for prolapse.
Very worried right now. She doesn't look that big compared to some ewes I've seen, but compared to her bone structure she is enormous. I will try to get some pictures over the next few days so you all can see. She's the most unfriendly of all the ewes and avoids me like the plague, so it's difficult.
As usual, thanks for any advice!!
I found my oldest (3-6 years, I haven't exactly figured out accuracy with teeth yet) and fattest ewe Darla limping in the pasture today, not too bad but she was definitely lying down more than usual. Checked her hooves and they are okay, may have to trim them just a touch but they are not too bad, no swelling or sores or rot. I think it might be a pulled muscle but I'm not sure.
She is HUGE and continuing to gain weight on just about nothing. My setup is very small so I have not separated her out and she has been getting a handful of wheat each evening, in addition to free choice hay and grazing (though everything is pretty much dead).
Should I try to build a small pen and separate her from the flock, feeding her something like alfalfa pellets in the evenings instead of wheat? She definitely hogs feed at the trough. I have to feed the flock something to get them into the barn at night since that is our setup right now, but I am concerned about her gaining more weight. However, I'm also concerned about putting her on a diet while she is pregnant.
Should I watch her for a little while and see if her leg gets better even without a diet?
My main concern is that she is this huge and only 2.5 months pregnant. I have no idea how she will carry her weight when she is closer to lambing. I'm also concerned for her to actually lamb at this rate, considering her size, and am definitely on the lookout for prolapse.
Very worried right now. She doesn't look that big compared to some ewes I've seen, but compared to her bone structure she is enormous. I will try to get some pictures over the next few days so you all can see. She's the most unfriendly of all the ewes and avoids me like the plague, so it's difficult.
As usual, thanks for any advice!!