Licking walls?

[pihltribe]

Has anyone had their sheep licking the walls of the their stall? We just got some new sheep and I'm keeping them in a stall for a couple days to acclimate and facilitate bonding. They're happily eating the hay, the corn and soybean mixed feed and even treats of oranges. Issue is, they don't seem to be drinking, but I've caught them licking the walls. What's up? @ of them are 2 months and one is 4 months.

 

[bonbean01]

Nope...that's a new one on me...no stall licking that I'm aware of. Have never fed oranges to my sheep either. My concern is that they aren't drinking water. Hope they start drinking water and stop licking the walls! Good luck with your new sheep!!! Now our ram does like to mouth the chain on the sheep tilt bed we have, but then he is easily amused and a young silly boy, but the ewes are all pregnant, so guess we can have a little tom foolery from him

 

[Bossroo]

The wall ( also dirt) licking is a sign of search for salt/ minerals that they are lacking. Animals usually drink less water in cold weather wich is normal, as well as a need to retain lacking minerals in their body cells/ blood as drinking additional water will require more frequent urination and therefore elimination of needed minerals for bodily functions. I would suggest adding salt and mineral blocks . Also test for selenium levels in soils as some areas are sorely lacking it therefore needing supplementing it.

 

[Beekissed]

Any old paint on those walls?

 

[pihltribe]

I added a salt block and they stopped licking the walls They're drinking a lot. These sheep were actually raised in an orange grove an love them as treats. They're all doing great now - thanks!

 

[bonbean01]

Yay!!! Glad to hear it was salt they needed! Good luck with them and enjoy them!

 

[zzGypsy]

in addition to a white salt block you might want to get them a sheep mineral / protien block like sweetlicks - if they were licking the walls for salt, they might need other nutrients as well. we keep the sweetlicks blocks out for them all the time, but I think it's especially important for bred / nursing ewes. make sure you get the one marked for sheep&goats not just goats (it's too high in copper)

 

[kuntrygirl]

Never heard of licking walls ~ only salt block.

 

[zzGypsy]

ours lick the pipe rails... mostly right after it rains.
sheep will eat their own wool, or wool off other sheep, when they're short some minerals. we lost a couple of quality fleeces to this one year before we figured it out. changed the mineral block we were using and it stopped within days.

generally when they're persisting in some eating behavior that is unusual, I look for nutritional causes.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I would take away the white salt block and just give them loose minerals (which I prefer over a block ,because it's a little easier for them to eat).