ohiogoatgirl
True BYH Addict
One of my ewes has chewed at an itchy spot on her side twice in a row. Today she did it again during chores and the spot had been obviously chewed at a bit.
I opened up the wool and rubbed at the area of skin for her. I looked real close and saw some kind of tiny bugs. Probably as long as a flea but long and thin with a central body and long backside section that was a different shade of orangey-brown (??) than the main body.
My internet searching turns up lice and mites that dont look like this.
Also Lambing is due to start early as February 24 and late as first week of April. They are wool sheep and I was planning to shear them after they lamb and hopefully the weather will level out by then. So they are all in a full year fleece. Mostly 3-5 inches with the one ewe (the itchy culprit) that is dual coated and about 6.5 inches staple wool now.
Any ideas of what they are? And treatment (and preggo safe vs not safe)? I was planning on worming them when I shear.
I have some DE (diatomaceous earth) that I am going to take up and try to part the wool and sprinkle near the skin. I have taken down a recipe for a dewormer (aid) that is made up of garlic powder and molasses and a bit of water. I hadn't thought to try it until late spring but I will try it before lambing if I think they need some kind of boost.
Thanks!
I opened up the wool and rubbed at the area of skin for her. I looked real close and saw some kind of tiny bugs. Probably as long as a flea but long and thin with a central body and long backside section that was a different shade of orangey-brown (??) than the main body.
My internet searching turns up lice and mites that dont look like this.
Also Lambing is due to start early as February 24 and late as first week of April. They are wool sheep and I was planning to shear them after they lamb and hopefully the weather will level out by then. So they are all in a full year fleece. Mostly 3-5 inches with the one ewe (the itchy culprit) that is dual coated and about 6.5 inches staple wool now.
Any ideas of what they are? And treatment (and preggo safe vs not safe)? I was planning on worming them when I shear.
I have some DE (diatomaceous earth) that I am going to take up and try to part the wool and sprinkle near the skin. I have taken down a recipe for a dewormer (aid) that is made up of garlic powder and molasses and a bit of water. I hadn't thought to try it until late spring but I will try it before lambing if I think they need some kind of boost.
Thanks!