[Jacob-list] thin ewe

[Gillian Fuqua]

I don't know where you live Tom, but we have had tremendous issues with 
very nasty parasites this summer.  I have had three very sick lambs who 
fully recovered and on Monday one of my ewe lambs who had seemed wormy 
got stuck in a fence and strangled.  I think that she just did not have 
the strength to get out.  A neighbor of mine has lost 3 lambs and one 
goat this year too.  I wish I had some good advice to offer other than 
tales of woe.  You may have to look at using another wormer on top of 
the Ivermectin, one that has another active ingredient or contains a 
boticide.  Another thing that I have done in the past is done large 
doses consecutively of Safeguard for 3 days.  Yogurt after worming 
seems to soothe the stomachs as well.   I have also found that giving 
doses of nutri-drench can help as well.  Tom, I hope that your second 
sick girl gets better and pulls through so you don't lose hope all 
together.

In times like this it is easy to toss in the towel. but there is 
nothing nicer than hanging out with your flock.  I had actually thought 
of doing a major downsizing now that I am in the midst of a divorce.  A 
friend of mine who is not particularly an animal lover told me to keep 
them, that he has never seen me more relaxed and happy than when I have 
been working with my animals or their fiber.  So I am going to cut some 
other corners and keep the flock, even when I am out digging a hole, in 
the dark, cursing Mother Nature for another sad moment.

On another note for Ralene.  I think that a real key for me being able 
to work my sheep alone is that I spend a lot of time with them, just 
hanging out.  I will sit out and read or sometimes just talk to them 
about lots of things.  I also will frequently have little bits of grain 
or apple peelings.  (If you go out with a beer, they do try to drink 
it)  The only time that I really have a hard time is when they see the 
truck near the pasture, then they are lunatics because they are not 
wild about travel.