Care of sheep
By Carmela
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
United States
September 14, 2017 8:33am CST
As a writer, I tend to come up with questions that are hard to find online because like this one, about caring for sheep, only has the basics, but I am looking for more detail.
When I look up on what a shepherd (is that what they are still called? I don't know) would do if a sheep is attacked and injured (not fatality, but enough that if it were a person or dog, the wound(s) would be cleaned, stitched up, and then rest until the wound(s) is healed.
However, all I can find is an article that when a sheep is scratched by thorns, the shepherd applies an oil.
In my mind, I see a sheep that was attacked (and saved by the shepherd) and then the shepherd will assess the injuries to see how serious the wounds are, then move the sheep to a safe place to clean and bandage, maybe even have a vet come out to stitch up the wound. Then the sheep is kept away from the other sheep until it is strong enough to be put back in.
Of course, that is what I would do, I would hate to think they kill the sheep with serious, though not deadly, wounds. Yet, even though my writing is fictional, I still want to make it as close to reality as I can.
3 people like this
4 responses
@changjiangzhibin89 (16789)
• China
15 Sep 17
I remember you haven't bred sheep before.I guess you encounted the problem when you were writing a novel.You want your novel to be true to life.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16789)
• China
16 Sep 17
@Carmelanirel2 .My mother in law had bred a sheep . I once watched she shearing the sheep .The plaintive cry of the sheep still rings in my ears.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
15 Sep 17
Yes, the only time I had anything to do with sheep was when I was a child and a local public farm would have sheep shearing and everyone was welcome to watch. You know, I would love to visit that farm again (if it is still open) but the sheep shearing is in the springtime.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
17 Sep 17
@changjiangzhibin89 I love watching sheep shearing and I even get to experience it to some degree when we get a dog that is very matted. The fur comes off like the sheep wool does, in one piece.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Sep 17
I think the answer might depend on the shepherd (or sheepherder, in some parts of the country) Most of them do not own the sheep, but work for someone else and they are responsible for the lives of the sheep, so most of them would do what it took to heal a wounded sheep. However, they might have orders from their boss to not spend over a certain amount of time or money in saving one.
I think that in your story, you could make it work whichever way would make it go the direction you wanted.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
14 Sep 17
Thanks @peavey, I didn't know the shepherd didn't own the sheep.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Sep 17
@Carmelanirel2 As a rule, they don't. You may find some who own a small flock who care for them themselves, but not generally speaking.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
15 Sep 17
@peavey There are small sheep farms near me, maybe I can ask them. Thanks .
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
20 Sep 17
Sometimes it is tough to find good and useful information about certain subjects online. That is why I still go to the library.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
20 Sep 17
I'd love to go to the library, that is where I have to upload my e-books, but I never seem to have the time. :P
@Scrapper88 (5983)
• United States
14 Sep 17
Have you tried talking to an animal vet. They might be able to point you in the right direction to help you find out what you need to know.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
14 Sep 17
Good idea, except it isn't near the time to take my dogs in, but my vet is a country vet. 
