The fly-blown sheep gets a bit of TLC
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340649)
Rockingham, Australia
September 19, 2022 1:43am CST
I’ve written about our house-sitting and how we’ve had responsibility for 23 sheep. Yesterday, we went down to feed the sheep and had to treat one that was fly-blown. Blowflies had laid their eggs in the dirty, wet wool around her tail. These eggs had hatched into maggots and were feeding on her flesh. With help, we clipped off all the ‘bad’ wool and poured a solution over the affected parts.
Today, we went down to see if she had survived the night. She was laying down but got up and walked a short distance when we approached her.
The photo is of the sheep we treated, You can see the wool has been removed from her back end. She felt well enough to eat some pellets and we are hopeful that she will now survive.
20 people like this
18 responses
@rebelann (112902)
• El Paso, Texas
20 Sep 22
Oh wow, I didn't realize it could be that serious. I'm beginning to understand why sheep are shorn all the time. I don't suppose bathing sheep would be beneficial, would it? Well, with 23 of them giving baths would be an everyday job I suppose.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112902)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Sep 22
I've learned something new. Up until now I always thought sheep in general grew wool that could be shorn and I figured if there were wild sheep .... hmmm, I've never heard of wild sheep or for that matter wild chickens 
.... they'd shed once a year anyway.
.... they'd shed once a year anyway.2 people like this
@JudyEv (340649)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Sep 22
There are different breeds of sheep. These here shed their wool and don't grow a lot in the first place. Sheep bred for wool are shorn once a year. These breeds are often 'dipped' (washed) to get rid of lice/ticks etc. Small flocks aren't often washed in this way.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160767)
• United States
20 Sep 22
You are doing your best and now nature will do some as a partner.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137275)
• United States
19 Sep 22
Her getting up was the first good sign and being interested in eating was the next. I think she may be okay.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106963)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Sep 22
Looks like a good start. Glad she wanted to eat. Thats always a good sign
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14591)
• Hong Kong
19 Sep 22
It's good that she felt good enough to eat something. Hope she will survive.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80176)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Sep 22
That is a lovely looking sheep I am glad you could help her.
@xFiacre (13065)
• Ireland
19 Sep 22
@judyev Isn’t life such a mix of suffering and joy? Whoever invented it got it right I think. It really is the duck’s nuts in many ways. Other times it just hurts, but all in all I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. But if I’d not been born ….. oh shut up Fiacre this is not a day for waxing philosophical, just lie back and soak in all the joy.
