Feeding ewes in the field and feet...

[Mc115reed]

Due to not having enough paddocks for tipping which are suitably fenced Iv got 2 fields with sheep on at the minute which are quite bare so have started feeding the ewes haylage in there ... but it's a mud bath around the ring feeder within a day and they're all going off there feet.... anyone any suggestions on ways to stop them going off there feet or to keep the area from turning into such a mud bath?

They've another 2 weeks in there before I pick the tups up and can move them somewhere else really...

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Drop sheets like the painters use, a couple of them one on top of the other, saves them making a huge paddy around a ring.
...cinder blocks at the corners

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Spread the feed out so they are not all congregating in one area?

Or (longer term) put a hard standing pad for the feeder to sit on?

 

[Mc115reed]

Isn't exactly practical to spread a square bale out over the field every 2 days? And chances are the dopey sh1!s would climb over it and sleep on it rather than eating it

 

[neilo]

Change to breeds/sheep that are less susceptible to scald?

But in the short term, run them through a formalin footbath, even if it's in the field and back onto the same pasture.

 

[llamedos]

Put lime down around the feeder.

 

[Mc115reed]

Lime seems like the logical solution don't know why I never thought about that haha .. not used to feeding in the field to be honest it's first year we've done it, more grass than we know what to do with so made a lot of haylage which needs feeding and we've only 6 fields out of 15 at the minute suitably stock fenced and we've 6 different tipping batches so having to eat the ground bare while the tups are out and by the time we pick them up.. we should hopefully have more ground fenced for them to move to..

 

[GTB]

Would housing them for a couple of weeks be an option? Better than making a mess in the field?

+1 for lime around the feeder.

 

[Mc115reed]

We don't actually have any buildings, waiting on a new cover being made for our poly tunnels for lambing

 

[ajcc]

Buy or borrow Electric fencing if you got grazing but waiting for permanent fencing.

 

[Mc115reed]

Have plenty of electric fencing but the ewes just walk through it we had a dog attack a few months ago and the sheep broke through the electric fence and ever since they just laugh at it ...

 

[Al R]

Have plenty of electric fencing but the ewes just walk through it we had a dog attack a few months ago and the sheep broke through the electric fence and ever since they just laugh at it ...

Triple strand putting out 7000v? We can keep just weaned welsh mountain ewes and lambs in with electric but we do go 4 strand if their near each other.

 

[Mc115reed]

Generally kicking out 4000v to 9000v 3 strands and they just waddle on through you can stand and watch them walk through......

 

[kfpben]

My lambs grazing turnips have crap feed at the moment.

Not really sure what to do as any treatment will surely just get obliterated by the mud? On grass I footbath with formalin but can’t see much point on root crops.

 

[Yale]

I’ve tipped a few loads of muck from the shed ,levelled off and put the feeder on it.kept a lot drier however it was in a field of swedes so the mess didn’t matter.