Sheep stuck on its back!

A sheep rolling around because the fluffy cloud with legs is stuck!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• sheep
• stuck
• rolling

[leachim2]

WARNING A sheep has a rumen which enables it to digest grass. This is basically a large fermentation tank where various bacteria break down grass to produce digestible food. This process produces a lot of gas! The fermentation tank has a pipe in at the front and a pipe out at the back. When the sheep is upsidedown, these exits are blocked so the gas produced cannot escape and just builds up in the rumen until the poor sheep's lungs are crushed and it is unable to breathe. Always TURN THEM OVER

[John27346]

@illustratz It's not an urban legend. I've seen it happen. I grew up on a farm.

[MrFRANKJEANS]

I don't think it's stuck at all - it's just having a roll about probably scratching!

[illustratz]

I did some research -- the vets say it's an urban legend, at least in an open field. They've never had a sheep die from rolling on its back out in the open. Stuck, yes (in a gully, or some other obstacle), but not just from rolling on their backs.

Hmmm... we need a different term.... "urban legend" doesn't sound quite right for AG stories.... ;)

[illustratz]

@widgeon LOLOL you just made my back itch. My mustang looks SO stupidly content when he does that, it's hilarious.

[illustratz]

@John27346 Why would they be unable to roll over? I have Jacob sheep -- and some have pretty thick fleeces -- but the thought never ever crossed my mind that they would EVER get "stuck" there, ours are amazingly powerful animals and can jump 3 feet straight up from a standstill.... Are some sheep breeds so inbred that they actually can't?

Are you sure it's not an urban legend?

[John27346]

@illustratz Actually, they can die if they're unable to roll back over.

[illustratz]

@Tonidave18

Nope, sheep aren't THAT inept. This one's just having a nice scratch. Look at the end -- she rolls back over, just has happy as can be, and she's even still chewing her cud.

[illustratz]

Uhh.... Children, children.... he's ONLY scratching his back, he's perfectly alright. Get over it. (and yourselves, while you're at it) Sheesh.

[widgeon]

Ahh the internet, home of the outraged. Sometimes it's hard to tell if an animal is stuck or just scratching. You have to watch 'em for a while to tell, generally they get up on their own after a few mins - no point being a hero and getting a kick in the chops needlessly before you're sure. I had a horse that did it, first time I saw it I thought he was stuck as he was there for about 10 minutes, but nah, by the time i'd come back with the lunge line he was up and grazing. Rinse and repeat.