Sheep

We have new neighbours who have put sheep in their garden (cue much shaking of heads by other neighbours about lack of grass). They bleat all the time, which is fine but I have a permanent earworm of the "June is busting out all over" song.
"All the rams that chase the ewe sheep are determined there'll be new sheep
And the ewe sheep aren't even keeping score...."
Arghhhh.....

That brings back happy memories, phoenix, glad my sheep days are long past. I remember reading in Farmers Weekly ,"Sheep have many diseases, the first sign of which is usually sudden death!"
I agree about supervision, brenda, we often have to report animals in trouble to farmers who use our nearby fields.My DH steps in when he can, but at our age it's not always possible. I think they're all too busy putting up turbines!

Ah, but I bet you're not prone to foot rot, are you!

And I doubt very much if you ever need dagging!

And me!

I am not pregnant [ nor am I a sheep] but if I fall over, then I find it hard to struggle up again as well. So I am badly designed too!

Yes, Elegran it's funny how they can suddenly get on their feet!

Mishap I have had that happen to one of my ewes (back in the days when I had a small flock of 50) the crows will also go for other soft flesh, round at the back end, bloody things.

Much as I love sheep, and have many happy memories of my little flock, I must say they are incredibly badly designed

I have seen it when the weather has been wet and soaked the wool of pregnant sheep. Once they go down and get on their backs it is very hard for them to roll over enough to get a footing and stand up. Often it only takes someone to approach them with the intention of helping for them to give an almighty heave and succeed.

The fields around us are always full of sheep and I have never seen this.

I did once see a sick cow lying on the common (where they graze) with a crow picking at her eyes, even though she was not dead. Nature is pretty crap really.

I think it is very commendable that you take the time to let them know. I also live in a rural area and my son has told me that he has had to put one or two sheep the right way up again (it gave him a shock the first time he saw it).