2006-11-01 04:22:16 · 29 answers · asked by SIMON H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAID THIS IS A STUPID QUESTION ARE STUPID THEMSELVES!
it is a good question, many sheep die from lying on their backs too long. farmers have to check on their flocks twice every day to check that their sheep haven't rolled over on to their backs, because if they do, some of them find it hard to get up (you would see them struggling helplessly with their 4 legs in the air). so you would then roll them back over and they would be groggy for a bit b4 heading back to do their stuff (they don't tend to appreciate that you've saved their life lol). i'm not sure what it is they die of, i think it's suffocation or an inability of the heart to circulate blood properly in that position, but i know you have a window of a few hours to save it's life after it has fallen on its back.
hope this helps... please help any sheep/ goat you see on its back they have great difficulty getting up!
2006-11-01 12:18:50 · answer #1 · answered by ylanger ylanger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, is is a bit of both.
Sheep if overwieght or heavily pregnant can get stuck if they fall over on thier back or in the bottom of a dip or ditch. On flat ground they are generally ok unless they are unwell in the first place.
Sheep can an uncanny ability to sit and wait to die. Occasionally, if they get stuck, they just sit there and do nothing. Many other animals struggle to free themselves. Sheep, sometimes just give up and sit and die.
Its a common joke that sheep are just eatng and looking for an excuse to fall over and die, this is not entirely true, just look at how well they survive on the hills with no aid or supervision.
So yes, if a sheep is stuck on its back, in a dip, and unwell, it might just lie there and die whereas other animals would struggle until they ran out of energy.
Generally though, if i throw a sheep on its back and then I walk away, it will get up in a fraction of a second and run off. it would be so quick that if i were 5 feet away i couldn't stop it, so they are quite energetic if all is well . Its a similar action to that of a dog, a roll and jump in one movement.
Sometimes if they are just sitting there stupid and waiting for the grim reaper, and then you roll them back, or free them from a fence, you have to push and persuade then that they can get up and move.
They are not totally stupid you know, just a few give the breed a bad name...remind you of any other species ?
There, thats he most sensible answer based on expereince, can I have my bucket of lamb creep and hayliage now please ?
2006-11-01 04:31:37 · answer #2 · answered by Michael H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sheep On Its Back
2016-10-13 22:12:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a sheep falls over on it's back it is unable to get back up, my friend is a farmers daughter and has always said if you pass a field and a sheep is on its back then you must roll it back over or there is a good chance it will die. Also when a sheep is on it's back usually birds peck their eyes out. Nasty way to go!
2006-11-01 04:32:23 · answer #4 · answered by suckaslug 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many times they die. Sheep have a very tender psyche, and when they get stuck on their back, they just give up. Even if you roll them right side up, they many times will just lay there till they die. We used to raise sheep and I've seen it happen more than once.
2006-11-01 04:26:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can die in some circumstances. at college we had to bring sheep the there backs to clip there feet and nothing was wrong with them after.... if the sheep is too old or to young sometimes even overweight they can die as they would be to unfit to roll themselves back in the correct position.
2006-11-01 04:35:24 · answer #6 · answered by Laila's Mummy! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. My family owns a flock of sheep, and I assure you that they can get back up- not that they tend to fall on their back anymore than a human does.
2006-11-03 13:38:13 · answer #7 · answered by Crystal T 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
its not a stupid question at all, Sheep have a flat back so when they are on them they can not upright there selfs, a sheep thats left on its back for a good leangth of time without anyone intevening will die.
2006-11-01 21:44:26 · answer #8 · answered by Brad 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the sheep is pregnant and has a heavy fleece it can find it difficult to get back on its feet.....
dying is certainly an option....as anyone that owns sheep will tell you, your biggest task is stopping them wanting to kill themselves...they die with little encouragement....
Oh yes....i do not see anything stupid about the question.....not everone lives in the city.
2006-11-01 04:43:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know. Its a bit like the elephant one. If an elephant lays on its side it will die because the weight of it will crush all it organs.
2006-11-01 04:38:09 · answer #10 · answered by hayley a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋