Sheep coats

We've been having an issue with the two Jacob ewes and fleece loss.  I'm not sure if someone has been chewing on their wool or if we're dealing with some other issue.  I sold the buckling, Picasso - he's kind of "mouthy", and I'm pretty certain at this point that my does are pregnant, so that was one possibility down.  External parasites are a possibility (although I didn't see anything), so I got some Dectomax and applied that topically.  And now we have sheep coats!  I corresponded with Rocky of SheepSuits and ordered two coats for the girls.  He assisted with sizing, and produced and shipped these very fast!  Exceptional customer service!  They arrived today, and I put them on the girls immediately.

I think we now have all the bases covered.  If another critter was chewing on the wool, the Jacobs are now segregated from the others (two Nubian cross does, and two Shetlands) and coated to protect the wool.  If they continue to lose wool under the coats we will look for another cause, but I believe we have all the bases covered at this point. 

I am planning to get more coats next fall.  I'm hoping to coat the Shetlands all fall and winter.  They really make a mess of their wool with hay!  They will be sheared a week from tomorrow (they start "rooing" or shedding their wool if I wait too long) and I will coat them (as well as the Jacobs) when I start feeding hay in the fall.  Looking forward to clean fleeces next year!