British weather can turn a smallholding from pleasant to punishing in hours. Sheep are hardy, but persistent rain, mud and damp air are a difficult combination. Wet fleeces lose insulation, poached ground breeds foot problems, and a ewe losing condition can hide it under a heavy, rain-soaked coat. The answer is not to wrap them in cotton wool, but to check them more often and make a few practical changes. In wet spells, your routine needs to shift from a quick glance to a proper check of fleeces, feet and body condition.

Check fleeces more often — and know what you are feeling for

A wet fleece is heavy and clings. Run your hands along the spine, over the shoulders and down the flanks. Check for warmth, dryness near the skin, and any sign of fleece rot or fly strike. In warm, wet weather, strike can develop quickly, especially around the tail and crutch. If you find discoloured, matted wool with a sour smell, act at once. Clip the area, clean it and seek advice if the skin is broken.

Do not assume a thick fleece means a healthy sheep. Wet wool can mask a thin ewe. Part the fleece and feel the skin. If it is cold and clammy, or the ewe is shivering, she needs shelter and extra forage. Avoid shearing during a cold, wet snap unless you have undercover housing and plenty of feed. If you do shear, watch the forecast and bring them in if rain and wind are due.

Feet first: preventing and treating foot rot

Mud and moisture soften the hoof and between the toes, allowing bacteria that cause foot rot and scald to take hold. Lameness spreads quickly through a flock on wet ground. Inspect feet at least weekly in wet weather, and daily if you have a case. Lift each foot and look for redness, swelling, heat and a foul smell between the claws. Scald shows as a red, hairless area with white, pasty skin; foot rot smells worse and may separate the hoof wall.

Catch it early. A footbath with an approved solution can help, but use it correctly: clean the feet first, stand the sheep in the bath for the recommended time, then let them stand on a dry, clean surface for at least half an hour. Never footbath on muddy ground — you will only re-contaminate them. Trim only overgrown or damaged hoof, and take off as little as possible. Over-trimming draws blood and opens the way to infection. Separate chronically lame ewes and cull them if they do not recover; they are a constant source of infection.

Body condition: the quiet measure of wet-weather health

Condition scoring is your best tool for seeing past a wet fleece. Feel the backbone and ribs. A score of 2.5 to 3 is a good target for most ewes, depending on stage of production. In wet, cold weather, sheep burn more energy just to stay warm. If they are grazing sodden pasture, they may also take in less dry matter. Offer good-quality hay or haylage in racks, off the ground, and increase feed for thin ewes, late-pregnant ewes and lambs.

Fresh forage is not just about quantity. Wet grass can be low in dry matter and energy. Dry forage helps rumen function and keeps sheep warm from the inside. Check that all sheep can reach feed without standing in mud. Use several feeding stations to reduce bullying, and move troughs regularly to avoid poaching.

Shelter and dry lying areas

Sheep need somewhere to get out of the wind and rain, not just a roof. A dry lying area is vital. Natural shelter from hedges, walls and trees works well, but on exposed smallholdings, mobile field shelters or simple windbreaks make a real difference. Position them so the opening faces away from the prevailing wind, and bed them with straw or woodchip.

Create dry pads around gates, troughs and water drinkers. Hardcore, woodchip or straw over a raised area can stop the worst of the poaching. Move feeders and water troughs to fresh ground before they become a mud bath. If you have a sacrifice field, use it for wet periods and rest the rest of your grazing. Overcrowding makes everything worse: give sheep room to move, lie down and feed without competition.

A workable wet-weather routine

When the forecast is unsettled, build these checks into your day:

• Morning: walk the flock. Look for sheep standing apart, lying awkwardly, or lagging behind. Check lameness and fleece condition.
• Feet: inspect any lame sheep immediately. Footbath only if needed, and always on a clean, dry surface.
• Fleeces: feel along the spine and flanks. Check crutch area for strike. Dag or crutch if necessary, but keep it tidy.
• Condition: condition score thin ewes weekly. Adjust feed before they lose more weight.
• Ground: move feeders and troughs. Add straw or woodchip to lying areas. Check gateways for deep mud.
• Forage: offer fresh, dry hay or haylage daily. Never let racks run empty in cold, wet weather.
• Water: clean troughs regularly. Sheep need fresh water even when grass is wet.

Wet British weather is part of smallholding life, but it does not have to mean sick sheep. A little more time checking fleeces, lifting feet and watching body condition will keep your flock comfortable, productive and sound — whatever the sky decides to do.