The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: andywalt on September 21, 2010, 01:38:19 pm
-
If I were to have more than one ram can they be kept together away from the ewes? I have noticed on some farms that the rams are held together in another field, can you just put two together? or do you need to see how they respond to each other?
-
usally out of season there fine together is tupping that gets them bonkers and they would kill each other a friends farm lost 2 rams in a split second they wanted the girls few fields away started fighting then bang butted both killed outright
-
Never had any problems with mine - I keep all mine together, how many can vary, usually between 2 and 10. They have butting matches, but no serious bouts. Best to keep them away from the ewes unless tupping, but two is better than one on his own and three apparently is better again as the third one helps keep the peace. There are a few posts on this - look back a few months, there's quite of bit of info by what I can remember. Cheers!!
-
I have two tups plus two tup lambs together and they seem fine. Sometime soon, one tup (if no-one buys him) and the two lambs will go for slaughter but I have a wether for company for the remaining tup.
-
They tend to have a mighty bust-up when they go back together after tupping, but if the boss peacekeeper is there it all settles down ok. We have only lost one tup to head banging - he got a head injury and died a couple of days later. Mostly their skulls are hard enough but they die if they break their necks. As Morri2 says, have a look in past posts for how to lessen the risks.
I like keeping several tups together - they become the best of friends :)
-
thanks for all your replies, its nice to rely on you for some ideas and answers.
cheers
andy
-
we keep our boys together and generally ok, have 2 boys that have to be kept apart though! I believe that it is better to introduce them in a confined space - they then don't get much run up to ram each other on the head, they generally settle within a few hours of being introduced to each other.
-
I have found that my Shetlands are mostly ok but I have one that is a bully he nearly killed his own son even jumped a fence to get to his son and finish the job. They are now separated after being together for two years and number one son has fully recovered after some TLC. Think it is wise to observe closely and watch out for bad behaviour.
-
I have two tups plus two tup lambs together and they seem fine. Sometime soon, one tup (if no-one buys him) and the two lambs will go for slaughter but I have a wether for company for the remaining tup.
Spoke too soon. Buddy and Leo trying to kill each other this morning. Had a shuffle round to remove the ewe lamb in the neighbouring field, but will keep them seperate until the ram lambs go.