The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Richmond on August 04, 2024, 08:51:51 am
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Our Norfolk Horn ram has developed a habit of bashing fence posts for attention, to the point where he has broken several now. He has plenty of grazing and two wethers for company. We've stapled strips of barbed wire down the inside of as many fence posts as possible (still have a few more to do) and this has deterred him a little. We handle him as little as possible and if we see him bashing the fence we shout and wave a big stick at him to drive him away, but he's soon back again. He seems to do it mostly when we're near "his" fence, either tending to other livestock or the vegetable patch or mowing. He settles down once we are out of his eyeline - we spy on him from an outbuilding!! He's also pretty much destroyed the field shelter which he seems to just randomly bash for fun, whether we are in sight or not (we can hear him thumping it from the house).
We moved our ewes and lambs on to fresh pasture yesterday and they are now visible from his field, but not next to it. He was clearly excited by them :o and ran up and down the fence growling (as I call it) and bashing it. I wouldn't have thought the ewes would be cycling yet would they? All bar two older ewes still have lambs with them. Anyway fortunately he is still in his field this morning but going forward can anyone suggest a way to manage this behaviour? We intend weaning the lambs at the beginning of September and the ewes will go in with the ram at the end of October.
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We put a single strand of electric wire attached to spacers which hold it about 10 inches out from the fence. It's ok with horns as it's just a single strand. It doesn't stop the tups endlessly pacing the fence line.
For the shelter, we wrap all our shelters in sheep mesh round the outside which gives them a bit of resilience.
We are lucky in that we have a road going through our place, so tups live peaceably on one side, ewes on the other. Where we have neighbour's stock on the other side of a fence, we have planted thick hedging which works pretty well to keep them invisible to each other. Doesn't keep the odour of hormones away but we no longer get fence bashing.
Ultimately, it may be time to part company with your tup to a new home where females are not just a fence away. Sheep can happily jump stock fencing as I'm sure you know.
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Thanks FW for your reply. I'd like to keep him one more season as he produces cracking lambs, but then we'll review the situation. It would be a shame to turn him into chops as he is a registered pedigree, but maybe he'll be better with a larger flock and set up than ours.
The ewes aren't in a field next to him. Between him and the ewes there is an empty paddock plus an area with turkeys on it. I was quite surprised at his obvious sexual behaviour as I didn't think the ewes would be cycling at this time of year, plus they are still feeding lambs, or does that not make a difference? Our previous ram was normally quite laid back over the spring/summer period.
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Lactating does not stop cycling, no.
My experience is that few sheep are actually seasonal breeders. My very diligent Shetland tup has managed to give me August lambs and October lambs from a variety of breeds (including Wensleydale and Manx Loaghtan), as well as the desired March or April lambs!
(Said tup came to us named Nigel Golden Balls, which, due to said diligence, we have expanded to Nigel Ever Ready Golden Balls.)
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I love that name Nigel Ever Ready Golden Balls, always makes me smile :)
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To be honest it sounds like this behaviour is linked to you being around, so I’d seriously consider sending him off before he hurts someone. Sorry if it’s not what you want to hear but it’s never worth it.
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Have you tried iodine? I had this problem a few years ago and I sprayed iodine on the rams in question and it worked - tried the same with the bores and it worked again. I think the strong smell confused them and just calmed them down (for a short while at least)
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No I haven't. I've been having a conversation with his breeder as I've decided move him on, although now Norfolk is in a blue tongue TCZ not sure what will happen. His behaviour is definitely attention seeking though, so we're just trying to ignore him as much as possible (within reason).
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Electric fencing sorted out our naughty ones when they were playing up, but if he's becoming a problem get rid as he could as mentioned before get dangerous.
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He stopped his bad behaviour while in with the ewes so we gave him a reprieve. Although now away from them he has been better. We take a big stick in with us when refilling the hay rack and he seems to respect that. We'll see how he goes as the year rolls along.