The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: shearling on April 06, 2011, 05:40:32 pm

Title: Help please ewes just started head-butting each other
Post by: shearling on April 06, 2011, 05:40:32 pm

Please could anyone explain why a ewe (or more) suddenly starts to headbut another one, that have lived together nicely for the last year and it has only just started. Is is jealously due to being in-lamb? the weather? they just do? pecking order? Any thoughts gratefully recieved.

Title: Re: Bullies or are they hot and moody or jealous?
Post by: Tam on April 07, 2011, 09:25:32 am

I can't answer - as I would also like to know.  Out of 12 ewes, we have one that we arenot sure is in lamb or not and it is this one that is bullying another just like you said above.  She had a grudge against the first ewe that lambed - they were separated by a gate in a barn, but eventually after lots of headbutting they beat the gate to pieces.  The ewe that lambed has now gone out to grass and the "bully" is picking on a ewe that has been quite sick (but is now getting much better).

Title: Re: Help please for Tam and me why are our ewes head butting each other?
Post by: shearling on April 07, 2011, 06:12:27 pm

Please could anyone explain why a ewe (or more) suddenly starts to headbut another one, that have lived together nicely for the last year and it has only just started. Is is jealously due to being in-lamb? the weather? they just do? pecking order? Any thoughts gratefully recieved

Title: Re: Help please ewes just started head-butting each other
Post by: Fleecewife on April 07, 2011, 07:23:37 pm

Hormones and pecking order  ;D

Title: Re: Help please ewes just started head-butting each other
Post by: HamishMcMurray on April 07, 2011, 08:14:37 pm

Ours do it but fairly gently with each other - not in anger.

We have twin boys born Tuesday afternoon and they are doing it to each other in play so I guess it's a natural part of what they do.

Yours sound a bit more ferocious though.

Title: Re: Help please ewes just started head-butting each other
Post by: bazzais on April 07, 2011, 11:23:37 pm

Hierarchy and hormones?

We have had a few that act 'out of character' around birthing time, I thought it was normal - but have never had anything beat anything else to death like has been mentioned on the forum.

Gals will be gals is what I thought - no good trying to work them out....   ;)

If they are in-lamb, as you suggest, its undoubtedly got everything to do with that.

Baz