The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Pocagranja on January 15, 2012, 10:43:32 am

Title: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: Pocagranja on January 15, 2012, 10:43:32 am

Hi, we run a smallholding in Spain & have 4 ewes & 1 ram.  The ewes have all lambed in December for the first time & now we have a problem with the ram.  He has been with the ewes since we acquired them, about 1 year ago & he is approx 18 months old, the problem is now he pushes the ewes away from the food & is generally a pain.  Can we move him into another field to live by himself until he is needed again?  We know sheep are herding animals & should be kept in a herd but we only have 1 ram so he would have to be on his own. Can anyone offer any advice please? :sheep:

Title: Re: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: jaykay on January 15, 2012, 10:55:47 am

Well, what I do is have a wether to live with him, to keep him company.

The only time I did keep a tup on his own, he became a real pain with me, butting me and charging at me across the field - I think he just wanted company but he was big and rough!

Now I have a tup and a wether and they keep each other company and are both fine.

Title: Re: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: Anke on January 15, 2012, 11:25:03 am

Either the above or eat him.... (and get an (entire) ram lamb in the autumn if you only have 4 ewes to serve).

Or if you have sheep farming neighbours just ask next time to have your girls in with theirs during tupping, saves the hassle of having to own a ram for such a small number of ewes.
Or ask one of your sheep farming neighbours to loan/sell/barter you a castrated ram (wether) lamb to keep him company.

Title: Re: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: Dougal on January 15, 2012, 12:15:43 pm

Ach the tup will be fine on his own. Once you get the lambs up and about ypou might be able to mix him back with the ewes but really he will be ok on his own.

Title: Re: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: JMB on January 15, 2012, 02:06:30 pm

Aw, we've got Colin the ram from our friends on the Isle of Coll. His brother William came with him for company.
I'm sure he would survive on his own but he's much happier with company, and I'm too soft.
Do you know other farmers who would take your ram and put him with their lot?

Title: Re: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: SteveHants on January 15, 2012, 02:28:48 pm

I've kept rams on their own for one reason or another and they have been fine. However, I usually have them with the ram lambs after weaning.

Title: Re: Keeping a Ram on its own?
Post by: Pocagranja on January 16, 2012, 11:19:39 am

Thanks to everyone for their replies.  We have now put the ram into a field on his own, he is bleating at the moment so hopefully will settle.  The ewes seem very happy on their own now.

Unfortunately we do not have any farming neighbours to help out & our only neighbour has goats.