The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: wellies on February 26, 2012, 05:13:30 pm
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Hi everyone, hope you are all well?
I just wanted to ask if anyone has ever noticed their rams becoming more vigilant as the ewes gestation progresses. Ted, our tup, is in with his girls still and although he is still being his laid back charming self he certainly seems more vigilant of us moving amongst his ladies. I wouldn't say he is being overly protective just watching whats going on and staying with them much more than in the last 5 months in which time he's mostly slept and eaten.
Just wondered if he was getting a bit more protective. I was worried that he maybe a little too laid back to offer any protection to the lambs and ewes when they are turned back out after lambing but he seems to be taking his impending fatherhood a little more seriously now? ;D
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Our horned wether is very protective of his ewes and the lambs once they are born he tempers any behaviour towards the lambs to make sure he isn't overly rough with them that said he will still shove a pregnant ewe out of the way if food is around and he bowled one right over the other day so it is always wise to be careful having a male in with pregnant ewes. One the lambs are born ( and he shows no interest in the ewes struggles) he will attempt to intervene if he thinks I am distressing a lamb even if newly born.
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We still have our Soay ram in with his ewes, however we will have to move him. One of the ewes has begun to bag up today and now he won't leave her alone. Whether they omit a hormone similar to when they are on heat, in the final part of their pregnancy/early labour I am not sure, but he has certainly become very frisky and has spent all day today attempting to win her over with his amorous moves! We don't have a wether to put him with so instead he will be off for a Summer Vacation with some other rams. As it is my first year of lambing I have been advised not to risk leaving him in, as I am not sure how he will be. I just hope his vacation happens before the first sheep lambs! Good Luck with your ram -could he go on holiday for the Summer?
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thanks for your replies guys. He has been in with young lambs before but I think I might move him to share the horses paddock if he looks like he is becoming overly protective. He is still being very gentle with the girls but we are keeping an eye of him just in case :thumbsup:
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Hi,
Very inexperienced sheep keeper here so I can only tell you about our observations with our Soay ram who is on loan to us. He was very quiet until we started feeding the sheep as autumn progressed. He really does like his food and is quite bossy with the ewes. Thought he would behave gentlemanly like our cockerels but no he is always first to dive in!!!!!
Stands no nonsense from anyone and chases our dog away even though he is about the same size. Hoping he will keep our lambs that are due in March safe from foxes ......we have woods bordering our paddocks. I know that he remained with the ewes when he was loaned out to someone else last year and behaved very well towards the ewes and lambs but will watch him closely as things progress, just in case.
Thank you for your post.
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thanks for your replies guys. He has been in with young lambs before but I think I might move him to share the horses paddock if he looks like he is becoming overly protective. He is still being very gentle with the girls but we are keeping an eye of him just in case :thumbsup:
Hi we had to end up moving our ram as he was really bothering the pregnant ewes. He spent all day being a real nuisance with one yesterday and she lambed this morning. He then started on the other two who are likely to lamb in the next couple of days. Despite the good he could do, it was awful watching him butting them and trying to tup them. The vet says he is obviously attracted to the change in hormone. I don't want to risk him with the lambs now so he will go for a Summer Holiday
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Our ram was an absolute so and so with us when his girls were close to lambing. Used to charge us and head butt. we moved him to his own field with a younger ram and he was fine
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Oh yes. My wilts horn ram was an utter b*****d when the ewes were nearing lambing. He attacked me by running at full tilt into my leg. I had toi grab him by the horns and "motorbike" him to the shed. He was going to do it again. I was so angry I tried to drown him in the water trough but I was too knackered and it was all I could do to get him in the shed and shut the door on him. Needless to say, he went to market soon after.
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I'm sorry Brijjy, you tried to do what...........? :o >:( >:( >:(
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Oh yes. My wilts horn ram was an utter b*****d when the ewes were nearing lambing. He attacked me by running at full tilt into my leg. I had toi grab him by the horns and "motorbike" him to the shed. He was going to do it again. I was so angry I tried to drown him in the water trough but I was too knackered and it was all I could do to get him in the shed and shut the door on him. Needless to say, he went to market soon after.
I haven't met a wilts ram that couldn't be a git at times. One person shouldn't really be working with them, I'm a big feller and I can bareley turn mine over. They can break your leg if they get you (actually - that goes for most rams). Keep an eye on them, and I always establish who is boss right from the start. 'Motorbike' them like that and you'll give yourself a hernia. :P