The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Azzdodd on August 06, 2013, 08:55:44 pm

Title: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Azzdodd on August 06, 2013, 08:55:44 pm

I've never bothered with a harness but this year as I have a fair few and would like to know dates as I have a rather large crossbreed ram not my usual welsh boy what is the best colour? Some black and some white ewes

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: jaykay on August 06, 2013, 08:59:01 pm

I find orange shows best on black and it'll be ok on white ewes too.

Obviously nothing is that clear on black ewes  :D

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Foobar on August 06, 2013, 09:03:27 pm

I have black sheep and find that yellow, orange and (surprisingly) green work the best.
Not red as and some black sheep have a red tinge to them anyway so it doesn't show so well.
And yes, all colours will be a bit hard to spot.  I have to make a note daily of who's been done before it disappears :).

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Azzdodd on August 06, 2013, 09:07:54 pm

Well I visit them twice a day so ill see it :) I though of orange and yellow too give it a go :) he hasn't had a harness on before better to just paint his chest?

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: jaykay on August 06, 2013, 09:27:10 pm

That's what I do, get him to come to a bucket and then just paint his chest. I mix up the raddle power with vegetable oil and then apply it with a wooden spoon  :) Less to go wrong than with a harness.

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Pedwardine on August 06, 2013, 10:34:27 pm

Yellow or orange always work best on our ewes. They're not utterly black but pretty dark and reds and blues just disappear. Don't think I've tried green.

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Foobar on August 07, 2013, 07:16:51 am

I believe that they do make a white, but it doesn't seem to be available in this country. Someone on here suggested poster paint from Hobby Craft, in which case you could have white or flourescent or glitter...etc  :)

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Azzdodd on August 07, 2013, 07:29:01 am

Pimp up the ram :) might paint his nails while I'm at it haha! My plan is I'm hiring out my welsh ram to a friend who has welsh ewes I'm not charging her more to have him out the way so the bigger boy can do the business welsh ram is going September/November then he will be back and will act as a sweeper? Good plan? 

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Rosemary on August 07, 2013, 08:01:33 am

I use yellow then green on my Coloured Ryelands, which are brown not black, but I can see both and the green covers the yellow.

Title: Re: What ram crayon to use for black ewes?
Post by: Bramblecot on August 07, 2013, 07:45:45 pm

Quote from: Rosemary on August 07, 2013, 08:01:33 am

I use yellow then green on my Coloured Ryelands, which are brown not black, but I can see both and the green covers the yellow.

They are the colours I prefer too.  And if I am not using a harness I just buy a couple of stick markers (less than £2) and rub them over his chest.  Easy to re-colour every few days and not messy.