The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bionic on November 23, 2013, 02:54:34 pm

Title: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: Bionic on November 23, 2013, 02:54:34 pm

My ram is in with the girls and my 2 ewe lambs are separate. When the adults have finished their second cycle should I move the lambs back in with them and separate the ram or leave the ram with the adults and keep the lambs separate.
If I move the ram he will be on his own but only separated from the girls by fencing so hopefully wouldn't be lonely.

Title: Re: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: Hillview Farm on November 23, 2013, 05:50:51 pm

personally I would leave him in if he's well behaved! I know people who leave the rams in until lambing and then put the rams out the way. at least he wont be on his own and the ewe lambs have each other for company

Title: Re: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: SallyintNorth on November 25, 2013, 07:32:56 am

Unless late lambs would be a problem, I'd leave him with the ewes so everyone has company.  if you'd rather have a defined end to lambing, then another year you could consider keeping a wether lamb on to keep the tup company after tupping.

Title: Re: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: Bionic on November 25, 2013, 08:59:13 am

Thanks both for your input.
Sally, I have already thought about a wether for next year so will be looking for a likely candidate from my ram lambs.

Title: Re: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: fiestyredhead331 on November 25, 2013, 08:31:05 pm

we kept a crippled wether from last year so when our tup comes out the 2 of them will go into a seperate field next to the ewes so they'll both have company and the girls can have some chill out time

Title: Re: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: Rosemary on November 25, 2013, 08:59:29 pm

I've always kept a wether and the tup is only in with the ewes for the "business period"; then the ewe lambs go back in with the ewes.

This year, I am planning to put the tup in with the bullock and bull as he seems to prefer the company of cattle to sheep (apart from the obvious attraction at this time of year).

Title: Re: What's the best thing to do?
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on November 25, 2013, 09:19:37 pm

We have a companion wether too altho hed currently just keeping the ewe lambs company as after our old ram was pts we have been borrowing a ram or ram lamb from a shetland ram breeder, which is brilliant !