The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Melmarsh on February 22, 2015, 06:40:11 pm
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I have 4 in lamb ewes, all 4+yes old all lived together with others on my holding. They have been separated from the rest of the flock for 2weeks while being fed. My problem is that when they came in today, because field is now very wet, they were put in a12'x14' stable and immediately the boss ewe started chasing the youngest ewe around and butting the oldest if she got in the way. I don't see this as sorting out a pecking order as that is already done . Any ideas?? I have separate them but I know that put together again they will start again !! :sheep:
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Yes it's a pain isnt it?
a combination of feeling fat, fed up, permanently peckish and yet too full of lambies to eat very much makes my girls pretty grumpy at the end of their pregnancy and they have a tendency to do the same if reunited in the late stages. Some more so than others.
As some of the head buts are belly blows and the situation results in lots of stressed and out of breath ewes, I avoid it until post lambing. My lambing shed is partitioned so I can keep them separate until after lambing which also accommodates those that eat too much and get indigestion pains, the ones that need coaxing to eat, the ones that get headbutted if they become distressed in labor and the ones that steal others lambs.
Ah the joys of sheep....thank heavens for hurdles and hinges!
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My very pregnant goats do it as well when they go out into the field... but are ok in their groups in their pens.
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Pretty much confirmed my thoughts, thank you. My goats lived in a covered yard and apart from the usual change of dominance arguments I only had set toos when they went back with the others after kidding .
I will grin and bare their bad behaviour with the use of hurdles and empty stables, naughty girls !! :roflanim: