The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: choci on July 15, 2016, 11:48:52 am
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One of my two 2 yr old wethers has started butting the field shed .The noise is keeping us all awake & I'm desperate for some help to stop him. Any ideas would be very very welcome please
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First question are you 100% sure he's a weather , butting is more of a ram thing ? since I assume you want them to have total access to the field shelter , then a fence all round to keep him away is a non starter ? You could put 2 strands of electric wire fixed to the walls inside and out at sheep height and a few inches away from the walls . If really annoying then sell and replace or swap with someone
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Sounds a ram thing - sure he's not a rig? May smell of another ram - douse it in Jeyes fluid, furniture polish or anything else strong-smelling you have to hand.
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We have had the odd feisty wether, but I agree, it does sound as if there's more testosterone in your boy's bloodstream than you would expect of a wether :o
Have a good look at the shelter to see exactly where he's beating it up. Is there loose tin which makes a louder noise than wood? Is it made of metal or wood? Is he whacking it on a corner post or the walls? is he whacking it inside or out?
We have had tups which beat up their shelters and go for the weakest point, which is usually the internal or external walls. We wrap the shelters in sheep mesh, so there's not that satisfying crack, just a bounce back, and the shelter stays in one piece. If he's hitting a corner post, you could bash in a stob a few inches out from the corner, which would block his access. You could move the shelter further from your bedroom, so you can't hear him. You could put a strainer post somewhere further away so he will smack his head into that and leave the shelter alone. All he wants is the satisfaction of hitting his head off something satisfyingly hard, so by providing him with an alternative, you might save the shelter.
If he is a rig, and you also have ewes, then he isn't appropriate to run with them, unless you want lambs :sheep: