The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: moprabbit on November 10, 2014, 09:56:10 pm
-
I have 4 ewes which have over the last week or two just started to butt each other! Normally they live quite happily with each other, so I think it's probably that they are in season, but I'm not sure! The pairs that butt each other change over a few days. If it is that, I wondered, is it the ewe that is in season that butts or is it the ewe that is in season that gets butted??? Thank you
-
I will be interested in the replies to your question as I also have 4 pet sheep and they have done this to each other pretty much since I have had them (a couple of months). I just thought they were being playful with each other as it is often associated with them then having a hurtle round the field together and kicking their legs in the air. I just thought they were happy sheep!
-
As long as they have plenty of room they will sort themselves out.
-
It is just sorting out who is boss, and also happens when they are in season. Unless it gets very bad and/or bloody I wouldn't worry about it.
-
My Soay have odd spells of doing this and not necessarily at this time of year so in their case not just to do with being in season.
Often they are showing other signs of 'frisky' behaviour at the time ..... running, jumping, chasing around.
Think they must be playing and perhaps sorting dominance within the flock. They have hurt each other a few times .... caused limping and grazes a couple of times but always better within a day or so. No significant injuries. ::)
-
Just sorting out the pecking order - better done now than barging at each other at the trough in late pregnancy.
-
Am at the bottom of the globe, but my Dorpers will do this at times, the Rams will too, in a playful way, sometimes they use each others heads for scratching.
So it would depend on how serious they are about it, are they really smacking heads, or just a half rear ended game ?