[Donska]

I’ve got a small flock of 8 pet sheep - 5 ewes 3 wethers all of whom are ex orphans from a friend who produces commercially so they’re Suffolk/texel/mule x  I want to add a couple more docile sheep and have seen some lovely Ryeland lambs.  Their owner says she’s going to castrate them at 10 weeks - might this be too late?  I really want v docile sheep and our wethers who were castrated on day 2 can be a bit bumptious at times.  Any thoughts?  Thanks, Donna

[abc123]

That should be ok. Just any later than 12 weeks and it has to be done surgically. I did my texel and suffolk bottle lambs at 2 weeks and they are quite docile so far. The best age though is as you say, between 1 and 7 days.

[twizzel]

As long as it’s not by rubber band- this has to be done within the first week of life

[bj_cardiff]

I don't really castrate anymore, but when I did it was with a rubber band and always within 48hrs of birth, I understand legally it has to be within a week of birth. My neighbours recently had 2 yearling (pet) rams surgically castrated by a vet.


What method of non-surgical castration could you do at 10-12 weeks?

[shep53]

Burdizzo is non surgical and can be used under 3months by a skilled person .     The age of castration has little to do with docility  , it is the way they are treated , if they consider you part of their flock , then they must establish a pecking order  and pet lambs consider people nothing to fear or respect so try to too push the boundrys

[abc123]

Yes that's how I did mine. Or rather someone else did it for me