[Julia Mary]

Hello!  I am brand new to this site, and brand new to lambing!  One of our ewes had twins 5 days ago.  They were in a jug, but the last two days we have been letting them back in the paddock for a few hours with the other two ewes.  One of the ewes (who has always been on the ornery side) was fine yesterday, but headbutted the little ones today, pretty harshly.  Gertie (the mother) tried to stop some of this, but couldn't stop all of it.  Should I be concerned?  Is this normal behavior?  It seems the little ones could get hurt, she butts hard.  I would separate her, but then she would be alone, and I know that sheep are not supposed to be alone.  Any advice is so appreciated! 

[Anke]

Difficult to advise from a distance without seeing the actual problem. Are the other two ewes about to lamb soon? Are the lambs being fed well enough by their dam?


Unless the "aggressive" ewe is actually seeking out the lambs and then buts them I wouldn't worry too much, but if you can have the ewe with her lambs in a field next to the other two, then that may help until the lambs are a bit bigger. If the other two ewes are to lamb soon, it will all sort itself once they have lambed anyway I would think.

[Fleecewife]

Your ewe won't be alone if you separate her, she'll have her lambs.  As long as the rough ewe doesn't have horns, the lambs should be ok, but we did once have a lamb killed by a horned ewe.


The fact that one ewe is butting lambs could mean that she's about to lamb soon herself.


Are you in America Julia Mary?  I got a bit stuck on 'lambs in a jug' until my ancient memory told be that might mean a pen   

[shep53]

As said  a ewe with her lambs is not alone and with very young lambs they prefer it , butting away lambs  by other ewes is normal and can look very brutal but normally causes no harm