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Author Topic: Whether to keep a Wether.........  (Read 4240 times)

OhLaLa

  • Joined Sep 2010
Whether to keep a Wether.........
« on: February 28, 2011, 04:01:15 pm »
So, the ram has arrived. Our sheep fields are in sight of each other (t'other side of fence). Opinions on whether we should also keep a wether please.

 :sheep:

ellisr

  • Joined Sep 2009
  • Wales
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2011, 04:38:25 pm »
I have a couple and they keep the rams company if they are seperated from the ewes

woollyval

  • Joined Feb 2008
  • Near Bodmin, Cornwall
    • Val Grainger
    • Facebook
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2011, 05:06:13 pm »
I have always had one about the place....usually a very friendly chap. Very useful for keeping youngstock company and teaching them to get penned and in trailer as he will lead. Useful for keeping sick or old sheep company, v useful as companion for rams.......and I just like having the odd one about!
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Fleecewife

  • Joined May 2010
  • South Lanarkshire
    • ScotHebs
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2011, 06:31:51 pm »
Even though your ram is just a fence away from the ewes he would probably prefer a companion of his own.  It's not essential in those circumstances, but without one he might try to jump through.  Some people recommend a barren ewe - but I've never had a barren ewe  ???  Fortunately I have lots of males so it's never a problem.
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Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2011, 07:21:48 pm »
We have Dickie (no deliberate irony in the name  ;D). He keeps Leo company, then goes in with the tup lambs when they are weaned and brings them all over to be checked. He's very tame and eats hardly anything. And I like him  ;D

I wouldn't like to keep Leo on his own, so Dickie pays his way.

Anke

  • Joined Dec 2009
  • St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2011, 07:55:08 pm »
As the majority of my shetland wethers go to the freezer at about 18 months I always have some wethers about. It is extra hay/haylage and some (only a little) feed over the winter, but also means I can tak ethe tup out without worrying about him (not all my fields are in sight of each other - fortunately, stops the boy mooching at the side of the fence for hours on end),, and I can keep female hogglambs and ewes together in one big field.

also am biased - I think hogget and/or mutton is just miles better meat than lamb!

bigchicken

  • Joined Nov 2008
  • Fife Scotland
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2011, 08:37:07 pm »
Anke, You are so right about hogget & mutton,I usually have a few wethers about the place but have one pet called Shawn, [The kids named him] and he is all that has been already mentioned. I would allways have a wether about.
Shetland sheep, Castlemilk Moorits sheep, Hebridean sheep, Scots Grey Bantams, Scots Dumpy Bantams. Shetland Ducks.

Fishyhaddock

  • Joined Apr 2009
  • aberdeenshire
Re: Whether to keep a Wether.........
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2011, 10:01:50 am »
We have a couple of wethers for mutton and they run with the ewes - no problem so far!

 

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