I have two ewes that lambed just over a week ago - the last of the six girls to lamb. They both have twins. Shaggy's are one day older than Herdy's right from the start Shaggy butted the hurdle between their pens - I just thought she was being protective over HER lambs. I let them out into the paddock together (smallish but kept just for turning out new lambs just for a couple of hours at the start). The others are out in another field.
To start with they kept their babies close to them - at either end of the paddock, after three days and the little ones where feeling their feet they obviously wanted to play together, but Shaggy butted one of Herdy's lambs and knocked it flying. Luckily I saw it happen and shouted at her - she went off with her lambs to the other end. I thought Herdy would have had ago at her but she didn't. Typical lamb like they still tried to play together but if her lambs got close to the others she was off and butting Herdy's lambs - and she meant it...I put hurdles across and separated them.
I let them out into a bigger paddock today giving them more room, to start with she was okay and the lambs charged about together, then suddenly her two ran up to Herdy and her lambs and Shaggy was across the paddock like a jet she butted one of the lambs again -hard. (They are quite tiny against hers even though Herdy (a Herdwick) is quite big up against Shaggy (Think she maybe a Clun))
I was so cross with her that I put her out with the others whose lambs (7) where a month older, but she did nothing accepting that the other lambs where all around her - the lambs play together and it's not a problem - no butting....
I brought them all back in tonight and put both Herdy and her into their pens next to each other and she immediately sniffed Herdy's lambs between the hurdle bars and then kept butting the bars.
They normally all get on together Herdy's the 'main' boss and Shaggy is down the pecking order, though Herdy always good with Shaggy and lets her eat alongside of her. She didn't mind Shaggy's lambs either no pushing them away.
Is this normal - I'm sure if I hadn't kept them separated she would kill them given half a chance.
Any suggestions as to why she is acting like this and what should I do about it.