Author Topic: Mixing rams and ram lambs (Read 2357 times)

Twotwo · « **on:** August 01, 2018, 05:22:15 pm »

I have 2 shearing rams who live together happily (mostly) who go of to their ladies October and 8 rams lambs most of who will go to the butcher late August/sept. ( March born). Because we are a bit short of grass !! I would like to put them all in together now. Is this advisable or should I wait til after boys come back from their girls in December and put them in with the remaining 2/3 lambs then. They are next to each other divided by an electric fence at the moment.

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2018, 06:23:36 pm »

I always keep my rams in flock until weaning and then the rams go off with the lambs until its tupping time. There has never been any problem with rams and ram lambs

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2018, 07:57:05 pm »

We put our ram lambs in with adult rams and fleece wethers at 4 months, once last years lot have gone (our breed goes for slaughter at 16 months, so they have a whole year after separation until slaughter). We find that coming up to 4 months, the ram lambs start to get a bit feisty and too big for their boots. Suddenly finding themselves subject to the amorous advances of the older tups, they are put in their places fairly promptly. Any fighting between the young ones is sorted by the old boys. Usually it's just a gentle sideways shove, but if there's one which is aggressive, then the older boys are well able to chase them around the place, with the occasional headbut, until the pecking order settles. After that, all will be quiet, including when the stock rams return from tupping time

Twotwo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2018, 10:21:37 am »

Rams and rams happily living together- although there was much excitement from the rams who all new bottoms worth a good sniff and !! - and some very surprised lambs