[Jacob-list] (no subject)

[stonecroft235 at juno.com]

Melody:

The advice I have always heard is to put the rams in a small space until
the pecking order is established.  The two boys we put together today are
in a small area - enough room to stand and lay down and a  tub of hay
strategically placed....and that's about it.   The idea is that in a
small space they don't have enough room for a running charge.  Wayne
VanValkenburg told me he puts his rams in a pen with a lot of old tires
on the floor - they are so busy stepping around/through tires it limits
their charging abilities.  After 2-3 wks. of this they have worked out
all their stations in life and can be given more room and a meadow to
roam.  

My girls are always rather nasty with  new introductions also -- the two
yearling ewes who were put back with the flock today are being given the
royal cold shoulder (prior to breeding they were all together) - they are
not even allowed to eat with the others.  In fact, I put hay for them
outside the barn because two of the old girls (battleaxes??) are guarding
the doorway and not permitting them to enter.  It all seems so nasty, but
it always works itself out in a few days - and there is always someone at
the top and someone at the bottom of the "totem pole" in sheepdom.  

It would be interesting to hear from the rest of you how you handle this
problem.

Sue Martin
Stonecroft Manor
Lititz, PA

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