[Jacob-list] Fw: crow for dinner

[gordon johnston]

Subject: Re: crow for dinner


> I had a very nearly identical situation with one of my Hebridean rams
> yesterday.  There are 8 rams and half a dozen mature wethers kept in
> together.  They are generally beyond the aggressive time of year now,
though
> I always take a broom handle in with me, just in case ! Phoenix, who is
very
> mild and gentle normally, gave me a whack on the knee when he was standing
> in front of me.  It was deliberate but not designed to cause damage.  The
> poor soul was greatly puzzled when I gave him a whack back with the broom
> handle and a tongue lashing.
> If you stand and watch a group of tups together they tend to bash each
other
> gently occasionally, then stand side-by-side afterwards, often with their
> heads together.  I'm beginning to think this might be the equivalent of a
> good slap on the back between chums.  They all have such massive heads
that
> a gentle tap doesn't hurt them and they would not expect it to hurt us
> (though it does !).  They need to be trained out of it somehow, but I
would
> not categorize this behaviour as aggressive.
> A very similar but definitely aggressive behaviour is the side swipe.  One
> of our other Hebridean rams, Troy, with two well curled and massive horns,
> is just trying to perfect this technique in retaliation for our attempts
to
> halter train him prior to the Royal Highland Show later this week . It
> involves a quick sidways swing of the head, aimed to remove a knee cap
with
> the point of the horn.  Shetlands do it too though their horns are lighter
!
>
> I've not heard of crow for dinner before - very descriptive.
>
> Juliet in Scotland UK
>