[Jacob-list] I'm all for true love, but this is ridiculous

[ACAMDA at aol.com]

Good Morning, Everyone!

This year, for the first time, we have a ram around the place.  He was not 
wethered in the spring because he was promised to a good home, but that fell 
through.  So "The Dude" has been with us all summer and fall, and has bred all 
the ladies here, we think.

For the past few days, he has been inseparable from one of our older ewes, 
Sherry.  He is never more than six feet from her.  Occasionally he will try to 
mount her, but mostly he's just "there".  Sherry has some fleece pulled on her 
rump, and may have a slight limp, but other than that she doesn't seem worse 
for his attention.  She just looks tired and slow to me.  We expect Sherry to 
lamb around the first of February.  The one who seems to be having a problem 
with all this is our guard donkey.  She is constantly trying to separate them, 
and will face off against the ram, chase him, or push him away.  I can't tell 
if they are seriously angry, or playing some kind of animal king of the hill.

Questions:  Is it normal behavior for Dude to be so interested in Sherry at 
this point?  Could he be harmful to her or a lamb?  I know some of you keep 
your rams in with the flock all year - is that a problem at lambing?  Lastly, 
have any of you seen problems with guard animals and rams?  We're trying to find 
Dude a good home - he's well mannered so far, and has great horns and fleece - 
but I like my donkey more.

Thanks for your help.  I hope the quiet list means everything is peaceful.

Kathey
Athens, GA
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