[Jacob-list] more on the fence jumper

[Thomas Boxall]

Our flock runs together the whole time, semi-wild. We don't have any wethers but we do have currently 5 young rams who are overdue for butchering. They don't fight with each other or our "real" rams, and I have no idea why we don't get any problems. The two "real" rams butt heads for about 2 days at the start of breeding season, and then it's all over. I know this isn't much help, but the point I'm trying to make is that in ten years we've never separated anyone and we've never had a problem, so I know it can be done.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Meg Steensland 
  To: gordon johnston ; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 11:24 PM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] more on the fence jumper


  RE: try keeping a wether - can you put a wethered lamb in with a mature ram - when - like in the fall when wether is 9 months or more?  Or is it better to start with two same age guys?
  I only had rams together my first year - 2 same age boys before they were separated to breed the ewes and then they were reunited briefly for ~ 3 months because I had to clear the back due to hunting season and crazy city gu-toters.  Since then, I have enough places to park the boys separately - but alone.

  gordon johnston <gordon at westergladstone.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
    Over here in the UK, tying an animals legs together would get you charged with cruelty.  It seems to me, this ram is lonely - sheep are flocking creatures and even in the wild the males form bachelor groups outside the breeding season when they just hang out and talk football.  We have never had only one ram so have not had the problem, but if he is truly agressive and not just overly playful - bearing in mind that 'play' for a sheep probably means something different than it does to humans - then lamburgers it is !  
    At the moment we have three rams of different breeds plus a wether all in together ; in the evening they chase each other round, butt heads and jump about, but that is normal for males.  The ewes do the same thing but less aggressively (including when they were pregnant) and of course the lambs have a totally mad time in the early evening.  I know of many people who keep the ram in with the ewes year round, but that has not worked for us.  If we had only one ram, we would keep a wether with him for company, while the ladies get on with pregnancy in peace.  For your next ram, try keeping a wether for him.
    Juliet in Scotland
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