Ewe Won't Be Quiet!

[ErinC]

*Pulling hair out by roots*

One of my ewes is a prolific baa-er. She baaa's at anything and everything. She even baaa's at the mail lady. But yesterday, we took her lamb away from her - the other ewes in my flock aren't happy about being seperated from their lambs, but are being fairly calm about the whole thing. Lilly has been yowling all night long. She sounds like a cow. Is there anything that has worked to quiet your ewes down?

[kabri]

We've got a lamb this year like this too! Hollers late at night, really annoying! I've been putting hay in their feeders late, right before we go to bed, and that seems to help - a little. And our lamb has not been weaned either!

[Queen Bee]

We had a goat that did the same thing when we took her kids away.. It's been 23yrs and I can still hear that cry!!! Be very careful that she doesn't get stressed too much. Our goat actually died three days after we took them. We had her sent to the Vet School in Raleigh and they found nothing that would cause her death.. We think it could have been the stress... So maybe Ross or others could give you advice on treating her... Good Luck QB

[Terry W]

Would just sepoarating the lambs from the adults by a fence -- visusal contact-- work? I was at a dairy farm the pother day, and the weaning calves were stalled in sight of their mothers. They are fed their mothers milk from buckets at milking time, and moved to a pen in the pasture when the ladies leave the barn. So mom and babies get to visit, but they also separate from each other-- I havent heard any cries of separation from this farm sonce I started going by it!!! My borhter has an Amish buddy that works there-- and he said that is just how they do it... Even the bull calf is treated the same--he is not going to be veal...they will sell him as a stud potential in a few months, and he will be very easy to handle!

[bergere]

One of my ewes in the past did that. Once I stopped hand feeding her and not paying as much attention to her, the hollering stopped. Took about 2 weeks for her to get the idea.

If your ewe is super people friendly ignoring her might help.

[ErinC]

Problem solved! I found a Charlotte Church album (child opera star...) and put the cd player out in their pasture - the entire flock, lilly first, fell asleep. I diddn't think it would work that well...

It was heartbreaking to hear her cry though

[WindowOrMirror]

Girl, you got WAY too much heart to be handling animals!

;-)

[ErinC]

Haha, I know it. I'm completely pathetic. I don't have any qualms about raising animals for meat though, which is sorta wierd considering.