what happened in the sheep pens today?

[Callieslamb]

Some ewe came into heat is what happened.....Even after all the warnings here - I TOTALLY underestimated a ram after a ewe.....

I have my six little Finn sheep separated into 2 pens for breeding. They have been penned this way for 2 weeks. Today, I looked outside and a registered ewe was running from the non-registered ram. Yep...she was totally in the wrong pen. I caught her, fought off the ram and lost , but got them all 'home' again. The big ram (for a finn) - had battered down a cattle panel that was wired to the posts in 3 places....

Took DS to school.

Came home - registered ram was now in with the unregistered ewes? What a mess. BUT...I did tie up the big ram BEFORE entering the pen this time. What a rodeo! Now all the fence panels are tied in three places and wired in 4. Each panel has 4 posts along it's length...

BE CAREFUL ENTERING A PEN WITH A RAM.......REPEAT ..... REPEAT....(even if he is a cute little critter that loves you to death NORMALLY. He will pretend to come to you for petting and then knock the snot out of you or worse) I will be paying for that stupidity for a few days - I think I have a hoof print on my forehead.

[birchtreefarm]

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

Some ewe came into heat is what happened.....Even after all the warnings here - I TOTALLY underestimated a ram after a ewe.....

Are the rams in a pen that is separated from the ewes only by a fence panel? That's always risky if that's the case. One year we set up two breeding groups side by side, with only panels in between. We did tarp the panels, but the two rams still decided to bash heads and between them they broke and warped the panel pretty badly. We ended up reinforcing with plywood and more t-posts but finally set up electronet on one side so there was three feet of dead space between the net and the panel and the rams couldn't get close to each other anymore.

Now we have our breeding pens set up so there is a 6-8 foot "no sheep zone" in between. This is what we did last year as well and it worked for us. After splitting up the ewes and putting a ram with each, there was no fence bashing because they had that space in between, and even before the groups were set up, the rams were in one of the pens by themselves and didn't bash it down.

[Callieslamb]

I have a little pasture about 100x100 that is fenced with woven wire. I made a smaller pen inside the bigger pen using cattle panels. I divided them up for breeding - 2 ewes and 1 ram in each pen. So no, the rams aren't separate from the ewes per se.....they just seem to like the girls on the other side of the fence better. The smaller ram was in with the bigger girls that he didn't have a chance to breed.

These are small sheep anyway. I could block off another small spot for the unregistered groupfor a while -and not have to enter the pen for feeding. There isn't any real grazing around here anyway anymore. That might help since they would only connect at one corner. I am trying to get them all positioned not only so I don't have to enter the pen, but so I only have to keep one water trough thawed. But until breeding is over....it's a bit tight. This is my first winter with sheep so I am learning.... especially about fences. I could do the elec panel though.

[Looking4ewes]

I doubt if electric panel would keep them out, but it is worth a try. Your situation begs the question of why keep two rams for only 4 ewes? Rams are a PITA at ALL times, even for commercial producers. Is there a way you could lease a ram for a month? Or, use a ram lamb for breeding, then ship him out?

Rams are always dangerous. Pet rams are the worst. I want my rams afraid of me and will treat them a bit harshly to get my point across.

Good luck to you.

[JK-Farms]

you could also put up ply wood, tin or some kind of mad, or tarp on the devider fence to keep them from seeing each other.

[Callieslamb]

I have registered and unregistered stock. I'd like to keep them that way. The unregistered ram was given to me actually so I kept him. He will have to go after breeding season. Fleece rams are harder to find and I am not sure I would want a strange ram here that I didn't know well anyway.

The first problem wasn't the sheep, or the pens...it was the poor construction skills of the builder thinking what keeps in a cow would pen a ram....Learned something. The second problem was stupidity.

[Looking4ewes]

I think you are being too hard on yourself. The problem most likely was 1) timing, ewes in estrus, and 2) proximity to the other group of ewes. I'll add #3) management decision to keep two rams. You are not stupid, just inexperienced.

Fiber and milk? Girl, you must be busy.

[Callieslamb]

Thanks L4E.....it WAS timing.....bad timing. But I had to save my little ewe from being bred by that ram. I didn't have many choices. I don't milk the sheep. Just fiber and lambs. Both of my boys are just as sweet as they can be - usually. Next year, the little ram will be large enough to take care of everyone and I will not have the two of them. That means I can keep the cutest wether from this year's lamb crop!!

[Our Little Farm]

The only time we had an aggressive ram was when we had two rams fighting each other. When our ewes are in estrus, our ram is way to happy making gooey eyes and sticking out his tongue etc to be remotely interested in us. Even when we had two rams butting heads to gain leadership, we just kept out of their way. It did not last long.

I agree with the fence gap, or better still, eat the unregistered ram and swap/sell the registered ram when you need a new sire.

We have 2 lambs and 1 buckling goat to go in the freezer soon, plus a friend is out hunting deer for us right now!

Hope you are ok Callie, and that you did not get bruised up too badly! Please be careful. I would ship the unregistered ram to the freezer today.

[Our Little Farm]

Originally Posted by Looking4ewes

I doubt if electric panel would keep them out, but it is worth a try. Your situation begs the question of why keep two rams for only 4 ewes? Rams are a PITA at ALL times, even for commercial producers. Is there a way you could lease a ram for a month? Or, use a ram lamb for breeding, then ship him out?

Rams are always dangerous. Pet rams are the worst. I want my rams afraid of me and will treat them a bit harshly to get my point across.

Good luck to you.

Rams are always dangerous? I do not have the same experience as you at all, and have been around sheep my entire life. What breed do you have? We have Jacobs.

[Callieslamb]

OLF.....I am black and blue, but the aches are gone. The side of one leg, hip and my back as well as hoof print bruises on my stomach. I am fine now.

He has been as good as gold...until the ewes came into estrus. But he's still going. I just can't trust him now. It isn't right. I know why, but he will now make me too nervous to have around. I don't have to deal with him and I won't.

[Looking4ewes]

Sorry to be DA, but how can you assume the ewe was not bred by the unregistered ram?

[Callieslamb]

Because she was still running from him. He couldn't have been in with her 15 minutes - which, I know is plenty of time...but since she was running scared for all she was worth, I am pretty sure I got them in time. Then the OTHER ram was chasing her all afternoon once she was back in her own pen. If she hadn't been running wild, I am not sure I would have seen that that bigger ram was out.

[PNP Katahdins]

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

Rams are always dangerous?

OLF, I took it to mean that all rams have the potential to be dangerous. This would include Jacobs. It only takes one mistake to learn this is true. Show, pet and bottle-raised rams have the most potential.

Peg

[Looking4ewes]

Thank you, Peg. I thought that was obvious. Perhaps I am overly cautious, but the potential for serious injury is great. I do not trust rams ever.

Callie, I hope you recover soon.

[Callieslamb]

I'm fine. Stupid gene adjusted once again.