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Keeping a buck and ram together

4K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  orphy  
#1 ·
I currently have dorset sheep and would like to get 2 Lamanchas does next spring and a buck. I would like to keep the buck in a pasture with a ram and a donkey. I'm not worried about the donkey, but I don't know about the ram, he is big and bossy and I have a catch pen with a built in headlock he gets put in if I need to attend to him or the donkey.

Does anyone here keep a ram and buck together? I was thinking of putting a blinder on the ram. I think a goat would lose a head butting contest with a ram, especially if the ram has a running start. Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks!
 
#2 ·
I had a young buck and young ram together for a short period of time. The buck loses, and is at risk of broken bones. He kicks up on his hind legs to attack, and the ram slams him while he's up and knocks him off his feet.

A ram shield may be the solution to that, but the ram would have to live in it forever. Not the best solution. Those things rub after awhile.

Meg
 
#4 ·
It really will depend on the individual characteristics and dynamics of your animals, I think. We kept 7 bucks with our big ram, and they were totally fine. The bucks were young when they were all introduced, and they often all ran together with the ewes and the lambs anyway, so they were happy, and not looking for trouble.
How old will the buck be when you get him?