Best to have a weather in with your ram for company? Or not needed?

[EmToAb48]

Our ram will be in with our ewes till December first. He is not the sweetest ram so I don't want him in with the ewes while they are bred so I feel safe being in the pasture with them over winter/lambing. He will have a smaller pasture, he will be able to see the ewes through fencing, but not bed down with them etc. he will have his own water, feed and shelter. I have been reading having a ram all by himself is a bad idea.... Do you always keep another sheep with the ram??

 

[BHOBCFarms]

I would keep a wether for the ram if he's going to be in a pen by himself so long.

 

[bonbean01]

We've had the same situation here...but waited until the last month of pregnancy before we fenced off a part of the sheep area with field fencing...so he is with them, but not IN with them...built onto the shelter, so he had his own shelter, water, hay and pellets and salt. This way he was with them, but not a danger to pregnant ewes, lambs or us!!!

Wondered also if this would be bad for him...but...unless someone was birthing or it was really bad weather, the ewes and lambs slept beside him outside...didn't seem to be a problem.

Shame that rams can spoil your time with ewes and during birthing and then lambs...this worked well for us and I can't wait until it is time to do that again!!!! I carry a shocker long rod wand just because of him getting nasty during breeding time.

Not sure if others will say this is terrible or not...but that is what we did and plan to do again this year. So much nicer to spend time with your sheep without constantly looking over your shoulder

I say try it...if it looks like it is stressing your ram, then buying a wether to put in with him is an option. Our ram did not appear to have any bad effects at all.

Just don't forget him when it is time to trim hooves and check for worms.

 

[BrownSheep]

Just a warning. A hotrod didn't work for us with our ram. It just pissed him of and made him angrier.

Our rams do tend to mope if left alone.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

It depends on the ram! Some rams are horrible mopers, some only do for the first bit and other don't at all!

 

[SheepGirl]

My ram has always been by himself, though he has fenceline contact with the other sheep. He was penned with one of his sons for about 2 months. Didnt really notice any change in behavior.

 

[bonbean01]

Our ram also had contact through the fence...as said earlier, except in bad weather or during birthing, ewes and lambs slept right beside him. Didn't notice any moping, and felt safer with him sniffing noses with new lambs through the fence.

Hot rod has worked very well so far...first time I used it I barely touched him and he moved from me...second time he was bolder and got a good zap...he got the message that time. Since then he keeps his distance and no problems. I do know that if I wasn't carrying it, I'd get charged...so do carry it so he can see it when I go in with him.

I'm sure he has no respect for me...but he does for the hot rod.

 

[promiseacres]

My ram has been seperated. Both with ram lambs as buddies and by himself he does fine even this fall as its only been about 2 weeks he has been with the girls. Previous owner never seperated them even at lambing. He is generally a good boy no matter what. More food aggressive. Than anything.

 

[EmToAb48]

Thanks everyone! He is fine with my husband (of course!!!!) but when it comes to me he will come butting at me.. As the primary care taker ( they are my sheep!!) I hate that I can't even go into the pen to check on my ewes without feeling a threat from him. I know I tense up since he has gotten me twice now and it HURT! The smaller pasture is right next to the ewes pasture, but since we will be getting snow I know the ewes won't cross the pasture to see him in nasty weather... The previous owners had him basically inside and a tiny small pasture all by himself when he wasn't with the ewes. But I am not opposed to getting a nice wool wether that I can shear for company for him...

PLUS he is down right NASTY to the ewes when it comes to any feed. He butts them as hard as he can and takes over the entire food he won't even share. I have long long feeders so theirs plenty of room for every one to share. He just keeps moving down the feeder butting each ewe out of the way it IRRITATES ME! So I don't trust him not to end up hurting one while pregnant over extra grain they will be getting.

We have to trim some of the ewes this weekend so we will be putting him in the pen for a bit while we do that I will see what is reaction is to that then decide.. Weathers are so cheap around here.

I wish I could just leave him with the ewes and trust him but not going to happen.. He even has butted our 2 Great Pyrenees just randomly out of the blue! I am not sure what I will do hes a NICE quality ram but hes not nice right now at all.. I hope that settles during summer next year.

 

[bcnewe2]

My suggestion would be to use him this breeding season then get rid of him. To many nice rams that aren't a problem out there.
I've been raising sheep upwards of 16+ years. For the last 10, I don't take my ram out at all. Of course we lamb all the time but I have a good lambing set up so it's not a problem. Only 1 ram in our history was a bit of a problem but I didn't feel threatened unless it was breeding season and he wasn't with his ewes.
My friend has an old 4H ram, he's a big issue for her. She carries a small bucket of water with her and a stock stick. she tosses the water at him if he's being a jerk. Then she'll hit him across the neck or side of his face, as the forhead would be like swatting a fly to him. She manages but if it were me he'd be called dinner sausage.

I should say I train stockdogs (border collies) so I always have a good dog at my side. They wouldn't ever let anyone or thing hurt me so I am blessed.

Good luck and watch your back!