Sheepshape
Herd Master
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2012
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Really NO need to feel bad. He's built to be outdoors, and sheep love the outdoors. I've had many sickly/triplet/rejected/hypothermic lambs in the house. They only stay,though, until they are warm, bottle trained,walking and have a companion. My kitchen is tiled and easy to clean....lambs seem to pee constantly. In my first year with sheep I had a lamb indoors for a couple of weeks. She managed to cause us to redecorate the kitchen, but , the final straw came when she took to biting wires and gnawing the kitchen doors.
I've raised many intact ram lambs.Occasionally they remain 'good friends', but I mean occasionally. Usually, once they start to feel the effects of the testosterone, they start head butting and determined to be the 'alpha ram'. Under these circumstances, and regardless of sex, you will be a ram competing with him.A lovely, friendly, cuddly ram lamb of mine from last year, Rastus, is now a ram who I have had a major dominance run-in with, and who I never turn my back on. It's a bit breed specific.....my largest Blue Faced Leicester ram (Goliath), 5 years old, is a huge and trustworthy gentle giant who I have never had any issues with. His sheer bulk (over 20stones) means he only has to look at others for them to know he is the boss.
The size the ram grows to isn't an indication of his likelihood to be aggressive either. We borrowed a HUGE ram from a neighbour. At the end of the season, we got him accustomed to our other 4 rams before putting him in the ram field. No issues, until the ram which I had a run-in with, Rastus, started the 'dominance' dance.The size discrepancy meant I felt pretty confident that neighbour's ram would soon show him who was boss. Rastus aimed an almighty blow to his head, caused neighbour's ram to be concussed and a massive swelling over his eye. In short, he has had to have his eye removed, has had a huge abscess and has needed lots of vet attention. We have bought the ram from our neighbour who was very understanding about the whole thing.
Anyway my long-winded way of saying....about as cute as he can be now, but needs to be treated appropriately to keep you and him happy.
I've raised many intact ram lambs.Occasionally they remain 'good friends', but I mean occasionally. Usually, once they start to feel the effects of the testosterone, they start head butting and determined to be the 'alpha ram'. Under these circumstances, and regardless of sex, you will be a ram competing with him.A lovely, friendly, cuddly ram lamb of mine from last year, Rastus, is now a ram who I have had a major dominance run-in with, and who I never turn my back on. It's a bit breed specific.....my largest Blue Faced Leicester ram (Goliath), 5 years old, is a huge and trustworthy gentle giant who I have never had any issues with. His sheer bulk (over 20stones) means he only has to look at others for them to know he is the boss.
The size the ram grows to isn't an indication of his likelihood to be aggressive either. We borrowed a HUGE ram from a neighbour. At the end of the season, we got him accustomed to our other 4 rams before putting him in the ram field. No issues, until the ram which I had a run-in with, Rastus, started the 'dominance' dance.The size discrepancy meant I felt pretty confident that neighbour's ram would soon show him who was boss. Rastus aimed an almighty blow to his head, caused neighbour's ram to be concussed and a massive swelling over his eye. In short, he has had to have his eye removed, has had a huge abscess and has needed lots of vet attention. We have bought the ram from our neighbour who was very understanding about the whole thing.
Anyway my long-winded way of saying....about as cute as he can be now, but needs to be treated appropriately to keep you and him happy.
I now understand. Everyone has been giving me experienced suggestions and I now fully understand what needs to be done... What is the max I can wait to take him out doors...more or less?
