Ram butting Ewes

[woodsie]

I am new here and new to sheep. I have six ewes and wanted to breed them for spring so I picked up a ram lamb (8 months old). I made the newbie mistake of picking up a ram that was bottlefed and has subsequently been really mean to everyone. First he was relentlessly chasing the two doe goats I had in the pen and would butt them. He also took a run at my guardian dog and was sizing me up. I chalked all this up to natural breeding instinct being territorial around the ewes.

This morning I go to feed the sheep and now he is butting the EWES that he is supposed to be breeding! He won't let some get near the food and is outright headbutting the ewes. I have already planned for him to go to the butcher after his "work" is done but will he even breed them if he is butting them? Or do I need to find another ram? I haven't seen him on the backs of any of the ewes yet, day 7 with them.

Any advice would be most helpful.

Thanks!

 

[SheepGirl]

Yes, that is normal ram behavior He is just trying to take all of their grain. He will breed them when they come into heat.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

I wouldn't worry too much about the ram butting the ewes! Just watch yourself if you have to go in their pasture/pen!!!
My rams all do that if I give them grain! They like to inforce their dominace to get what they want!
I am pretty sure he will do his job when the time is right! You might not see it though!
Good luck!!!!

 

[woodsie]

thank you for your replies!

I actually did witness him breeding this afternoon - the same ewe that he was chasing away from the food this morning. And you were right.... I fed them a bit of grain this morning and that's when he was being a butt-head.

Such a relief to the advice of others. Thanks again.

 

[Shelly May]

Only allow him to be with them for max 2 heat cycles, Around 45 days, then he must go, once the ewe's are
bred if he keeps doing this he will kill the babies inside of momma's stomach, and they will abort, and worse
yet if momma carries the dead babies too long inside her, she will get an infection and you will in most cases
loose her too. With so few sheep he should get them all bred on the first heat cycle, so you might get ride of
him in 30 days. But you never said how old the ewe's where so this advice is for older ewe's, two heat cycles
for younger ewe's to make sure they all were bred. Then to the freezer he must GO!!!!

 

[woodsie]

Yes, he is scheduled to go to the butcher on Jan 9th. I have him in a small pen with two ewes and he seems to be much better...plus its L-shaped so he can't get a good run at anyone. I got a different ram, much better temperment and conformation in with the other ewes and hopefully will be much better with the ewes.

I want to keep him around for next year but will I be able to keep him with the ewes? or will I have to put him in his own pen and get him a buddy/wether?