Kitchen Garden Forum

My last year's ram lambs are now as big as my ewes. They are kept at the moment in the hen run which is big. I say hen run but the hens don't take any notice of the fences and go where they want to. Despite my telling my off spring to treat them with respect and not to push their heads or encourage them in any way - they DID. I am now paying for their doing so, since they think I am fair game for a butt etc and they're about 25/30 kg. and horned! I have to go into their pen armed with a brush or a stick and shout at them, which I'm not accustomed to doing with my animals. Despite being slow maturing North Ronaldsays I think they've matured nearly as much as I can stand them maturing! Or else I'm going to have to find a way of not walking through their pen. Also I don't want my ram following their example or I will be in trouble. He has been very respectful up until now and I'm hoping it continues.

Dear janeE, it sounds as if they think it is there territory now, and they are unlikely to stop.
It's not something you really want to put up with, or someone will end up getting hurt.

Lamb stew for new year??

Booked in to slaughter on February 12th. i am avoiding their territory now, but we had major upset when my husband went into the run to mend the chicken pop hole. he was NOT amused. The bigger lamb took a run at him right across the pen! My husband went and got a pickaxe handle and the ram revised his ideas.However after that he took my moans seriously and devised strategies for feeding them without entering their pen unless absolutely necessary. I had to last Friday, so I lifted the little so and so by his wool front and back and he was no problem - just limp!