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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 165
When you are raising a ram lamb, do not pet him or handle him unnecessarily, and never pat him on top of his head because this encourages him to butt. Needless to say, do not let children play with him, even when he is small, because they can make him playful and his playfulness can become dangerous. The more he becomes familiar with humans, the more apt he will be to butting, but if he is distanced from them or even a little afraid there is less likelihood of this problem.
A ram butts from the top of his head, not from his forehead, therefore when you lead a ram keep one hand under his chin because this will keep him from getting his head down into a butting position. If you have a ram prone to butting, then try the water cure, which is having a bucket of water at hand, in readiness to throw the water at his head. After a few throwings, or use of a water-squirter, or a syringe loaded with water he should get the message. If he still does not get the message add a bit of vinegar to the water as this can be more effective.
If your ram is valuable to your flock and you want to keep him, you can hood him so that he can only see a little downward and backward. During this time he must be kept separately from other rams, because he is quite helpless.
A new ram introduced to your ram will cause a disturbance and they will fight. This also applies to rams that know each other if they have been separated for a period of time. Never pen a smaller, younger ram with a larger, dominant one.
When a ram is about the charge at another ram, (or human) he will back up and then at full pace charge with its head down. Two strong rams, that are both very determined, will continue to butt each other until their heads bleed and one falls to its knees and has a hard time getting up. Occasionally, rams have been known to kill one another. The good news is that once the dominance has been determined, they may be playful, but won't fight again unless they are separated and then reunited.
As a matter of preventing fighting with the possibility of serious injury, they can be put together in a small pen for a few days at first. In a confined area, there is no room for them to back up far enough to charge and do any damage.
In the event that you do not have a pen available you can try the following:
1. Use a ram shield. A ram shield is a piece of leather placed over the ram's face that inhibits front vision. They are not expensive, and are effective in stopping a butting ram without interfering in any of his other functions.
2.
A ram butts from the top of his head, not from his forehead, therefore when you lead a ram keep one hand under his chin because this will keep him from getting his head down into a butting position. If you have a ram prone to butting, then try the water cure, which is having a bucket of water at hand, in readiness to throw the water at his head. After a few throwings, or use of a water-squirter, or a syringe loaded with water he should get the message. If he still does not get the message add a bit of vinegar to the water as this can be more effective.
If your ram is valuable to your flock and you want to keep him, you can hood him so that he can only see a little downward and backward. During this time he must be kept separately from other rams, because he is quite helpless.
A new ram introduced to your ram will cause a disturbance and they will fight. This also applies to rams that know each other if they have been separated for a period of time. Never pen a smaller, younger ram with a larger, dominant one.
When a ram is about the charge at another ram, (or human) he will back up and then at full pace charge with its head down. Two strong rams, that are both very determined, will continue to butt each other until their heads bleed and one falls to its knees and has a hard time getting up. Occasionally, rams have been known to kill one another. The good news is that once the dominance has been determined, they may be playful, but won't fight again unless they are separated and then reunited.
As a matter of preventing fighting with the possibility of serious injury, they can be put together in a small pen for a few days at first. In a confined area, there is no room for them to back up far enough to charge and do any damage.
In the event that you do not have a pen available you can try the following:
1. Use a ram shield. A ram shield is a piece of leather placed over the ram's face that inhibits front vision. They are not expensive, and are effective in stopping a butting ram without interfering in any of his other functions.
2.