How are you an expert?

Wannabefree

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Those sound abused. Any abused animal will present bad behaviors.
 

Denim Deb

More Precious than Rubies
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I don't know that the ram was abused, it seemed to be more him being a guy. He wasn't abused while he was on the farm. The sheep, I can't comment on. But again, she hasn't been abused on the farm. The other animal that I really don't want is muscovies! They're all over the place. I've been tempted times w/out number to see what they taste like.
 

tortoise

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Bottle raised or overly-tame rams get dangerous! We have a bottle raised ram. He's SCARY! DH can go in the pasture - if he has a pitchfork! He knocked DH out once - and DH was on the other side fo the fence! He rammed me once, I thought he'd broke my leg! I had a massive bruise and swelling for weeks. If he rammed someone against the barn wall I think he could kill.

We keep him because he is part merino and has fabulous wool. He makes nice babies. The only way we can keep him is because I happened to have lead trained him when he was young. He halters up willingly and I can move or tether him once a halter is on.
 

Farmfresh

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Rams are like roosters. They should NEVER be pets. When a ram is petted (especially on the head) and loved on it fixes in his brain that he is equal to the human. When he becomes an adult he uses the ways of sheepdom to exhibit his breeding dominance which results in the dangerous behavior. Same as a rooster. A rooster that flogs people considers them his equal. He works to ascertain his dominance in the pecking order with dangerous spurs.

I am kind to my animals, but never get chummy with any breeding male. I WANT them to have a certain amount of fear of me. A little "large" body language and a loud unexpected voice can keep them wondering what I am capable of if they start getting a bit too close.

Another trick I learned over the years... never allow a rooster to breed a hen in front of you without a bit of a chase. In a flock the head rooster (which needs to be you) will never consent to a lesser rooster breeding one of "his" hens. They still get the job done (behind your back or behind the head roosters back) but this simple act will usually prevent a rooster from ever challenging your authority in a dangerous way.
 

baymule

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Here's some pictures of my sheep!

This is Lady Baa Baa with her lamb, Lily who joined the flock and had a ram lamb 2 months ago.

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This is our grand daughter with Snowflake, who had a ewe lamb a month ago.
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This is Miranda LAMBert with her ram lamb. She also had a ewe lamb that was born with all her organs outside her body and I had to put her down. When I saw this, I snapped the pic, it was so cute and I needed the laugh.
Miranda's lamb 2016.JPG
 

Britesea

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Well, I wouldn't say I'm an expert at anything (except griping and moaning when my arthritis acts up, lol). I knit well enough to create my own designs, I can crochet and sew. I'm pretty good at cooking, I can substitute ingredients on the fly if I discover I don't have a particular ingredient- and it usually comes out tasty. I have some knowledge of medicinal herbs and supplements. I can a lot- both water bath and pressure canning, as well as dehydrating and freezing, and getting my toes wet in freeze-drying. I garden.
DH is fairly knowledgeable about livestock and has a very good eye for conformation. And he's an excellent baker- especially long fermenting sourdough. He also just got his HAM license.
 

NH Homesteader

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What is a HAM license?

Bay I absolutely love Miranda LAMbert! She is beautiful!
 

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