Swapping Rams
Late December I separated my small flock, keeping the older and productive ewes with Bobby and keeping the granddaughters, crossbred wethers, Boots (unproductive) and Ebony (to look after her young ones) in a separate paddock. Russell had spotted a ram being offered for free on a local 'Buy, Swap and Sell' website. After contacting them they indicated that they would also be interested in swapping rams. Initially, I brought home Arnie on 9 January. I kept him with the rag tag bunch that I had separated previously.
In the mean time I had to figure out a way of getting Rambo onto the trailer by myself, using the yards and ramp of course. I thought there would be an issue with him trying to escape out the open half of the back of the trailer, so I rigged up some metal mesh. In the end it didn't really pose a problem. What did end up being a problem was getting him onto the trailer up the ramp. When alone in the yards he became very aggressive, not like him at all (except the first day he arrived when he was ramming into the fence). I think he gets stressed by himself. Consequently, there was no way I was getting into the yard race with him to encourage him up the ramp. I eventually got him in the trailer with a lot of difficulty. This all happened late February.
In early March I yarded the rag tag bunch and separated 7 wethers and crossbred ewes to sell at the markets. Arnie, Coco, Ebony and Emily went in with Bobby and the rest of the girls. Emily was Flystrike's daughter, Flystrike died shortly after shearing and Emily had been keeping to herself away from the mob ever since. She had probably been sick for a while and died about a week later. Then we had the issue of Arnie and Bobby sparring, but unlike Rambo, Arnie stood up for himself, so instead of fearing for the ram I was worried about Bobby. They still have little goes at each other but generally they have settled down and neither have been hurt. Arnie also tries to spar with me but his handle horns are very useful in grabbing hold and putting him where he is out of the way, either in the shed for crutching or just to keep him at bay to stop him butting. He is small in stature too, which also helps.