After fighting broken fences for years, I finally bought some cattle panels to pt inside the rams' paddock - problems resolved! When introducing new rams, do so in small area, after that mine live together in rams' paddock and seldom fight but do butt the panels (I think they like the resounding clang). When I had 1 ram, he used to but the big fir tree - the tree won but he'd keep trying.
I sort mine in the barn as I have 2 stalls and the main area. I put grain in to get them in, then let them out individually into barn alley & open the proper door to where I want them. I have tried using my dogs to put them thru the sorting chute (I have too many to lock into chute) but find I'm spending 1/2 the time directing the dog. The nice thing about sheep versus other livestock, is that with sheep, if something doesn't work & goes to H** in a handbasket, wait 5 minutes & start again. My sheep don't usually think the same thing is about to happen & go willingly. The other thing is that a bucket of grain gets them moving in a much better mood/speed then a dog! When I first got my Am.Barbs (15 years ago), their old home had no living trees, bushes etc & when they first got to my place they would eat everything, they have since become pickier but still enjoy young bushes (esp. if the bush is in my garden). Donna-Marie www.teseko.com _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
