Sheep Farming: How To Avoid Having Aggressive Rams! A Lesson In Behavioral Psychology

Today at Ewetopia Farms, in layman's terms, we give you a crash course in behavioral psychology as it applies to working with rams. Many people are amazed by how quiet and docile our rams are with us and have asked how we do it. Hopefully, today's video will answer that question and give you tips on how to get your rams to be the same.
NOTE: Even the best behaved ram can be temperamental and, if handled improperly, can cause you serious bodily harm. Always use extreme caution when working with all large animals - especially intact males.
Sheep and sheep farming is our passion and we hope that the love we have for what we do is obvious to you the viewers. Our operation is a large scale, registered Suffolk and Poll Dorset sheep farm combining the best of pasture and confinement to manage the flock for maximum comfort, minimal stress, and producing a consistent, very high quality product. Our focus is on providing breeding stock for sale to other sheep producers. All our sheep are treated with the utmost compassion which I think will become evident as you join us on our daily rounds on our working sheep farm in eastern Ontario, Canada.
I hope you enjoy this video. If you would like to follow along with us and experience life on a real live sheep farm on a daily basis, please subscribe do that you don't miss a single episode! It doesn't cost anything to do so and you can cancel at any time. I think some people think that subscribing costs or locks you into something. All it does is notify you when I post a new video. I felt it may be helpful to clarify that because from talking with people in person, I don't think a lot of people realize that about pushing the subscribe button. Thank you for taking the time to watch! We love to hear from you so be sure to leave a comment as well.
Thank you!
Lynn & Arnie
Contact Information:
Website: Https://www.ewetopia.ca/
Lynn McKay and Arnie Droogh
3606 6th Concession Road
Kingston, Ontario
Canada
K0H 1Y0
[e-mail]
Follow us on:
Instagram: / ewetopiafarms
Facebook: / ewetopiafarms
KZbin: / @ewetopiafarms

[@patriciaruppert201]

Good morning Arnie and Lynn. Loved the video. Spending time with the boys is very interesting. The things you explained made a lot of sense in why some behaviors occur. Being kept all by themselves would be a lonely situation and I think I would be mad. Kindness goes a long way. We have a puppy that is 11 months old and what you called the magic apt on the chest works well with him. I loved that Heather came up to you and was so beautiful. I lost my daughter named Heather 3 years ago and she was beautiful as well. Ending with Chris was perfect. Already a sweetheart. Have a good day. Big hugs. 🥰🥰🥰

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I will be sure to let you know when Heather has lambs. She was one of my favourites and so beautiful. I am positive she would have done very well in the show ring. If she has any keepers, you can name him/her if you want in memory of your daughter. Yes, that sweet spot seems to work extremely well on dogs too!

[@michaelwalsh648]

Great information, thanks. You have to know your animals, and with that being said, you still never trust them 100 %, as you stated. It only takes 1 time of letting your guard down for serious injury. I heard the raven singing during the tour. Have you seen the second one again? Perhaps the parents left and that's the youngster. Have a great weekend

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, I included a warning in my video description. A ram can kill you or seriously harm you with one unanticipated hit. There is only one raven here. I would hope it was a baby, but generally, the parents both stay here year round, and they chase the babies off. The one left seems distressed and calls all day long as you heard in the background.

[@justinanovak8040]

Love your sheepy ear warmer/head warmer. Great info, for whatever creatures.

[@bohammarberg4072]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JT-bh9ey]

I'm back listening to this discussion again. So interesting - I keep coming back to this one.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I hope it is interesting in a good way!?

[@JT-bh9ey]

@@EwetopiaFarms of course - I love sheep behavior tutorials! And I love your rams. Well, all of your flock.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

@@JT-bh9ey 😊 thanks!

[@sherrycarney4924]

Love your videos…and your ear warmer/headband too 😊

[@blessedbyond]

I have the sweetest ram, he is just incredible but during breeding season I cannot go in the pen with him, he just becomes unpredictable. Thanks for the tips.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, during breeding season, all animals behave differently - more aggressively and more defensive of their mates - due to the increased levels of hormones. Usually, once breeding season is over, they revert back to their good old selves! Thanks for sharing!

[@insulinunit]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Is the area where the sheeps are staying, concerted or maral or sand? And is the hay cheap that you have a lot on the floir area?

[@insulinunit]

Do you have a video on your feeding area design in detail. I like your system with minimum labor and maintenance.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes we do somewhere in my playlists! I will do another one after lambing too.

[@tammykaltreider]

Wonderful information as always. Chris is a stellar lad for sure! 🫶

[@rebeccazody1278]

Great lamb headband/muffler

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Thank you. A lady in the UK makes them!🙂

[@foxsable9669]

I have a question. My vet told me not to touch my ram on his head because he would see it as a challenge. I'm new to sheep farming and trying to learn as much as I can. I see that you are touching the rams heads and faces and they are quite calm with you. Does this vary? Is it because my ram was a bottle baby? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, ram personalities are all so different. They have to be taught to respect you just as you would train your dog. Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. We pet our rams anywhere on their bodies. I don't find head petting is an issue. Rams play rough though both with each other and with people. If they are getting pushy, walk away. They want attention so walking away shows them they won't get attention that way. You initiate the interactions. Pet him when you see him behaving.

[@amiespace8241]

We have a ram that was a bottle baby he will be a year old in December he keeps trying to bunt any one that goes in the pasture and he is with are ewes

[@EwetopiaFarms]

If the ewes are cycling, that will stimulate aggressive behaviour especially at that age. Even if not, he is going to want to be breeding at this time of year. He should quiet down in a few months.

[@drewk5929]

What kind of grain do you feed your sheep? They sure like it lol

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Check our videos under the playlist heading Feeding Sheep. We have all our feeding info in there. However, it is basically cracked corn, whole barley, and roasted soybeans plus a decox pellet for the creep feed.

[@rasheedhanbali1262]

🇨🇦👍👍👍💯🇺🇸

[@shepherdewan]

I have been hurt by ram 🐏 call ☎️ dick somebody else annoy and he took it out on me

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, they will do that!🙂

[@cindyboard7816]

Very interesting information! Basically we all need love and have to learn acceptable behavior, animals and humans. Your rams are so entertaining to watch! I think Ferdinand was trying to keep Handsome away from you.😂 Thanks for another great video and stay safe!!

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, the rams do get possessive and don't want to share the lovin'!😆

[@alexandradittmann8588]

Fascinating, thank you!

[@EwetopiaFarms]

You're welcome 😊

[@ayhankaya1281]

happy holidays

[@shepherdewan]

My rams 🐏 🐏 🐏 🐏 are well behaved spud 🥔 Jeff Lindsay and jock

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I am happy to hear that! Rams are nice too!

[@kala6576]

I'm behind! Its now Monday and I'm only just now getting to watch the Saturday video.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Don't worry! I feel like I'm behind on everything everyday! LOL!

[@shepherdewan]

1 of those ewes is really Rachel

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, one is Rachel. She will be having a lamb this year.

[@AnnaLodico]

This has been so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Thanks. I hope it helps. It has always worked for us :)

[@drewk5929]

Our Texel rams are crazy friendly as well. Good points you make thanks

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I find Texels to be quite friendly. Some of our very most friendly ewes have a little Texel in them.

[@LavenderLushLuxury]

Nice, Scientific Video.... It's so great I love everything animal science related too!!!! 💚💜💚🧪🐑