The Poultry Keeper

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

When i bought my ram he came with a young castrated ram lamb and, last year, when the ram went in with the ewes I let the wether run with last years lambs for company (those lambs now in freezer). I was doing feet yesterday and, as he's just had his first shearing, noticed he actually had testicals Shocked

. They are not huge like the rams (he is a bit of a runt) but definately there and i can feel them inside the "bag". Is this right or is he NOT castrated ? - he was ringed not surgically castrated.

This year I have got 2 ram lambs that are now 3 months old and growing fast, what age do I separate them from their mothers and sisters?

debcat · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject:

sometimes the ring breaks or sometimes they slip back when the ringers taken off
talk to suz Laughing

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7368 Location: isle of lewis

i've got 2 like that

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Just spoken to his breeder, he was ringed but not by them. Cookie was one of triplets and a "runt" which is why they decided to castrate him and keep him as a pet/lawn mower. They don't normally castrate so asked a local sheep farmer to do it which he came and did - but was in a hurry!!! He became firm friends with Harvey, the ram i bought, so came with him. The breeder thinks he probably wouldn't be capable of siring lambs but can't guarentee it. I would li8ke to keep him, even when we sell Harvey on, as he he a pet now. Could I have him surgically done at 16 months? When Harvey is in with him hareem I would like to put Cookie in with the ewe lambs for company rather than leaving him on his own.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7368 Location: isle of lewis

a friend i knows grows hebs on and gets the vet to do them ,as they are so difficult to ring ,before 7 days which you are meant to do ,it also gives him a chance to pick out the best ones ,it's not an economic thing to do with most sheep but as his are for high value wool and meat it works for him,and the same would apply to pets

danndans · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 84 Location: aberystwyth

either the ring snapped or he wasnt done at all Confused

If the rng had slipped he would have the balls there but no sac, and there would be marking were they were meant to be Shocked

Hope this helps

Dan

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7368 Location: isle of lewis

not necessarily ,the sack dropped off my ram Embarassed

,ring did it's job ,it was only when i turned him over to check his feet that i noticed 2 lumps under the skin and his skin is stretching to accommodate the testicles ,but they are closer to the body,than if he was whole ,he's headed for the freezer ,but not sure if he'll have to feed the dogs because of ram taint ,he's a nasty piece of work ,nobody is allowed in the field i asked the vet to look when he was here and see if it was compromising his comfort and he said he said no it's not ,our vet has seen the same thing on quite a few occasions with the smaller none commercial sheep ,with the seven day rule,he said it's the same as the way they do ops on people stretching the skin for graph's ,
the one with only 1 you wouldn't know i felt ,as i noticed i missed the other one completely
stupid of me and not a mistake i'll make again Embarassed

danndans · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 84 Location: aberystwyth

thats exactly what i meant milkmade, there would be the balls but no sak, very painfull for the rams too!! i bought in some ewes and lambs and out of the 8 ram lams only one had been done properly Evil or Very Mad

i was furious and the person i had them off tried telling me someone else had done them, when a month before he said hed done the lot so he knew they were done!!

ooooh some people!! Mad

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Cookie has both a sac and testicles Shocked

, they are not as big as Harvey's but look just the same. I know I'm being sentimental but I can't send him to slaughter, he's been a pet for the past 10 months and loves a cuddle and the grandchildren love him - they would never forgive me!!!!

Another question - what age do you send ram lambs to slaughter to stop the ram "taint"? I have friends with Herdwicks that don't send until around 9 - 12 months and they say they don't taste any difference between ewes and rams! Does it depends on the breed?

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Thanks for you PM milkmaid, unfortunately I can't reply or send PM's since OH updated Norton so have to reply here. I would say you are right re 3/4 size bag (that should get everyone guessing Laughing

), we are looking into having him done surgically as he is staying. The rams lambs will either go to slaughter or be sold at around 8 months so, hopefully, we won't be able to taste any taint.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1724 Location: Clawddnewydd

Hi Chris, have you thought about getting him vasectomised instead of castrated? I think its cheaper, it's certainly less stressful for the tup and in this weather less likely to attract flies Twisted Evil

I had 3 tups done as teasers........oh Hell, just thought, I sent them off with the culls Shocked

oh "small round bits minus their ram!!!" that was really dumb of me......... Embarassed

Yes, moving house IS stressful!! Rolling Eyes

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7368 Location: isle of lewis

great idea bb

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1724 Location: Clawddnewydd

it was only the "really" that was supposed to be in bold.......

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Hadn't thought about a vasectomy but what a good idea. Will phone vet to find out more - thanks.

Yes BB moving house IS very stressfull - we've done it 9 times and it doesn't get any better!!!!!

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1724 Location: Clawddnewydd

Only 9? Try 33............... Rolling Eyes

Yes, really!