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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask about an aggressive pet sheep on here?

27 replies

krustykittens · 11/07/2018 15:18

Sorry, I know this will drive people crazy, but it seems to be a peculiar problem and I have tried googling it with no success! We were given a pet lamb about two years ago by a local farmer and we had him neutered to avoid any problems with aggression. We also got him some company in the form of two orphaned ewes when he go to about eight weeks ago. He has been a real character and a great pet as well as good for tidying up the paddocks after our ponies, but the last few months he has become very aggressive and we can never tell what sets him off. He can be as good as gold one day, rearing up and full on attacking you the next. It is getting worse and it has become impossible to handle him. The ewes are fine and haven't changed at all but he has become quite dangerous. He really hurt my eldest daughter today and we are on our way into A&E to see if her wrist is broken. Even though he is neutered, could this be hormonal? Is there anything we can do about it? Nothing seems to deter him once he is determined to go for you. If this keeps up, we won't be able to handle him at all. Sorry this is in AIBU but we are desperate for some help!

OP posts:
derxa · 11/07/2018 15:42

I'm a sheep farmer and have never come across a ram that behaves like this. If you want to keep him then he has to realise he is not 'top dog'.
This article is quite sensible.
livestocktrail.illinois.edu/sheepnet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=6434
I would not keep him as a pet.

lookatthetrees · 11/07/2018 15:51

Sorry but sounds like he may be on his way to the mart. We have sheep, this is not good.

GivenAndDenied · 11/07/2018 15:53

I have a few sheep, and have quite a few friends with sheep - some farmers, some as pets.

I have heard of entire males, castrated males, and ewes, all becoming aggressive, sadly. Entire males are most likely to be, but the others do happen. Friends have said that if they've been hand reared and become aggressive, that can be even more dangerous, as they have no fear of people.

I'm not aware of any real cure, once things get serious. Most people would either cull them, or start keeping them in such a way that they don't have to be handled/have people in their pen. I have heard some say that mild aggression can be cured by getting very firm with them once they start to come at you - but once it's an ingrained habit, it can be difficult to break, and you could probably never totally trust them again.

I'm sorry to hear about your DD. I hope she's ok. How old is she?

Original poster
krustykittens · 11/07/2018 15:53

We tried the humiliation tactic and it hasn't worked. :( I think because he is a pet he just doesn't have any boundaries. Realistically, as a wether, is anyone going to take him?

OP posts:
Original poster
krustykittens · 11/07/2018 15:55

Oh no, this sounds like what we really didn't want to hear. :( My DD is sixteen and he rammed into her hand today and bent it back. I am sorry we ever took him on, tbh.

OP posts:
lookatthetrees · 11/07/2018 17:26

An aggressive animal will always end up being abused. The responsible thing is to either work on the behaviour ( difficult with a sheep, a grant you), take it for the freezer, or have it PTS and buried if you can’t face eating it.

Sorry you are having to deal with this.

GivenAndDenied · 11/07/2018 21:54

I would suspect that homes for an aggressive castrated male will be few & far between.

Can you give him a bit of field of his own, where nobody needs to go in with him?

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 11/07/2018 22:01

I'm by no means an expert but could it be the heat.
If only they could stay cute little babies forever.

kingjofferyworksintescos · 11/07/2018 22:08

We had a similar situation when I was a toddler, lamb became too big for his boots once he was about 18 months old , naughty with some but not with others , knew his niche market he could bully , I don't remember much more as I was a toddler but he went to live at a lovely animal sanctuary where he had more boundaries and settled well

liverbird10 · 12/07/2018 13:14

Have you tried telling "MINT SAUCE!!" at him?

liverbird10 · 12/07/2018 13:15

*yelling!

UpstartCrow · 12/07/2018 13:16

we had him neutered to avoid any problems with aggression

Is there any possibility he has a retained testicle? When they act like entire males its the first place to look.

Shoxfordian · 12/07/2018 13:17

He sounds really baaaaaaad

Peopleplease · 12/07/2018 13:17

My Aunt had a pet lamb called Benny that she used to walk on a lead but unfortunately Benny got too big to handle and had to go to the factory.

KittyVonCatsworth · 12/07/2018 13:58

We had a pet lamb called Rambo when we were younger who was also aggressive once he reached about a year old. He’d had his knackers off too. We couldn’t go anywhere near him in fear of being rammed. Came home from school one day to be told by DF that Rambo had found a girlfriend from the next farm and had left to live with her. Being 8 I didn’t put 2 and 2 together when we had a lot of shepherds pie, roast lamb, stovies etc for the following 3 months 😭 poor Rambo

I would try and rehome if possible but agree with PP about it probably being near enough impossible x

Didiplanthis · 12/07/2018 14:15

We have a 2 year old hand reared pet wether as well given to us by a farmer who is currently trying it on too. Mostly ok if we square up to him quickly but hoping it settles quickly !

MapleLeafRag · 12/07/2018 14:15

My DPs had an orphan ram lamb. He became more aggressive at he got older, I remember in particular that he head butted me behind my knees and pushed me over.

Tasted lovely with mint sauce....

Typhers · 12/07/2018 14:20

Mutton makes an ok curry 🤔.

Hey, it’s an option!

Didiplanthis · 12/07/2018 14:21

I have mentioned lamb kofta to mine quite alot. Actually he has got better the more we ignore him.

womcombat · 12/07/2018 14:21

I'm not sheepy but horsey.

My two penneth would be for sudden unexplained aggression first port of call would be vet to rule a physical problem, it could be pain. If he is castrated he could be the sheep equivalent of a rig, either true (retain tissue) or false (ideas above their station). My gelding is a false rig and is on Regumate which keeps his attitude under control (I know there's a pig version, not sure on sheep).

My second port of call would be training, force free +ve reinforcement such as clicker training, Youtube it for horses and work on a similar model.

Failing that I would get him PTS, passing on an aggressive field ornament is never going to end well.

womcombat · 12/07/2018 14:22

Do sheep have seasons? Are the ewes in season? Have you tried separating boys from girls?

HemanOrSheRa · 12/07/2018 14:24

Why has everyone got pet sheep expect me? It's soooo unfair Sad.

Scrowy · 12/07/2018 14:28

I don't think an aggressive wether is going to find a new home I'm afraid.

I'd just put him In the freezer and enjoy him that way instead Wine

ToadOfSadness · 12/07/2018 14:34

Would a sanctuary take him, like this one? Fiona takes all manner of creatures in and gives them good homes. www.towerhillstables.com/

ToadOfSadness · 12/07/2018 14:36

Forgot to add, Fiona also takes animals from other areas, as long as there is a way to transport them. Tower Hill has a Facebook page if you want to contact her or Martin.

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