I have a serious concerning issue with one of my Rams

[riskyjohn]

Hello farming forum, I am turning to my fellow country men and women for help as I am quickly running out of ideas.
My Ram who is 4 years old (Wendy but he's a male) has become both emotionally and physically attached to a bucket; it's causing me huge issues on the farm.

If anybody on the farm tries to reclaim the bucket he becomes very agitated and aggressive towards me or my family members.
We've tried everything to distract Wendy from this new found obsession but nothing seems to work; has anybody (please!) come across this kind of obsessive behaviour amongst sheep or livestock?
One evening, around 4:50pm I had just about enough and decided to distract him with a treat and snatch the bucket away with my border collie Francis to back me up.
All seemed well but the behaviour without the bucket was worse; attacking anything nearby and making horrific sounds... we gave into Wendy after 2 hours and placed the bucket by the gate.
To our amazement and after a few mins to gather his thoughts Wendy calmed right down and went to retrieve the bucket (by the handle) and play as he had done the day before.

I have to be honest, this behaviour is beginning to make me wonder if Wendy has a psychological condition and the tension between my wife and I (business partner) is becoming difficult.
She is a very proud farmers wife and animal enthusiast but when friends and fellow livestock keepers come and visit they laugh at Wendy with her bucket and it's upsetting my wife.

Is there any advice anyone can offer to try and rectify this problem, we are beginning to think about moving Wendy on but who is going to buy or take him with a bucket in his mouth!?
It's very embarrassing but that said I do not want to destroy the animal. We had thought about gradually buying smaller buckets and weening him off completely but I can't see it working...

Any obsessive behaviour experienced amongst farm animals and livestock would be much appreciated. Kind Regards, John

 

[Devil's advocate]

Is he a Charollais?

I find they need culling at 4 to 5 years old, because they become aggressive.

 

[Estate fencing.]

We had thought about gradually buying smaller buckets and weening him off completely but I can't see it working...

Sorry but that’s the funniest thing iv have read on this forum.

 

[andybk]

Is he a Charollais?

I find they need culling at 4 to 5 years old, because they become aggressive.

never had a aggressive charollais in 40 years ,got one that follows you everywhere and will press his head to get a scratch but doesnt butt , the zwartbles on the other hand are absolute btds (they are all like it)

 

[BAF]

Take the bucket off him and ignore him for a day or 2. He'll either have died of a broken heart or gotten over it. Or load him up and send him to market. Nobody will be worried about his bucket obsession just how meaty he is for making into the weekends curry.

 

[andybk]

Hello farming forum, I am turning to my fellow country men and women for help as I am quickly running out of ideas.
My Ram who is 4 years old (Wendy but he's a male) has become both emotionally and physically attached to a bucket; it's causing me huge issues on the farm.

I

Oh let wendy have his bucket , does it really matter ? , bet local paper would like a photo !

 

[Estate fencing.]

I think Wendy (and you) are confused of his/her gender.

Wendy with her bucket and it's upsetting my wife.

My Ram

 

[Timbo1080]

Does he ignore the bucket when the Ewes go in? If so, and it doesn't affect his tupping, then what's the problem....? I think it's ace. Otherwise, if it does affect his tupping abilities, get him over to the dead horse & see if he'll carry that out instead of the bucket?

 

[Werzle]

" Smaller buckets to wean him/her off "got me

 

[Estate fencing.]

" Smaller buckets to wean him/her off "got me

And me I just can’t get the image out of may head of a tup carrying around a Britain’s toy bucket.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Hello farming forum, I am turning to my fellow country men and women for help as I am quickly running out of ideas.
My Ram who is 4 years old (Wendy but he's a male) has become both emotionally and physically attached to a bucket; it's causing me huge issues on the farm.

If anybody on the farm tries to reclaim the bucket he becomes very agitated and aggressive towards me or my family members.
We've tried everything to distract Wendy from this new found obsession but nothing seems to work; has anybody (please!) come across this kind of obsessive behaviour amongst sheep or livestock?
One evening, around 4:50pm I had just about enough and decided to distract him with a treat and snatch the bucket away with my border collie Francis to back me up.
All seemed well but the behaviour without the bucket was worse; attacking anything nearby and making horrific sounds... we gave into Wendy after 2 hours and placed the bucket by the gate.
To our amazement and after a few mins to gather his thoughts Wendy calmed right down and went to retrieve the bucket (by the handle) and play as he had done the day before.

I have to be honest, this behaviour is beginning to make me wonder if Wendy has a psychological condition and the tension between my wife and I (business partner) is becoming difficult.
She is a very proud farmers wife and animal enthusiast but when friends and fellow livestock keepers come and visit they laugh at Wendy with her bucket and it's upsetting my wife.

Is there any advice anyone can offer to try and rectify this problem, we are beginning to think about moving Wendy on but who is going to buy or take him with a bucket in his mouth!?
It's very embarrassing but that said I do not want to destroy the animal. We had thought about gradually buying smaller buckets and weening him off completely but I can't see it working...

Any obsessive behaviour experienced amongst farm animals and livestock would be much appreciated. Kind Regards, John

We have a pony that has bucket issues. My wife is working towards a resolution. I'll let you know in good time what the end result is. We won't cull her though.
Love your story BTW. Keep up the news broadcasts.
SS

 

[egbert]

obviously....

 

[Highland Mule]

Hello farming forum, I am turning to my fellow country men and women for help as I am quickly running out of ideas.
My Ram who is 4 years old (Wendy but he's a male) has become both emotionally and physically attached to a bucket; it's causing me huge issues on the farm.

If anybody on the farm tries to reclaim the bucket he becomes very agitated and aggressive towards me or my family members.
We've tried everything to distract Wendy from this new found obsession but nothing seems to work; has anybody (please!) come across this kind of obsessive behaviour amongst sheep or livestock?
One evening, around 4:50pm I had just about enough and decided to distract him with a treat and snatch the bucket away with my border collie Francis to back me up.
All seemed well but the behaviour without the bucket was worse; attacking anything nearby and making horrific sounds... we gave into Wendy after 2 hours and placed the bucket by the gate.
To our amazement and after a few mins to gather his thoughts Wendy calmed right down and went to retrieve the bucket (by the handle) and play as he had done the day before.

I have to be honest, this behaviour is beginning to make me wonder if Wendy has a psychological condition and the tension between my wife and I (business partner) is becoming difficult.
She is a very proud farmers wife and animal enthusiast but when friends and fellow livestock keepers come and visit they laugh at Wendy with her bucket and it's upsetting my wife.

Is there any advice anyone can offer to try and rectify this problem, we are beginning to think about moving Wendy on but who is going to buy or take him with a bucket in his mouth!?
It's very embarrassing but that said I do not want to destroy the animal. We had thought about gradually buying smaller buckets and weening him off completely but I can't see it working...

Any obsessive behaviour experienced amongst farm animals and livestock would be much appreciated. Kind Regards, John

What do the rest of the sheep with him think of the bucket? He's not housed alone is he? That would not be fair to him.

 

[steveR]

Change the bucket.... and confuse him??

 

[Eiddwen]

He is bound to have a psychological problem being named Wendy!

Whose idea was that???

and I have to ask........................................is this a complete wind up ?

 

[spin cycle]

Sorry but that’s the funniest thing iv have read on this forum.

well thank you very much

i can't honestly see the op's problem ....what does it matter?.....and 'IF' wendy has been kept alone like 'hm' speculates then some company is in order

is wendy ugly btw?

 

[riskyjohn]

He is bound to have a psychological problem being named Wendy!

Whose idea was that???

and I have to ask........................................is this a complete wind up ?

I'm afraid it's not a wind up although the inhumanity expressed in certain replies is disconcerting. The name is unusual for a male granted, but this is ultimately not his issue.

 

[Wilksy]

Francis the border collie could easily get the hump over his name as well

 

[neilo]

I think you guys are being unfair to @riskyjohn in taking the mickey. He, and his wife are obviously extremely concerned about their poor ram's identity issues. It started with not knowing if he's a ram or a ewe, and now the poor thing thinks he's a bucket in need of a mate.

Out of interest, what colour is the bucket that he has chosen to be his life partner? Is he exclusive in his bucket luvvin', or does he like to mix it up a bit when it's not looking?

 

[z.man]

never had a aggressive charollais in 40 years ,got one that follows you everywhere and will press his head to get a scratch but doesnt butt , the zwartbles on the other hand are absolute btds (they are all like it)

You’ll not get close enough to a Charollais to find out if it’s aggressive only had one Zwartbles that was fiesty ……it didn’t end well for him