Why Do Sheep Baa and Are They Noisey?

Depending on your flock, you might hear a litany of bleats and baas when you walk outside. 

In other sheep, you might notice a quieter countenance. 

After a while, you might wonder why sheep baa and what your flock is telling you.

Sheep use a variety of bleats and baas to communicate with other sheep in their flock. These animals also make other sounds such as grunting, rumbling, snorting, and more. The amount of noise sheep can vary depending on breed, wants and needs in the moment, and even individual sheep’s personalities.

If you’re wondering why these herd animals are vocalizing, keep reading! 

We’ll look closely at these flock baas and what they mean.

why do sheep baa

How Do Sheep Communicate?

There are a few ways sheep communicate with one another and their caretakers. 

Most often, you’ll hear a chorus of “baas” when your sheep communicate. 

Meanings change depending on the situation, and different-meaning bleats from the same sheep may vary in tone and sound.

Since sheep are such social animals, you’ll likely hear them regularly, although not constantly. 

You may notice behavioral communication among your sheep as well. 

For instance, if a sheep is vocalizing and acting slightly sluggish than usual, you might conclude they’re under the weather. 

This is also true for more positive emotions, such as a ewe nudging her lambs with her nose while she communicates with them vocally. 

What Is The Cry Of A Sheep Called? 

Your sheep’s “baa” sound is usually referred to as a bleat. 

This term is used for lambs, adult sheep, and goats, although their bleats sound slightly different.

What Does It Mean When Sheep Bleat? 

There are quite a few reasons sheep owners might hear a chorus of bleats when they head outside. 

What causes your animals to make these distinct sounds? 

Your Sheep Are Hungry 

One common time you might hear bleats around your farm is when your sheep are hungry for dinner. 

You may even hear a few extra, louder bleats if their food source runs a bit late one day. 

Similarly, you might garner similar attention from your flock if you have treats on you when you step out to see them! 

Seeing Something New

Sheep are expressive animals; they can get excited when they notice something new. 

When this happens, you might hear a bleat from them as they bound up to explore.

Mothers Speaking with Lambs

A lot of sheep communication happens between a ewe and her lambs, especially early in life. 

After all, even in domesticated sheep these animals have an instinct to protect their young. 

Ewes may bleat at their young in times of need, such as if they’re lost, and regularly imprint her voice upon them from a young age, making her recognizable. 

Communicating with Other Sheep

However, mothers and baby sheep aren’t the only ones who communicate with one another. 

You may see individual sheep bleating at once another as they go about their day. 

Separation from the Herd

Sheep tend to stick together. 

It’s a matter of safety; your sheep will get nervous if they’re separated from the rest of the flock. 

Plus, sheep get lonely; they prefer to spend time with their flock!

If they find themselves alone, domesticated sheep and wild sheep will likely start bleating. 

This is more than just a sound of distress too. 

Rather, it can help lost sheep locate their flock.

Further Reading: Why sheep flock together all the time

Sensing a Predator

As prey animals, sheep keep a careful eye and ear out for predators. 

Since they are herd animals, if one of these social animals senses a predatory animal, they’re likely to start bleating to alert other sheep nearby. 

Further Reading: Ways sheep survive in the wild

Bleats of Pain

Distressed-sounding bleats may also be a sign of pain or discomfort in goats.  

For instance, if a sheep hurts their foot or isn’t feeling well, they’re likely going to bleat to let you know. 

Similarly, you’ll likely hear these farm animals bleating when they give birth as well. 

Commonly Asked Questions

Why Do Sheep Baa at Night? 

Generally speaking, a happy sheep is likely to rest at night rather than stay up bleating. 

If you hear a cacophony of baa’s coming from the barn in the middle of the night, it’s likely a sign something is wrong. 

If you separate ewes and baby sheep at night, it’s likely to cause them distress, and you’ll hear loud bleating throughout the night. 

The best way to avoid this is to keep them together.

Why Do My Sheep Baa at Me? 

Your sheep may take an interest in you, as a person, for various reasons. 

For one, if you’re coming out to feed them at dinnertime, they’re likely used to the routine and know you’re coming out to give them food. 

Your sheep may also simply enjoy your presence! 

As mentioned earlier, your sheep may bleat when they’re excited. 

On the other hand, keep an eye on any bleating without any immediate or obvious connotations or bleating with a higher, more distressed pitch. 

Your sheep may be letting you know something is wrong too. 

How Do I Stop My Sheep From Making Noise? 

First off, you don’t want your sheep to be silent. 

After all, bleats are a form of sheep communication, often carrying important information. 

Still, there are a few ways to reduce noise from sheep.

The best way to avoid excessive bleating is to meet your sheep’s needs. 

This means ensuring their food source is fully stocked and they have plenty of water. 

Make sure to assess for any additional problems such as injury, illness, or any missing members of the flock.

Giving your sheep more space may also reduce bleating. 

However, they’ll bleat if they’re lonely, too, so don’t put them in solitude. 

If your sheep are in heat, they’ll likely continue bleating until the period of the heat ends, or they mate. 

Once in a while, your sheep may just want some attention too. 

If their resources are full and they aren’t in the heat but still run up to you when you come outside, they may just want a bit of attention! 

Related: Do sheep make a lot of noise?

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Author

Growing up amidst the sprawling farms of the South, Wesley developed a profound connection with farm animals from a young age. His childhood experiences instilled in him a deep respect for sustainable and humane farming practices. Today, through Farmpertise.com, Wesley shares his rich knowledge, aiming to inspire and educate others about the joys and intricacies of rural life.

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