Baymule
Herd Master
While they are going through the chute, they are getting good training and so are you.
SageHill Ranch Journal
- Thread starter SageHill
- Start date
Ridgetop
Herd Master
I like the idea of putting the rubber matting on the floor. I have some matting that I am considering using for that purpose. The expanded mesh is so manure and pee doesn't build up on the chute floor, but if you are not running 100 sheep through at a time, you can clear off the poo and pee in between if necessary.
Bruce
Herd Master
Given they don't like the grate, is there any reason you couldn't put a piece of 1/2" plywood on the floor? More solid, less noise.
farmerjan
Herd Master
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2016
- Messages
- 11,933
- Reaction score
- 47,814
- Points
- 758
- Location
- Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Too slick for them... no traction. Rubber type matting would be much better...
- Thread starter
- #645
SageHill
Herd Master
They actually are now used to the grate. They don’t love it, but they don’t hate it either. At this point they are almost at a don’t care stage and willingly walk on it. And today I closed the head gate and the butt gate and each one had to stand on it for a bit.
they all did well 
. I personally think the little step up is what they don’t care for now.
Baymule
Herd Master
I love this. You are attentive to their fears and are slowly getting them accustomed to this new thing. True mark of a shepherd. 
- Thread starter
- #647
SageHill
Herd Master
I love this. You are attentive to their fears and are slowly getting them accustomed to this new thing. True mark of a shepherd.
thank you! Just the way my brain works.- Thread starter
- #648
SageHill
Herd Master
Yesterday I got all the sheep weighed! Just Obi and I doing the job. I don't think I could have done it without him. He is so calm when he needs to be.
Got them all done with no problem - I used the tilt table after the scale - kill two birds with one stone - weigh and get used to the headgate closed (not holding the heads yet) and the rear gate to keep a sheep on the scale. Obi and I worked into a nice rhythm getting them all through. We actually had it down after the second head. The first two were good too though. When we were done Obi and I had a happy dance party. LOVE working with a dog as a partner. I should have had the scale a little closer to the chute so there wasn't a "void" that some of the sheep didn't care for. Some walked over, some took a step and got the gap, and some jumped the gap. It all worked and I'm happy.
And - Camper weighs in at 90# -- harvest in a month.
The ram weighs in at 190# I was guessing 200 - I was close.
Here's a vid of two of them:
Got them all done with no problem - I used the tilt table after the scale - kill two birds with one stone - weigh and get used to the headgate closed (not holding the heads yet) and the rear gate to keep a sheep on the scale. Obi and I worked into a nice rhythm getting them all through. We actually had it down after the second head. The first two were good too though. When we were done Obi and I had a happy dance party. LOVE working with a dog as a partner. I should have had the scale a little closer to the chute so there wasn't a "void" that some of the sheep didn't care for. Some walked over, some took a step and got the gap, and some jumped the gap. It all worked and I'm happy.
And - Camper weighs in at 90# -- harvest in a month.
The ram weighs in at 190# I was guessing 200 - I was close.
Here's a vid of two of them:
- Thread starter
- #649
SageHill
Herd Master
Got out and grazed this morning. With Obi coming up a little ouchie lately, I've decided it's from the frying pan into the fryer for Zo. With the recent heat blast and ultra low humidity the last two weeks no one has done any big work. So Zo was on the speed demon mode. 
And this was the first time he has done the entire flock. That first downhill road work was not as comfy as with Obi. Zo - whose name became ZOom made things interesting. I sheep surfed a bit, almost into mutton busting -- but we all managed. Probably should've done a little grazing just outside the pasture turnout. Note to self - DO THAT.
We got to a graze area and after a bit everyone settled in. THEN.......... as Zo was taking the road as a boundry - excellent choice on his part........... on the other side of the sheep - about the same distance Zo was on his side was.... yup a coyote. Ahhhh crap. With eyes on the 'yote, saying "staaaaay" "staaaaaaay" to Zo I got my pistol out (damn I'm out of draw practice) and took a shot albeit late as all I saw were retreating ears.
After the shot, I turned to see Zo. And there he was standing still with a calm eye on his sheep. His first official coyote while working encounter is now in the books and a check mark for doing it well.
We haven't seen the coyotes up by the house or barn for a few days - and Ree is officially out of season - but there has been a lot scat on the ranch road the last few months. Going to be an interesting season I guess.
Zo starting to settle in to the graze.
And this was the first time he has done the entire flock. That first downhill road work was not as comfy as with Obi. Zo - whose name became ZOom made things interesting. I sheep surfed a bit, almost into mutton busting -- but we all managed. Probably should've done a little grazing just outside the pasture turnout. Note to self - DO THAT. We got to a graze area and after a bit everyone settled in. THEN.......... as Zo was taking the road as a boundry - excellent choice on his part........... on the other side of the sheep - about the same distance Zo was on his side was.... yup a coyote. Ahhhh crap. With eyes on the 'yote, saying "staaaaay" "staaaaaaay" to Zo I got my pistol out (damn I'm out of draw practice) and took a shot albeit late as all I saw were retreating ears.
After the shot, I turned to see Zo. And there he was standing still with a calm eye on his sheep. His first official coyote while working encounter is now in the books and a check mark for doing it well.
We haven't seen the coyotes up by the house or barn for a few days - and Ree is officially out of season - but there has been a lot scat on the ranch road the last few months. Going to be an interesting season I guess
.Zo starting to settle in to the graze.
Baymule
Herd Master
I don’t think my LGDs would stay with a coyote in full view. I’m pretty sure it would be a dead coyote.
Great video of the sheep going through the chute. Love it!
Great video of the sheep going through the chute. Love it!
