SCORE! Sheep Handling Equipment

[Baymule]

I can't say I've ever had a Poop Party.

@Ridgetop brought some wine, plus we went to Miranda Lambert's parents store in Lindale, where she bought 2 more bottles. I think we are going to have a Loopy Poopy Party!

 

[AmberLops]

@Ridgetop brought some wine, plus we went to Miranda Lambert's parents store in Lindale, where she bought 2 more bottles. I think we are going to have a Loopy Poopy Party!

HA HA!

 

[Baymule]

I ran the sheep through the chute today. I did it by myself because of BJ having cataract surgery and he can't lift, bend over or be in a dusty environment. That pretty much rules out everything around here, it's driving him nuts. I needed to give Domino a CDT shot, which I was able to do, thanks to this beautiful, lovely, equipment. I took fecal samples, by myself, it took a little longer because it is real handy to have BJ on the outside handing me stuff, but I got it done.

 

[Mike CHS]

I can't imagine doing without a chute system.

 

[Baymule]

The flying tackle system doesn’t work near as well as the chute. LOL Ringo is so hard to get a sample from, but I got him figured out. I put him in the short chute by himself with a pan of Feed. He jumps from side to side, gets annoyed and angry but greed for Feed overrides his dislike of me digging for doodoo. Hahaha! I win!

 

[Baymule]

I made a modification on the stanchion today. I’ve been rolling it around in my head, like a BB rolling around in a clothes dryer. We cut a hog panel in half, I used hay twine to tie it to the stanchion. My reasoning is to make sides to better guide the sheep up the little ramp. I still wound up putting a halter on the ewes and dragging them up the ramp.

I bought a new head piece for goats with a tray for Feed. I had the sheep head piece for sheep, no Feed tray! I’m trying to make it a better experience for them (food) and me (trimming hooves).

I have to say, having that Feed tray made a world of difference. They didn’t fight and kick hardly at all. Having the hog panel on the side made it a little harder to get to their feet, but this was a first run, it will get better. When I was through, I removed the head piece and they jumped down.

First up was Scottie, she stretched out for Feed in my hand, but I finally had to get the halter.

She was fairly calm and busy eating.

Then it was Ringo’s turn. Haha, he charged up the ramp and put his big head around the head piece and stuck his head in the tray!

I pushed his head back and through the head piece. If was fine with him, as long as he had Feed!

Gosh I love that boy!

I worked the sheep, lured with feed, dragged with halter and rope, trimmed hooves, took fecal samples and got a good workout. I’m tired.

Hopefully I will be able to train them to walk up the ramp and the sides will guide them. I guided Aria and Latigo up the ramp and gave them feed.

Lily went up the ramp, dashed for the gap between the head piece and end of the hog panel on the side, jumped through it and ran. I’ll run them through again soon and I’ll have to think of something else for her.

BJ wanted to help today, but his knee was swollen and painful from all the work we’ve been doing lately.

 

[Mike CHS]

That boy is one of a kind.

You think a short panel ran across and under the feeder might work? They (or most) won't try to go over something even at that height. It could even be a piece of plywood for the solid visual affect.

 

[Xerocles]

You and I both know I don't know squat about sheep. But a potential low tech way to get them to the head piece. Food container (attached to a line) sitting on the floor. Gate closes behind, food in sight ahead. Then, from the headpiece, pull the line til they reach the installed food pan. Easier to pull a food pan than to pull a halter wearing sheep? (I know how you like "illustrations", but I'm NOT a teacher, farm or otherwise.)

 

[Baymule]

I was thinking along that same line. A couple of them are squirrely, Lily and her mom, Lady Baa Baa. I've been thinking about a hog or cow panel section to form a sort of a squeeze chute to immobilize them. Lady Baa Baa used to come to me for petting and attention-----until I started doing fecals. She hates it and will not forgive me. I have to chase her around in the short chute to get a fecal sample, getting stomped and banging my knees around. I think she might have sprained my wrist today, it hurts. Oh well.

Ringo is such a sweetheart. He had two ladies with him, but I took one out, she is due this month. He gets to keep the other one until end of February, then he will be by himself. But he will be next to the ewes in the barn, so he won't be totally alone. Then in May he gets his ladies back. I love that boy!

 

[Baymule]

You and I both know I don't know squat about sheep. But a potential low tech way to get them to the head piece. Food container (attached to a line) sitting on the floor. Gate closes behind, food in sight ahead. Then, from the headpiece, pull the line til they reach the installed food pan. Easier to pull a food pan than to pull a halter wearing sheep? (I know how you like "illustrations", but I'm NOT a teacher, farm or otherwise.)

I used the feed bucket for a lure, for a sheep, that's pretty high tech. LOL They would go so far, then back down. Now that a pan of feed awaits, hopefully it will be a better experience and they will look forward to the feed pan. We are keeping 3 ewe lambs from this lambing, they got training today.