The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Womble on August 22, 2016, 12:34:12 pm
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We gave all our sheep a decent once-over yesterday, and dagged the ones with mucky bums. However, I had a hell of a job stopping the sheep from running off whilst I did it. I had some success standing backwards astride their necks and bending over, but inevitably they soon got bored and ran off, with predictable consequences ;D.
So am I missing a trick? Is there an easy way to dag single handed, or do I need to invest in a docking crate (http://iae.co.uk/agriculture/products/sheep-docking-crate/) or head restraint gate?
(BTW [member=13]Rosemary[/member] - I notice you used to have a crate, but sold it. Any thoughts?)
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Still got the crate [member=2128]Womble[/member] and I do use it. That extra 18" off the ground makes a huge difference ;D
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Haltered to a hurdle, or better into a right-angle corner, then either astride backwards, or pushed against hurdle and then turn into other direction, as easier to do one side at the time that way. Difficult to explain. Doesn't guarantee that they are standing still, but at least they cannot run off....
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Hmmm, I haven't tried tying a halter up ever since a bad experience once with one of the Manxes who went totally nuts and nearly strangled herself. Maybe I should give it another go now we have Zwartbles.
I was thinking about a turnover crate for holding them steady, but the more I think about it, I don't actually need the turnover bit, since if they're restrained, I could check feet as you would do a horse. I wonder if this could also be combined with a small footbath? :thinking:
The options seem to be the Modulamb one (£650+VAT), which puts the sheep at a comfortable working height, as Rosemary says:
(http://www.modulamb.com/graphics/ai1.JPG)
Or the IAE version, which can either be ground level (£650+VAT), or on a stand (£1400+VAT :o)
(http://iae.co.uk/agriculture/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/02/sheep-docking-crate-new-575x252.jpg)
(http://iae.co.uk/agriculture/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/02/DOCKING-CRATE-ON-STAND-575x252.jpg)
Any thoughts or experience folks? :thumbsup:
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The 'shove their heads in a corner and straddle' method works well, but you have to stand on your head to reach right underneath and there are some rather delicate bits under there. So we also sit them on their bums to do those hard to reach bits - inside of tail, between the legs, round the penis. It can be combined with checking feet are ok. We just try to avoid being seen by the city dwellers out for a lovely day in the countryside who will be puzzled as to exactly what we are up to :o
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We put ours in a neck noose tied to a fence. We use plaited bailers twine but you could use an old pair of tights or something similar.
I believe I read in Tim Tynes book he was using a fan belt.
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OK, so I've been doing a reverse cowboy ;), you use bailer twine but maybe old tights, Rosemary uses a head restraint, and Tim an old fan belt......
We just try to avoid being seen by the city dwellers out for a lovely day in the countryside who will be puzzled as to exactly what we are up to :o
No bloody wonder! :roflanim:
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This was the wrong thread to check when I was stuck in a boring meeting! A half stiffled snigger was quickly followed by some very dirty looks! :roflanim:
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Reverse straddle, or tip them up, or pin them down on their side (with a knee/sit over them).
Or, better still, cull anything you have to dag .... I've only had to dag one lamb in two years :)
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Useful tips (excuse pun) when needed. However since I live in a well populated part of the world I am changing the to-it-alone habit of a life time and asking for help. Had a lovely afternoon hoof trimming goats last week followed by tea and biscuits having asked a couple of local ladies if they would like to get involved. I have finally appreciated that I am not the only one mad enough to study sheeps bottoms for muck and other people relish the opportunity.
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tip them up, or pin them down on their side (with a knee/sit over them).
No, that's what they do to me at the moment! ;D
Or, better still, cull anything you have to dag .... I've only had to dag one lamb in two years :)
FECs came back low, so I think it's just a surplus of lush wet grass that's been the problem. There was only one with actual dangly bits, the rest just got a tidy up of any mucky bits to stop them from getting worse.
P.S. Have you heard the Australian phrase "Rattle your dags", as in "get a move on!". I'm now managing to regularly work it into normal conversation, much to Mrs Womble's disgust ;D
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P.S. Have you heard the Australian phrase "Rattle your dags", as in "get a move on!". I'm now managing to regularly work it into normal conversation, much to Mrs Womble's disgust
... follow up boring meeting tomorrow... challenge accepted!
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P.S. Have you heard the Australian phrase "Rattle your dags", as in "get a move on!". I'm now managing to regularly work it into normal conversation, much to Mrs Womble's disgust
... follow up boring meeting tomorrow... challenge accepted!
Cuddle, can't wait to hear how you weave that one into the conversation at your meeting
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Have the MODULAMB crate , preferred it to IAE as the sheep can be tilted to make it 20" above the ground and swung out to allow you to work without catching your head on anything , good for ear tagging or worming /treatments . But it needs 2 people to move it unless you can leave it in a race permanently
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Superb, thanks Shep. If I can find one second hand, it might be a goer. Can I ask a few questions please?
- Can you easily access all four hooves for inspection / trimming?
- Do the sheep mind going up the ramp, and does it have to be mounted in a race to work properly?
- Do they just jump out at the far end, without a down-ramp?
- Is it definitely ok for all sizes of sheep? (we have Zwartbles, and I don't think a tup would fit in a standard turnover crate for instance.
- Do you think I could fit a shallow footbath tray in, or would that stop either the front or rear gates from working properly?
Thankyou! :thumbsup:
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OK yes you can get at all 4 feet ,both side panels open . The ramp is short maybe 2ft and my sheep run up it easily , I suppose you could have it in just a small pen but then you would need a hurdle or 2 to make some kind of small race so the sheeps only way out was through the crate . Yes jump down easily. Don't think a foot bath in the crate would work as both entry and exit gates open inwards but you could maybe put the footbath on the ground at the exit and make a small race/pen . IF you and mrs womble wanted a drive to the sea side you are very welcome to come and have a look
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We halter our Soay to roo them and tie to the fence. Very rarely need to dag but again we halter and tie. Much easier and less stressful than trying to hang on to them .... Just too wrigglsome!
They quickly clicked on to the fact that they couldn't get away once tied and now settle quite quickly.
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FECs came back low, so I think it's just a surplus of lush wet grass that's been the problem. There was only one with actual dangly bits, the rest just got a tidy up of any mucky bits to stop them from getting worse.
If your weather is anything like mine, they would benefit from having hay out all year round. It makes a big difference to bottoms, they just pick at it when they need it :) . Cheaper than a crate ;)
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... follow up boring meeting tomorrow... challenge accepted!
Cuddles, can't wait to hear how you weave that one into the conversation at your meeting
Epic fail... meeting was that boring I forgot all about getting this quote into the meeting... will try harder next time!
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So I was master at ceremonies for my sisters wedding at the weekend and some guests were being particularly slow to shut up and get back to their seats before the speeches... if only I knew a phrase that meant get a move on!
"Would everyone kindly rattle your dags and take your seats as quickly as possible." I had a wee bit of explaining to do after the speeches :innocent:
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I've only dagged the once so far (first year and my castlemilks seem to be clean ladies lol).
We started with the pin them between two hurdles method but soon realised that's no good where horns are involved. Ended up doing as FW suggested. Only had a problem with one ewe - I'm pretty sure she thought we were in a rodeo! She's top of my cull list as she gave the shearer a nightmare time too.
Dans
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Well, I tried with a tied halter, but the sheep really hated it and struggled to get free. A proper head-yoke might have been ok though.
However, I went to a different feed store to normal today and they had an AIE docking crate in stock. It had turned a bit green and must have been sitting in their yard for a while, so I managed to bag it for just over half the list price :thumbsup: . Definitely my strangest ever impulse buy, but if it saves me from another herniated disc, hopefully money well spent!
I ran some ewes and lambs through it tonight to check, and I think it will do the job nicely. The width adjusts easily without tools, and it's perfect for doing bums, undercarriage and back feet. It can also be used for injecting and drenching. Front feet are a bit of a challenge since the sheep stand quite far forward in it, however it was possible and I think it will be easier if I raise the crate off the ground a bit.
I also think I'll be able to make a footbath for it. This may require changing the back doors so they open outwards rather than inwards, but that looks easy enough. I don't think it will be any use for sheep with horns BTW, but I'll report back properly in due course....
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Great score, Womble :thumbsup:
We'd love to see some pics of it in use.. :eyelashes:
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Only just able to contribute to this thread as my sheep are very clean but the other day I noticed one of my Zwartbles shearlings had a few dags so I decided to see how easily I could sort it out. I chucked some food into the trough in the field then trimmed the dags off while she was eating. So it turns out, life can be very easy, with well handled sheep with nice temperaments. Thumbs up to my Zs again :love:
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OK Silkwood - when you can check all four feet while they're eating, THEN I'll give you that one :) .
My main problem yesterday was that whilst I was checking one lamb, the rest of them wanted to nibble my hair or trousers. I don't think either of our flocks have ever read this diagram (flight zone? What's that!?)
(http://www.saferfarms.org.nz/assets/guides/safe-sheep-handling/_resampled/ResizedImage580410-flight-zone.png)
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Have the MODULAMB crate , preferred it to IAE as the sheep can be tilted to make it 20" above the ground and swung out to allow you to work without catching your head on anything , good for ear tagging or worming /treatments . But it needs 2 people to move it unless you can leave it in a race permanently
I have a WM Ironworks turnover crate that Modulamb supplied along with our sheep race. Is that the one you mean, Shep53? If so they now sell a set of wheels that fit on one end to make it into a (hefty) wheelbarrow. Is does make moving one much easier.
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No sorry different type ( if you look on the modulamb site ) I could fit wheels easily, for now if I need to move then it goes in the tractor loader bucket . I had a rollover crate 20 yrs ago and I just fitted a pair of wheels that were held with a pin so I could move it in a trailer
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OK Silkwood - when you can check all four feet while they're eating, THEN I'll give you that one :) .
lol I've blue sprayed one of Wagtail's feet while she was loose in the field but don't think I've ever had cause to check all four feet...but might have a play tomorrow and see what they make of it :innocent: