The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Fishyhaddock on February 09, 2011, 09:36:33 pm
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Any one out there know where we can purchase a Sheep Chair
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Whoops - posted this one too early! As i was saying .... we have read that sheep chairs exist - similar to a deck chair - which you position the sheep in leaving hands free for trimming the feet, as long as a handy helper is holding the head. Does anyone know of a supplier? I was told to try ebay but no luck. Anything that saves any strain on the old back would be very welcome. ;D
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Ascott sells them. You will still however need to turn the sheep on its backside and heft it into the chair, also cannot be used when handling in-lamb ewes. Not sure I think its all that valuable a help...
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Thanks Anke. Will explore further!
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I got mine on ebay. Think they called it a sheep seat. Handy, but you might need a belt to secure the sheep across the "waist".
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We had one a few years back for Jacobs. Murder to get them in (amazing how many places an unwilling sheep can find to dig it's toes in ;D) and ours soon bent under the strain. Too big for smaller sheep. I think we got ours from Ascot but we weren't impressed.
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Just been on ebay-agriculture/farming searched for sheep. Sheep chairs three sizes or several differant types of turnover crates. hope this is helpfull
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Whoops - posted this one too early! As i was saying .... we have read that sheep chairs exist - similar to a deck chair - which you position the sheep in leaving hands free for trimming the feet, as long as a handy helper is holding the head. Does anyone know of a supplier? I was told to try ebay but no luck. Anything that saves any strain on the old back would be very welcome. ;D
Turning sheep shouldn't be that much of a strain, as done properly there should be no lifting, and if its a problem to bend over the chair will not be much help anyway.
To turn easily you hold the head/chin, and gently turn it till the sheep loses it balance, then flip it over. Not easy to describe but if you go to a good sheep handling course they should be able to show you how to do this, and its much easier on the sheep than man-handling it.
All the best
Sue
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look in Tim Tyne's book for a description and photos of how to turn sheep over effortlessly. Basically you fold them in half! away from you and slide their bum down your leg. There is a knack to it but once you get it it's easy ....especially if the sheep cooperate - basically i't judo with sheep!
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I love that one "judo with sheep" nice one good quote and how true it is.....
andy
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I think the sheep chairs may be a bit of a gimmick and a bit of a waste of time.
I agree that turning over a sheep should not be that much of a strain, but I would also say that it does not need doing very often. I probably turn mine less that once a year, just to check their feet. Everything else is done in the race.
With big rams the best way to turn them is to pull the opposite back leg out from under them forward and into the middle. You can do this with the front leg even more effectively but they need to have something soft to land on as the come down a bit hard.
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Thanks all. Our sheep are big and even with my other half having some hands on lessons it's still giving him some gyp with the old back so we are now looking at sheep turning crates!...
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Having used both of two main types i would recomend the IRONWORKS type (various models out there ) especially for big sheep , the COMMADORE type is difficult on sheep of differant sizes.
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Thanks Shep - we saw a couple of Ironworks last week and were impressed. Just need to save the pennies...
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Yes- I've invested in a turnover crate- it was expensive at £600 but they are absolutely brilliant. As a newbie to all this I thought i needed 4 hands to work at the sheep but with the crate theree is no pressure- I take my time and do it right- sheep more or less completely immobilised.
Declan
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Declan - what make did you go for? Fishy
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I got my sheep chair last week, but cant try it out on the ewes cos they are all in lamb.. tried it myself....very comfy...and good for sitting in to admire the sheep!!
LOL
Emma t
ps got it from ebay
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Pikilily can you let me know how you get on with the chair and size of your sheep? ours are quite big so i would be interested to see how you get on.... Fishy
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I ended up with a medium....sort of forgot to ask for a large which may have been slightly better. i have two suffolk cross, one swaldale cross shetland, and one texel cross....so a variety of shapes and sizes!!!
It seems very strong and simply made. If it needs repairs it will be quite easy to do. I am pleased, on first impressions! £60 odd pounds all in, not bad.
Emma T
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Fishy,
Its the Ironworks one- it might be considered to be the rolls royce type but I think its a case of the cheaper one is cheaper for a reason.
Again- its brilliant- as a novice i find I have time to think about what i'm doing and then the time to carry out the task accurately and safely. I use if for dosing, injecting feet trimming. Sometimes I don't even turn them over in it- i clamp them in so they can't move and I can work away at them.
Best thing I've ever invested in.
Declan
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Ironworks seems the way to go - we are going to wait until after the lambs - have another go manually and see how the backs fare a fianl time and then take the hit I think and invest...