The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: smudger on April 27, 2012, 10:28:34 am

Title: sheep headstock
Post by: smudger on April 27, 2012, 10:28:34 am
Looking at a few to do a few things in the field without rounding up and bringing back to the yard.  Quite a difference in price - any real differences?

http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/acatalog/Shepherds_Supplies.html (http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/acatalog/Shepherds_Supplies.html)  £77 incl VAT
maybe not as strong?

http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150257/Sheep-Calf-Headstock (http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150257/Sheep-Calf-Headstock)  £79+ VAT

http://www.peasridge.co.uk/acatalog/Trimming_Stand.html (http://www.peasridge.co.uk/acatalog/Trimming_Stand.html)  £140 incl VAT

http://www.showtime-supplies.co.uk/shop/sheep-products/sheep-headstock (http://www.showtime-supplies.co.uk/shop/sheep-products/sheep-headstock) £86-106 + VAT (Ritchie / Showtime)

there is also this one, but probably too heavy for me, thus not really portable:
http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150258/Carolines-Calf-Sheep-Staller-Headstock (http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150258/Carolines-Calf-Sheep-Staller-Headstock)

Not sure if a rope or chain makes any difference. Ascott is the cheapest but a bit concerned that the chin support is a bit flimsy.

Also do they work for all types of sheep - we have Shetlands and GfD's.

Title: Re: sheep headstock
Post by: robert waddell on April 27, 2012, 10:48:48 am
they are all adjustable  for all sizes of sheep  i was thinking of making one myself the only difference would be mine would not be electro plated :farmer:
Title: Re: sheep headstock
Post by: Brucklay on April 27, 2012, 11:05:37 am
I have the Ascot Dairy one and it is very strong, it weighs about 7-8kg - I got it for the Jacobs and it was good but it doesn't go small enough for the shetlands so am selling (in marketplace - plug plug)
Title: Re: sheep headstock
Post by: robert waddell on April 27, 2012, 11:34:44 am
a little bit of thought and a chop saw will sort it out :farmer:
Title: Re: sheep headstock
Post by: Brucklay on April 27, 2012, 12:01:28 pm
Yes your right R W - I can do plumbing, electrics, joinery but I'm afraid metal work isn't one of my abilities and actually I don't need it for the shetlands, they are easy to handle
Title: Re: sheep headstock
Post by: smudger on April 27, 2012, 02:21:18 pm
Hi Brucklay. In what way are they too big for the shetlands? Is it the height of the pole or the width of the headpiece? Some of my Shetlands are quite tame but a few are quite flighty. Plus I'm a newbie so if it involves a sharp blade would rather have a sheep "held" than me trying to do both techniques badly.  I do have an adopter and did think about seeing if I could use that but did think that might be too wide for the Shetlands (and of course it means loading it into the tractor, taking it up to the fields to try it. And its been raining. Hard. Plus I like to walk at all times...).