The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Ruth on September 28, 2013, 04:40:31 pm
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Hi
I am currently looking for a sheep turnover crate as I am not strong enough to tip my sheep. Preferably one that's not to expensive as I am in Northern Ireland.
Any suggestions on how I could tip my sheep any easier would be greatly appreciated as well.
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I believe its not all about strength but the method of which you do it.
Our vet who is a small woman can turn one of our big dairy cows on her own with a piece of rope... I cant explain how to turn a sheep over without confusing you!
Someone will help i'm sure :)
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how many ewes have you and what are the breed?
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Its a technique---the lass that helps me is maybe 60kg and can throw a mature charollais ram easily
Grab the sheep by the head, turn the head and apply pressure --it will fall. See the video link below
once you get the knack you will be away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apEhZ1sO9lc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apEhZ1sO9lc)
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Blimey that video makes it look super easy!
Well I manage but there is a technique. I grab sheeps mouth with one hand thumb in mouth (behind teeth!) turn head back on the sheep put other hand and apply pressure to the hollow in front of hind leg and down they go.
You do a bit of dancing with them till you get the hang of it mind!
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as chonty says but also if you have your leg against their back leg they will lean against it... then take your leg away and down they go
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It doesn't work for us with horned sheep. You can't get the head round far enough before the horns (on tups) bump into their sides and they just don't go down. Plenty of dancing then, so my OH just picks them up below their forelegs, pushes their back legs forwards and dumps them on their bottoms. No good if you're small or weak, and certainly no good if your tups are hefty.
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Fleece wife, we don't have horns here but my OH does much the same as yours. We have tryed turning bottoms and heads together, al la Tim Tyne, but can't quite get the hang of it :(
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Blimey Fleecewife I dont fancy having to do that! Ive got whitefaced woodies so horned...but a ram lamb at the moment so horns not an issue...yet. Im actually currently training him to pick his feet up for me etc as I was a bit concerned whether I would manage a fully horned potentially 130kg animal!
He is very quite at the moment, and I am trying to tread very carefully to not make him 'too friendly'. Most of my experience is with small texel and suffolk tups so well see how i get on.
Ruth, I hope you have found all this information useful, it really is a matter of having a go! Is there anybody near you who can show you?
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Try this method Ruth, I'm riddled with arthritis and getting steadily weaker but I can still sit an obstinate tup on his beam end, it's all about technique. I can hang onto a sheep with one hand whilst doing something else with the other
First you need the head hold; thumb in the mouth across the gap between the front and back teeth and fingers under the chin ..... in fact save me typing it all out just read this as it has a photo too.
http://theroundhouse.freeforums.org/something-handy-to-know-about-handling-sheep-t393.html (http://theroundhouse.freeforums.org/something-handy-to-know-about-handling-sheep-t393.html)
Hope it helps a bit :)
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Ruth, i have sent You a message...