The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: bloomer on October 29, 2014, 10:19:57 am
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do people use these?
for helping to catch an individual sheep in a pen full etc?
if so what do people use/recommend?
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I used them when I was starting, for catching sheep in a pen, yes. I still use them for catching lambs.
I use the lightweight aluminium type. Eg these (http://www.tannertrading.co.uk/lambing-accessories/sheep-crooks-bluroy?gclid=CJmjj7HU0cECFbPJtAodR2AApw)
My favourite is a short leg crook, which is the right size to be a neck crook for lambs.
I have used a full-size neck crook, but don't have the upper-body strength to hold onto a commercial ewe that way. You could catch your Shetlands ok with one though ;)
There is one that has a neck crook at one end and a leg crook at the other. That doesn't suit me, but it might you.
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I have a Ritchey ColRoy neck crook and that's nice and light.
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The only time I use a crook is when I'm posing around judging :roflanim: For catching sheep in pens, I would crowd them into the corner then take hold of the one I want (not by its wool, ever). If the pen is too big to do that, so you find yourself running round it chasing the sheep, you need to close down the pen to make it smaller. For catching them out in the open, I don't. Occasionally Mr F has to catch a new born Heb lamb to do its navel, tag, sex etc (Heb lambs are up and running like the clappers within a few minutes so if you miss them being born it can be a problem, and if they need castrating when I few days old, well, it's near impossible to catch the little blighters, but a crook wouldn't help) - so, he has perfected a sort of rugby tackle, but I can't do that. Can't run either.
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I like them, particularly for rocket propelled lambs!
I use an old fashioned wooden neck crook. Very handy when they are almost tame so they come close but not too close.
They are also great for leaning on when chattering!
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I use mine to keep an over-eager tup at bay, but not to catch any adults. Have also got one for catching lambs, but again rarely use it.
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Use mine more for shoo-ing cattle and sometimes sheep. Sometimes for lambs but I'd never stop a ewe with one.
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we used them sometimes, the neck type, mainly for catching a flighty goat in the stable( ::) yes really) when im on my own and short of patience.
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I think they are great for moving sheep, walking up and down the hills, extra leg to spread the weight on the bogland, sadly I break them regularly though!
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Two years ago Father Christmas brought me a lovely blue aluminium one :) I wanted blue as was forever losing them, as I tend to chuck them as i get down and wrestly with the odd naughty sheep or tup. Its been bent a few times but i just straighten it out.
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thank you everyone...
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I have found them useful for waving around - and also useful for getting sheepies out of brambles - but ya cant catch them with one in my limited experience. :)
The alu one is my best as well - cos you can run over it and make it straight again :)
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I found something while clearing the garage might do to try the theory before buying a posh one..
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thank you ellied...
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I have an intension of trying to make one over this winter.
I went to the presentation at Lanark last year from the local crookmakers group - it was great.
I quizzed them again at this years show too.
I bought the shanks and blank heads this year at the Game Fair at Scone and so I just need to make a start to them all.
It probably wont be practical for catching ewes but they would be strong enough for lambs (if we had any :().
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Wouldn't be without one, is probably my most essential tool. I just use the aluminium one day to day, mine is blue too, and has also been straightened several times.
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I use mine for waving at the ducks to get them into the shed at bed time ;D
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mine is blue aluminium too, will last a very long time.
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I have one of those with a neck crook at on end and a leg crook at the other - its a bit flimsy and I'm not sure I'd buy one again - I only ever crook lambs by the neck and ewes by the back leg (useful when catching them at lambing).
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I also have one with the neck end and the leg end, haven't had the need to use them for catching anything :fc: but before my ewes came to me whistling, I used to use it as an arm extension for getting them into the pen, was definitely very useful for that!
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I use mine for waving at the ducks to get them into the shed at bed time ;D
And I use mine for herding geese :-[ The sheep would do anything for a biscuit!
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My geese herd the sheep. I've had to put them in a different field, as the gander kept chasing our tup and nipping him on the b*llocks ;D . The sheep remain utterly unherdable, despite the liberal application of digestive biscuits!
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Thankyou Womble, one of my best friends passed away last week and I have struggled to raise a smile since. Your last post made me laugh out loud! He actually wanted to buy me a shepherds crook but I wasn't quite sure what I would do with it as my sheep will do anything for a biscuit and I thought (as a newbie to sheep) that I would just look a bit posey with it. I can see from this thread though that they are very handy for all sorts of other things! Am thinking maybe semaphore with a flag on the end of it to communicate with my husband across the fields (as he is deaf)
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I can see from this thread though that they are very handy for all sorts of other things! Am thinking maybe semaphore with a flag on the end of it to communicate with my husband across the fields (as he is deaf)
Now that sounds a good idea. My OH isn't deaf but ALWAYS listens to something on his ipod when he is outside so its almost impossible to get his attention.
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I couldnt be without mine at lambing time, catching the lambs before 24 hours old usually involves a short (or long) chase and a crook around the lambs neck
if it runs too fast they are good for throwing and you hope it stuns the lamb long enough to get there :excited:
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I can see from this thread though that they are very handy for all sorts of other things! Am thinking maybe semaphore with a flag on the end of it to communicate with my husband across the fields (as he is deaf)
Now that sounds a good idea. My OH isn't deaf but ALWAYS listens to something on his ipod when he is outside so its almost impossible to get his attention.
EH?