The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: nimbusllama on January 27, 2015, 08:08:39 am
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I am hankering after one of these, but need to check if they are suitable for horned sheep (Castlemilk Moorits) ?
Many thanks
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Yes i have one and I have used it for horned sheep. Can't say I use it very often ... I think i've got it out of the cupboard just once or twice!!
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I've seen them used with angora goats with no problems.
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i made mine and we use it on variety of different breeds (anything from blackies to suffolks) ...i use mine all the time :)
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That sounds great BS - any chance of some photos? :thumbsup:
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we made a small platform for ours too, just to save the back and ,teaches our show lambs to stand better, the headstock we have made a quick release system in case something happens.
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Very many thanks for all the helpful advice.... and your version looks fabulous BS... I will be on the look out for one! :)
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we made a small platform for ours too, just to save the back and ,teaches our show lambs to stand better, the headstock we have made a quick release system in case something happens.
Very good, it even enables them to stand on their heads ;D
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Thanks for the pics! :thumbsup:
I think I need to make up something similar for our big Zwartble tup, Ace. He's a gentle boy, but hates having his feet done, and there's no way I can tip him.
The last time, I got Mrs Womble (lovely, slim, size 8, blow away in a wind Mrs Womble) to restrain Ace by hugging him around his neck whilst also holding onto a gate, whilst I nipped round the back to check him over.
Unfortunately, I'd left a scoop of coarse mix on top of a strainer post for afterwards, and just as I was finishing the first foot, it blew off the post, scattering tasty nibbles all over the place.
Needless to say, I was kicked in the balls whilst Mrs Womble was dragged off up the field, still hugging Ace. We still have no idea what his other three feet are like :roflanim: .
Edit: What about one of these (http://www.ballinadee.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=91&vmcchk=1&Itemid=91) as an alternative option?:
(http://www.ballinadee.com/images/stories/calfstaller/vsig_images/IMG_8199a_384_452_90.jpg)
They're on sale for £225+VAT from Fane Valley (http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150258/Carolines-Calf-Sheep-Staller-Headstock) (By the way, I know that's not a sheep).
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I have just ordered one of these for the bargain price of £62.49 as Ascott have got these on sale. :excited:
http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/shepherds-mate-portable-head-gate/ (http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/shepherds-mate-portable-head-gate/)
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A cheap alternative is to use either a loop of rope or an old fan belt. Attach this to any railed enclosure or a post and pop the sheep's head through. I use this method to restrain both my Castlemilk Moorits (very flexible active sheep) and my Cotswolds (huge, heavy and very strong sheep).
Regards, Dave
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I use an old stirrup leather which of course has holes already punched through.
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We use bailer plaited bailer twine made into a loop
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Can one of you who uses alternatives (ie stirrup leathers or rope) post a photo also? I can't quite visualise how it's attached? Me t question is how to get the big brute in position to attach?! This would be idea, for my billy goat but he digs his heels in and I can't budge him.
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I catch my sheep, fasten the stirrup leather around it's neck. Move it to where I won't to secure it. Hold against gate. Unfasten leather slip round cross bar on gate so gate and sheep within the loop and tighten up.
Could you feed "your brute" by a gate then you haven't so far to go to get him secure?
I haven't done this but I guess you can hang a haynet on the gate as well to keep them occupied whilst you do feet etc.
Thinking about a sheep crush my friend made - the sheep or goat once in the frame is held by two upright metal bars that it's head goes through and it fastens on the neck - like some goat milking stands. The bars are on a pivot, have chains at the top which fasten over the ends of the frame at the front so you can accommodate different sizes. You could do this on a post and rail fence or adapt a gate. You just need a hole to put the head through and the two bars and something to fasten to.
The bars when open make a V and when closed to hold the sheep close together. They are on separate pivots slightly apart.
We borrowed it when we needed a ewe to take a lamb and it sits on the ground and the sheep stands on a board so it can't move the frame. For doing other jobs like feet you don't need the frame just the head holding idea.
Hope that made sense!?!?
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And there was me wondering why this wasn't in the recipe section :thinking:
Me t question is how to get the big brute in position to attach?! This would be idea, for my billy goat but he digs his heels in and I can't budge him.
I don't know the first thing about goats, but I can move a fairly whopping sheep by shoving it backwards. They seem to think they're achieving something if they're in reverse :sheep:
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Many thanks for all the suggestions ..... I have done the rope to a hurdle in the past but recently dagged my Castlemilk ram with him tied with a halter (he is halter trained) and also with a rope around his horn, and he ended up lame with a split bleeding hoof and a big knee from thrashing about and trying to climb over or under the hurdle! Hence my purchase.... :thumbsup:
The main reason I posted this link to the Ascott version of a headstock is that I wanted to share the special offer in case anyone was looking for one.... The special offer price is £57.50 plus £4.99 postage and the normal price is £82.50 (this is by far the cheapest make I could find as some are as much as £150). I have seen secondhand ones make £60 on Ebay and they still have to be collected!
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:wave: nimbusllama - big THANK YOU for the tip off re the Ascott Dairy headstock - just ordered one via the link you posted - great price - been thinking about getting one for ages :excited:
Womble :roflanim: thanks for the laugh - reminded me of one time when I was pottering about and one of my big Zwartbles ewes shoved her head between my legs (I was leaning forward at the time) and before I knew it I was getting carted off backwards lol (wasn't flippin funny at the time tho!!)
Rarely need to do anything to feet but usually check all before tupping - mine are tied up tight with a halter (they're all halter trained) and then have their feet lifted up like a pony. Most are really easy about it but I've got one (100kg plus ewe) that panics and goes nuts (have never caused her any pain!) Hopefully in a headstock next time she won't be able to a) kneel down or b) fling her backside about 4ft high in the air?
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Glad my post has been useful... :)
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Me too Nimbusllama thanks well cheaper than i have ever seen - even second hand
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Ewesaidit and nimbus llama just checking - did you get any rope on your head stocks as per the photo? - as i didn't - queried it and they apologised saying the rope was not included it was just used to show how to use the product - seems very bizarre
cheers
BL
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Ewesaidit and nimbus llama just checking - did you get any rope on your head stocks as per the photo? - as i didn't - queried it and they apologised saying the rope was not included it was just used to show how to use the product - seems very bizarre
cheers
BL
I was wondering about that too as mine came without rope too
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No I had the same conversation with them, they said it was just for illustration.... I already had some suitable rope, but agree it is misleading...however I am still happy with my purchase although I had to make a hole in the ground to get it low enough for my small sheep. It will still be very useful and is good value. :)
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Yeh still happy too qualities good and seems sturdy but just seems bizarre that they would give you something that doesn't actually work without the string
cheers for the replies
BL
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If anyone is struggling to find suitable rope, I have a ball that I bought to make some everyday sheep halters, so have more than I need. If you PM me your address I will happily post you enough to use on the headstock... FOC of course. :thumbsup:
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Ewesaidit and Big Light the ropes were posted first class today.... there should be enough to make a loop at one end and then thread it through the eyelet and back through itself. Hope it does the job for you both.
Brian
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thanks
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Great, thanks :thumbsup:
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Arrived today thank you again Brian
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Lovin the rope Brian - very snazzy! Will look fab against a zwartbles head Many thanks again
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Excellent :thumbsup:
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Brian you sound like a lovely chap!
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What a kind thing to say!... thank you :-[