[FiB]

Its no good, untill I build my ultimate sheep race/penning combo, I'm going to have to get some hurdles. For the last year we have been using various rusty gate/side of building combos, but the sheep are getting wary, so I think something in the field (just the other side of a gate) that I can move depending on where they are could be the way forward.  Any advice for sizes/Numbers for a 'Pen within a pen' configuration?  For eaxampe are 6ft ones heavy for easy handling... etc.  Last year we used one of our polytunnels plus rusty gates, but this year its full of hay.  Many thanks for any temporary sheepy handling advice, Fi

[Fleecewife]

We use hurdles in preference to a static handling system, as you can move the hurdles around and set them up where you want.  The number of hurdles you need depends on how many sheep you have.  Also they are more likely to go into a larger space, especially if it looks as if they might be able to get out at the other end - you then remove a hurdle to make it smaller.  The minimum you will need is 4.  We use 6' hurdles and they are not too heavy, depending on the manufacturer.  We have since added a little gate to put them out one by one when dealt with, but it isn't perfect.
 
We usually make a big pen with about 8 hurdles, and use a length of electric mesh, not energised, arranged like a funnel, to direct them into the pen.  It can be a disaster with sheep which are not used to this method of rounding up as they can get tangled if things go wrong, but they soon get used to it and do as they are expected to.
 
For a long side, arrange the hurdles in a wavy line for added strength.  Tie all corners together with rope, as a shoving mass of sheep can easily tip the whole thing over - in fact tying one side to a fence helps.
 
Just how to set up your pen is something you have to work out for yourself, after some experimentation, as your sheep, land and abilities, plus maybe a dog, will be different.   I want to take a photo of our system but it's always too fraught when we are rounding up to be waving a camera around 

[JFDI]

The advice I was given was to estimate numbers and double.  That's wrong - you need to triple or quadruple but I suppose that's because we use hurdles for everything from protecting trees to not-so-temporary gates.

For a small flock of up to a dozen I'd say the absolute bare minimum is 9 which gives you a 6x12 holding pen attached to a 6x6 working pen using 6' hurdles.  That means you can entice them all into the bigger pen and then grab one at a time to treat.  It is possible to do it all in one pen but a lot of extra hassle.

Round here hurdles are not stocked by suppliers so expensive to buy in.  It made sense to buy pallet loads and I have been happy with the galvanised steel ones from RK Scaffolding on eBay which mostly aren't rusting and are easy to handle.  For the lambing shed I got wooden ones linked with a steel pin from Brookridge on eBay.  They're much heavier but last well and the pin makes them easy to use for pens.

Tim Tyne gives a hurdle design in his book which is flexible and cheap if you have the time.  I found pallets and baler twine a disaster.  Just off to move some hurdles...

[FiB]

Thanks both - wise words.  Have just been to borrow some as, sods law, I saw one with a bare patch on her back this morning - suspect flystrike - and couldnt catch be usual method (feed em and 'hook' with a crook).  Thanks again both.

[Bramblecot]

Keep your eye out on e-bay for anyone selling used hurdles near you.  I have bought most of mine that way .  The older ones ar much heavier/stronger than new ones

[SteveHants]

I have 14 hurdles and lots of baler twine and it has worked out fine for me - the most ewes I have ever gathered with them was 50 with lambs at foot (94 lambs) for weaning. Obviously I did it along a fence, and I think that was about as many as you could gather/sort with 14 hurdles. I use an (unelectrified) flexinet to act as a funnel to guide them into a triangular catching pen.


This year I will have a closed flock of 200 on one of my bits of ground (blocks of 50 elsewhere) so I bit the bullet and bought a Rappa handling system - I'm itching to try it out. 

[JFDI]

Wow 

I'd love to know how the Rappa system works. I've seen it demonstrated but it's beyond my needs.