Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: New smallholder/Hebridean Sheepkeeper in east Lancashire  (Read 1083 times)

NewHebKeeper

  • Joined May 2019
New smallholder/Hebridean Sheepkeeper in east Lancashire
« on: May 30, 2019, 10:20:25 pm »
Hello everyone.  My husband and I have recently moved to a farmhouse with a small plot of just over an acre and a bit, containing a derelict walled veg plot, chicken run and grazing containing 3 Hebridean ewes that came with the property.  We also have 3 bantams we brought with us, and hope to get more chooks both for eggs and meat.  We have had chickens for several years but are new to sheep and definitely in need of advice on how to pen up and handle the Hebs.   They have worked out we are newbies and haven't got a clue, in fact you can tell they are finding our feeble attempts to pen them up for the shearer hysterically funny!  They are happy to follow the bucket and 2 out of the 3 will take nuts from our hands, but penning them up is virtually impossible.  All our last attempt was missing was the Benny Hill show theme tune,  Help!

nimbusllama

  • Joined Nov 2010
  • Near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Re: New smallholder/Hebridean Sheepkeeper in east Lancashire
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2019, 09:17:33 am »
Hello and welcome to the best site around  :wave: Have you built a pen that you can feed them in regularly?  When I say feed I only mean a handful a day to tempt them to come to you.  The pen should have plenty of light and see through sides so they don't feel trapped.  If you feed them and walk away will they stay in the pen to eat?  You might need to rig up a gate you can close without walking to it, for example a rope/pulley to shut it from a distance if they continue to be evasive.  I am sure someone else will offer some other ideas shortly.  Hope you enjoy your  :sheep: they are addictive  :thumbsup:

NewHebKeeper

  • Joined May 2019
Re: New smallholder/Hebridean Sheepkeeper in east Lancashire
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2019, 10:57:49 am »
Thanks for that Nimbusllama, yes there is a lambing shelter but 3 sides are solid which I think is the problem.  They will go in to eat, button always stays on guard outside then they swap over.  I was thinking about the pulley idea.  I can be at the back of the pen with 2 of them eating out of my hand, but the minute I move to try to get past them they are off!

Fleecewife

  • Joined May 2010
  • South Lanarkshire
    • ScotHebs
Re: New smallholder/Hebridean Sheepkeeper in east Lancashire
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2019, 01:02:34 pm »
Hello NHK and welcome.  Can you contact the previous owners to find how they worked the Hebs?  They are likely to have had a system, and the ewes will be familiar with that.  Flapping and chasing will never work with Hebs, quiet confidence will, but that will take time.


There is always one in any flock/group of Hebs, and the other primitives, which will lead the breakaway.  Sounds like you have identified yours already  ;D


When we have a problem rounding our lot up, for example when there are lambs which are not used to the system, we use a non-electrified electric fence. We make a funnel with this, wide to start, then it narrows to a point at the pen.  We build our pen with hurdles - you need hurdles for flexibility - deeper than wide, with a closeable hurdle at the entrance.  We walk the sheep in then swing the hurdle across like a gate.  Having some food in there first will distract them.  If you run them in, they will jump right back out again.


Working on your own is not easy especially when you and your sheep are getting used to each other.  You need a helper.  people who are used to working with big flocks of amenable sheep tend to flap their arms and shout at them, which scares Hebs into flight so although you might think they would be a help often they are more of a hindrance.  Hebs startle very easily as they are independent prey animals which are used to saving themselves.


The method Nimbusllama describes is best achieved gradually.  Get the ewes familiar with eating in the pen, making no attempt to catch them or startle them. Wander quietly off and leave them to it at first so they relax.  Next get them used to you standing outside the pen (lean in to put the food in a trough, then you don't have to try to squeeze past them, which will never work).  Next get them used to having the gate shut on them, but still don't try to catch them, moving slowly and calmly.  This whole process should only take a few days.  If you arrange a hurdle pen which you can make smaller once the sheep are in without them escaping while you do it, it makes it much easier to catch them up.  Don't handle them by the horns, which hurts them and they will resist.  The best way is to put a hand under the chin, and use your leg to press the sheep against the side of the pen. If you put the back end into a corner then when they try to reverse they can't :D


Don't leave it until it is urgent that you catch them, because you will transfer your angst to them.  Also, don't have a  set of shears visible, nor a strange shearer, don't even walk as if you are about to do something different they're not going to like, even a nonchalant stroll will warn them.  being prey animals they can read every nuance of your behaviour.
It sounds impossible, or at least daunting, but you will get there.  It's a good idea to wander around in their paddock, or just sit and watch them for a while each day, so they get used to you, what you look like, and how you behave.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2019, 01:06:34 pm by Fleecewife »
"Let's not talk about what we can do, but do what we can"

There is NO planet B - what are YOU doing to save our home?

Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree

 Love your soil - it's the lifeblood of your land.

 

Forum sponsors

FibreHut Energy Helpline Thomson & Morgan Time for Paws Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival Ark Farm Livestock Movement Service

© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2024. All rights reserved.

Design by Furness Internet

Site developed by Champion IS