[Crofterloon]

I have read Tims book and think its good.
I find the easiest way is to stand as Tim does but turn the sheeps head to look backwards then lift the far away front leg and at the same timestep backwards with my right leg,the sheep is unbalanced and falls over, it was a shearer showed me that.

[woollyval]

Well.....I will confess......I have never managed to really get the hang of it with some breeds of sheep! I can upend great big things like wensleydales but all the wide stocky breeds are just too hefty and don't bend in the right places  .....either that or my arms just are not long enough! Both my older sons who are 6ft + turn them with consumate ease!!!

Now I keep small sheep I can manage anything easily...even picking them up!

[colliewoman]

I can do my girls easily, but I confess I wouldn't be without my sheep deck chair for the oafs my friend has when I do their feet!
Most people hate them, but once you have the knack of getting them into it it's hand free from that point
I LOVE my deck chair, If you get one get the canvas one not the netting one, too many holes to catch limbs in

[kaz]

I've got a sofa as well. Really ideal for lambs as well.

[Small Farmer]

Tim Tyne did master classes in inverting sheep at Builth but he looked slightly askance when I mentioned GFDs.  You need to be damn quick with a 4yo ewe because if she stiffens her back you can forget any ideas of folding her head towards her tail.


I've practiced with all this year's lambs and they're dead easy.  But good old laid-back Lil has the back muscles of a prize fighter.


Who sells sheep sofas?

[colliewoman]

I got mine from ascott smallholding supplies


AS for non bendy sheep, the way I was taught to tip them was to place you left arm round the chest (sheep facing left), then with your right hand reach UNDER the sheep and grasp the right hind foot. Pull that foot towards you and she will spin over, with support across the chest from the left arm she 'should' plop down on her bum with her back against your legs.
I'll get hubby to film me doing it this way tomorrow so's you can see what I mean

[Small Farmer]

I can't wait for the movie!


I've tried that approach without much success - our ewes all did ballet training and keep their balance while I attempt to disturb it.   Even for me at 6'3" its remarkable how far away that back leg can be!

[colliewoman]

Well I'm 5'4 so I reckon you'll be ok.  You can so similar by reaching OVER for the hind leg nearest you. The main point is the arm steady at the chest

[TheCaptain]

Portlands don't bend!

[Haylo-peapod]

Tim Tyne did master classes in inverting sheep at Builth but he looked slightly askance when I mentioned GFDs.  You need to be damn quick with a 4yo ewe because if she stiffens her back you can forget any ideas of folding her head towards her tail.

...and I thought it was just me that struggled with GFD's.  No problem with other breeds but my girls certainly like a good wrestle.

[jaykay]

he looked slightly askance when I mentioned GFDs

I read this as GSD's initially and thought that he probably would look askance at the idea of turning German Shepherd Dogs... Have woken up to the fact at GFDs are those very cute, woolly (and big) Grey Faced Dartmoors 

I couldn't ever reach over a Rough Fell to grab her leg - but the biggest issue was as soon as I'd caught hold of a horn, the ewe had pulled away. And as for the tup.....well he weighed 100kg, and I'm not small at 5'6" and nearly 70kg but he definitely had the advantage. His feet I used to do as a horse, since I reckoned he was the size of a small pony!  He did at least have the advantage of substantial horns you could tie to the fence post.

[TheCaptain]

My ram likes to kick me in the face with his front legs - good times...

[in the hills]

Waiting for your post Colliewoman. Dont forget     
 
Hubbie turns our Soay by simply lifting and unceremoniously plonking on their bottoms. This is possibly the best way with the wriggly little things but always trying to improve how we handle them. Also, if we had to put a ewe on the floor to examine during lambing Im not sure that our method would be the best to use.
 
Hubbie thought Tims method was great and couldnt believe how easy it was to put the sheep, much bigger than ours, onto the floor .... and we couldnt believe how they seemed to just lie and give up once down. The Soay seem much more feisty and the folding in as it were, didnt seem to work. Do the horns get in the way?
 
 

[Bionic]

We eventually turned our 3 Ryelands, using Tim's method but with a bit of additional help i.e me shouting to OH to pull their legs out from under them   
 
Once we got them in position we were able to do more or less what we liked with them as each one sat still on their hip bones. I was then able to move them onto the other hip bone fairly easily too.
 
Each day the sheep are getting more friendly (we only got them last Sat) and will come for a pat (don't be fooled its food they are after) so I am hoping next time I try it will be easier. I am still going to try the halter and doing it like a horse as it will be good to have an alternative method.
 
Sally 

[colliewoman]

Waiting for your post Colliewoman. Dont forget     
 
Hubbie turns our Soay by simply lifting and unceremoniously plonking on their bottoms. This is possibly the best way with the wriggly little things but always trying to improve how we handle them. Also, if we had to put a ewe on the floor to examine during lambing Im not sure that our method would be the best to use.
 
Hubbie thought Tims method was great and couldnt believe how easy it was to put the sheep, much bigger than ours, onto the floor .... and we couldnt believe how they seemed to just lie and give up once down. The Soay seem much more feisty and the folding in as it were, didnt seem to work. Do the horns get in the way?

You gots to wait til s'evening when hubby is home