Author Topic: hurdles how many (Read 5257 times)

peartreewoodlandsmallholding · « **on:** July 14, 2012, 10:30:59 am »

Hi dies anybody know how many sheep hurdles are needed
to pen 8 sheep (hebrideans) for shear,check them over.thanks

omnipeasant · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2012, 10:35:35 am »

Hope you have a flat surface to start with. Six hurdles should do it.

peartreewoodlandsmallholding · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2012, 10:44:49 am »

Its on a slight slope would i need do two pens one to hold.them in
one for shear etc thanks

in the hills · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2012, 11:02:45 am »

We use a corner of one of our fields that is already fenced into a "u" shape and then extend/gate the area using 4 hurdles. If we try to pen ours in too small an area then they get nervy and run out before we can close the gate to contain them. Your sheep maybe calmer than ours though.

Not sure if you need 2 pens for shearing (ours lose their wool naturally). Perhaps it would be best to ask your shearer what is the best set up for him.

peartreewoodlandsmallholding · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2012, 11:14:15 am »

Thats what i think were going to do use a corner of a field
yeh there fine they run to us when we have the bucket
they get abit nervy if you move to quick.they need shearing because the prev owner didn't
get them done now there getting hassled by flys so got do them
soonas thanks all xx

in the hills · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2012, 11:57:18 am »

Yes, get them done ASAP. Mine have never been struck

but just the thought of it makes me feel ill.

Actually mine are bucket trained and usually easy to contain but are a bit more tricky at the moment as they have lambs.

jaykay · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2012, 01:43:40 pm »

I find, when gathering into a pen, that making it twice the size I actually need makes it more likely that they will go in. Then once you've got them enclosed, you can drive them into one end and shut them in that end with another hurdle(s) dividing the pen in half.

LandieMan · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2012, 10:21:15 pm »

It needs to be a big enough so they do not feel as if they are being penned in. As long as you can close it down afterwards to catch them, they are quite happy all being jammed in together.

peartreewoodlandsmallholding · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2012, 03:50:28 pm »

Thanks guys made our own holding pen enough room
for them move round and a seperate one to shear
theve just been done so weight of mind..

in the hills · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2012, 04:07:41 pm »

Great

Mallows Flock · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2012, 07:05:09 pm »

I personally think you can never ever have TOO many hurdles

) I used them for everything.... I am now pretty addicted to gate-hurdles as they are the perfect width for rubbing sheep into footbaths, crushing them into a trailer, using as a defence when in with a really grumpy ram !LOL!

Brucklay · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2012, 08:15:10 pm »

Having re designed my holding pen several times over in various locations and combinations along with gates into/between paddock I think Landieman got it right, nice and big so they wander if for a bit of food and big enough so they can't bolt out when they see you closing them in and a way to squish them into a quarter of the space to deal with them - worked for me today on my sheep duties and not all of them hate me now!!!

Like MS & P I am also now addicted to hurdles - want more .........