[Hillview Farm]

Can anyone give me advice or tips of checking sheep in the dark? Sadly I can't do it in the light anymore and I've discovered they are extremely spooky of a torch now this would be ok but we get a lot of fog so even with a torch I can't see them!
What does everyone else do?  Will they get used to a light?

[Tim W]

Don't bother ----you wont be able to do it effectively

If you can't get there in day light hours and they need checking then get someone else in to do it

[sokel]

We have ours trained to the car and bucket Even when they are in the fields next to the house all we have to do is point the car towards the gate with lights , shout COME ON once and they all come running as they know there is a bucket
They now come running if they just see my car coming up the drive at any time of day or night 

[Buttermilk]

Expensive but night sight binoculars.  They will not work in fog though.

[devonlady]

My sheep are used to being checked in the dark. Torchlight  and "sheep, sheep, sheep" bring them running for a biscuit. Takes a bit of practise and training

[Rosemary]

Feed them - once they're trained, they'll come to you. Of course if one doesn't come, then you'll have to go looking 

[Fleecewife]

Ours are spooked by a torch most of the time, but during lambing they soon get used to it, so they don't get up.  I don't like to disturb them when they're all lagered up (ewes round the outside, lambs tucked safely in the middle).  I know where they'll be then, because at that time of year they sleep at the highest point of our land, unless they're in their shelters.
I use a head torch to see my way around, then a powerful torch to flash over the sheep.  Those giant torches hurt their eyes, so shouldn't be shone directly at them anyway.  Then I stand and slowly check with the big torch round all the field edges for eyes reflecting (our sheep are black so can only see the eyes).  If I'm worried then I'll go around the whole perimeter.  Really we only check them at night during lambing, or if I hear someone bawling, which usually means a problem.
I think yours will soon get used to you checking with a torch through the winter.  If you have only a few sheep, then you can easily count them and only if there's one missing go searching. Or if it's foggy you just have to traipse round.

[artscott]

Mine a black so even more of a problem, I use a torch and count the eyes, they tend to all look up as soon as I point the torch towards them.  If there is one not looking I call them in with a bucket for closer inspection.
 
Of course countiing the eyes doesn't let you check them all out in detail but it does let me know they are all there, all in the normal place and all alert.  That gives me an idea that everything is as it should be.

[funkyfish]

Check out the Albedo 100 animal spray- a reflective spray for animals coats- its really bright. Have used it in the ponies mane and tail and the dogs.

[MarvinH]

I dont check at night I think this disturbs them to much.

[Ladygrey]

Try and check them in the light 

Checking at night time, even lambing time spooks them and they are usually sleeping/tucked away somewhere anyway

If you really do have to check them at night, I think B&Q does glow in the dark spray paint....

[Backinwellies]

If you are honest ... what exactly can you check for in the dark?    Yes if you don't have too many then I guess you can check they are all there ..... but as for lameness, scouring , wounds etc,  which is what you need to check for,  it needs to be done in daylight .... ask a friend.

[shotblastuk]

I find one of the rechargable flourescent tube type of lights very useful, gives a better spread of light and doesn't spook my sheep as much as a direct beam. Keep checking them it's better you try than don't bother, you can certainly notice if one is on it's back rather than leaving it all night.

[Oopsiboughtasheep]

I have only had my 4 sheep for a few weeks but I have got them used to me being out in the field with a torch in the dark from day one as I always check my horses last thing at night. They are the other side of the sheep fence and the stables are a short cut away across the sheep paddock. I use one of the wide beam flourescent type lights like Shotblastuk mentioned but have to be very careful not to actually talk to the sheep or they come whizzing over to see me (only checking for digestive biscuits obviously!). It does mean that I can discretely check them for anything untoward though, even though I have seen them in the daylight, which gives me peace of mind as a 'Newbie'. Like Devonlady, 'sheep, sheep, sheep' would get me a turbo charged response at the mo!

[Marches Farmer]

A check to see if they're all the right way up is OK in the morning but someone needs to check for injuries, limping, ears down, reluctance to rise, hanging back from the rest and all the subtle indicators of ailing health that you can only see by observing quietly for a much longer period in daylight.