[Womble]

Folks,


I've utterly failed to buy a small footbath that will take one ewe at a time, or maybe 2-3 lambs. All the commercial ones are far too big, which means you end up using £££ worth of footbath solution every time.


The best I've come up with so far is this cement mixing tray from Homebase, which uses about £2.50 of solution each time. It's fine for small sheep, but was too slippy for them to be comfortable, and was soon cracked when a bigger sheep stood on the lip.





So, I'm thinking of getting something like this fabricated in stainless steel, only a bit shallower and with some sort of non-slip on the base.


The thing is, if I'm going to get one made for myself, the cost is likely to come down if I get a few made. So, would you be interested in something like this in stainless steel?  If so, how much would you be willing to pay?  (I'm not looking for any commitment at the moment - just an indication to see whether this is worth pursuing or not).


Thanks! 

[JedM]

Hi

I had exactly the same problem and didn't want to spend a lot for just a few sheep, so I've tried a similar thing to you.  I bought the below tray for £24.99, its 100x55x12 cm and I have cut a piece of foam the right size which is 10cm thick, and taped it in place.  I have only used it once and it has worked well and hasn't broken after my pregnant ewes went through.

https://www.serpro.eu/shop1/100-x-55cm-Drip-Tray.html

But I may be interested in a steel one as I'm sure it will last longer.  I would be happy to spend £40 on it.

[SallyintNorth]

I think you will sell some to smallholders, yes, and £40 would be very reasonable.

Might be worth thinking about making it a size that would fit in a standard race.  And/or having holes at each corner for poles so people can fit their own sides.

Meanwhile, one thing you can do to minimise the waste when using an oversize footbath is to put large stones or something in the front end, to take up space    They'll walk across the stones, of course, but then get to the end where it's full depth and have to stand in it.  You may need to pen them there, of course, to stop them backing up to stand on the stones

[Foobar]

If you use Goldenhoof solution it doesn't matter how much you use at a time because it keeps forever.  Just let the sediment settle and pour off the solution into a container and keep it until next time you need to use it. And use the gravel technique to fill up a bit of space so you don't need to use so much.

Standing one (or two) sheep at a time in footbath solution starts to get you down (unless you have hours to spare).  I've just bought myself a second JFC FB1 5ft footbath so that I can do 4-6 sheep at a time.  You can fit two adult ewes in an FB1, or 3 or 4 lambs, so that isn't really much bigger than what you are suggesting, and it's robust enough to last a lifetime.

My setup is comprised of JFC FB1 (£60ish), Goldenhoof, hand bilge pump (£20), and a 25l water barrel (£5) (which is big enough to hold the contents of the FB1 once you have removed the sediment).

[Womble]

Good ideas - thanks all!

I'm not sure yet, but whilst a powder coated or galvanized bath could perhaps be made for £40, I'm sure a stainless steel one would be quite a bit more, though it would of course last a lifetime.

The problem with mild or galvanized steel is that formalin might well attack it. I'd be happy having one for myself (we only use zinc sulphate anyway, and could wash it after use and store dry), but I couldn't sell to others with a clear conscience in case there were problems further down the line.

Foobar - I remember you recommending the FB1 when I asked the same question last year. It may well be the best solution, especially if you can do two sheep at once. However, what puts me off is that it's a shade over £100 by the time it's delivered, and still needs nearly 100 litres of solution. That works out pretty expensive unless you can re-use it like you do. However, personally I struggle to use the Goldenhoof more than a couple of times before it becomes very muddy. Maybe I'm doing it wrong!?

BTW, following [member=9755]shep53[/member] 's suggestion, I did look at the foam mats. However, I wasn't sure that the solution could be made deep enough on the smallest mat to properly get between the cleats (OK, I know it doesn't need to be that deep, but I wasn't convinced enough to get one, since they weren't cheap either!)

[Foobar]

Foobar - I remember you recommending the FB1 when I asked the same question last year. It may well be the best solution, especially if you can do two sheep at once. However, what puts me off is that it's a shade over £100 by the time it's delivered, and still needs nearly 100 litres of solution. That works out pretty expensive unless you can re-use it like you do. However, personally I struggle to use the Goldenhoof more than a couple of times before it becomes very muddy. Maybe I'm doing it wrong!?

Yes, I remember now .  Are there no JFC stockists up near you?  You should ask JFC.  If you can find a stockist then they should be able to get you one in without delivery charge.
18gal ~ 80litres, but that's filled to the brim.  I would say I put in about half that.  You can also put in pea gravel to make up the space, but still get the depth as the sheeps feet will sink in the gravel.  Or put in cheap foam matting or similar.
As for re-using it, then you do just need to let it settle more (and skim off any floating poo ).  I tend to pump it all out into a couple of old crystalyx tubs (and put lids on), let it settle for a day or so, then pump the clear(ish) solution into a water barrel.  Then next time you use it just top it up with a bit of 10% solution. (this method is straight from the manufacturer)

[Hellybee]

You could put a little bed of cleaned large gravel in it, this would allow the cleats to open up a little more to let bath get into every nook and cranny.  We ve never done a flock footbath here, we very very rarely get foot problems, we tend to do a little dip in little bucket tootsie by tootsie  lol x

[Womble]

Are there no JFC stockists up near you?  You should ask JFC.  If you can find a stockist then they should be able to get you one in without delivery charge.

Well, I phoned JFC and got details of three local suppliers.  Their prices including VAT were £102, £108 and £130 respectively  . The best I can find online is £91 including delivery, from Fane Valley.


Still thinking.....

[Foobar]

Bum .

[Black Sheep]

Would this be any good?

https://www.faulks.co.uk/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=71&product_id=367

We use one as a bath for our ducks but it is really solidly made, flexible, heavy enough not to get flipped and being rubber would be a bit grippier than a plastic tray.


Magnus

[SallyintNorth]

I'm not sure I like the idea of using gravel in a footbath.

Assuming the sheep are having their feet bathed because they have foot issues, gravel + sore feet sounds very unkind to me!

Not to mention that, if the gravel does hurt a sore foot, the foot's owner will stand with that foot out of the water

[Hellybee]

Not small gravel but something larger just to open the foot a little more.  I ve seen some with grid on the bottom which does the same job encouraging the cleats to part. 

[nimbusllama]

Would this do the same job and prevent slipping?  At £3 each you could have several.



http://www.wilko.com/doormats/wilko-outdoor-rubber-mat-scrape-clean-40x60/invt/0204651

[coltcott]

We put a fleece in the bottom of our plastic trays. It stop them slipping and solution from splashing, although the water gets very murky. We put the fleece on a riddle and drain it off when decanting.