[Jacob-list] thumps and bumps

[Linda]

I use an 8 foot lane made from bull panels.  There are swinging gates attached near the end that I close to pen the sheep in a small space.  If I'm catching a sheep that is hard to handle by myself or I need both hands free to do some doctoring, I use another swinging panel to squeeze the sheep up again the fence and clip the swinging panel to the fence to hold the sheep. The swinging panel also works well to get a sheep into a tight spot to make it easier to catch. This is a little tricky with big horned rams as their horns are so much wider than their bodies, but it can be done.  In an emergency, I've also tied a sheep tight to the fence with either a collar or halter and then used a rope around the flank which is tied to the fence top and bottom.  I don't use the shorter panels to corner sheep, as a panicky sheep will pretty much always try to jump over.  I haven't had one hit me, but I have had one get a hind leg caught on the way over.

When separating sheep, I use what my daughter laughing referred to as "air locks".  It's a series of small pens that open into two different areas and works very well for getting the sheep where I want them and into the groups I want. 

Linda
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

> Hi All
> A question about working sheep by oneself.  Has anyone found a way
> to pen sheep by yourself?  My husband has had carpel tunnel surgery
> on both wrists so we are coming up with new schemes.  Last weekend
> we figured out how he could take notes and hand me things but I was
> proud of my success of wrangling the girls on my own.  There were a
> couple of wethers mixed in that were too tall to straddle and two
> ewes too round, but the rest of us managed quite well.
>
> Today I decided to clean up a fleece of a ewe who had a touch of
> diarrhea but seems fine now.  I cornered and caught her and drug
> her to my handling panels and then realized I had accidently
> trapped another ewe by herself.  She panicked and sproinged.  It
> surprised both of us when she caught me straight in the chest!  : )
>  Anyway I kept my hold on my first ewe and went about my business
> when I got my wind back but...
>
> I know several of you have wrestled with the idea of how to work
> sheep as things change with health etc of another helper.  OR as
> the kids age and move away.  Do the chutes like those I see in
> premier one work?  Or is it really tricky to get them in?  Do those
> chutes  make it likely sheep will break horns?  Has anybody found
> anything lightweight enough to help push the sheep to the panels
> without injury to sheep and shepherd?
>
> I hope I still have another decade or two left to handle my sheep
> myself but accidents like this make me think about handling designs
> that are a little safer : )  I know jacobs and dogs don't always
> work out but maybe that would be enough help? Ralene
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