[Jacob-list] Handling sheep

[rlynde]

I am trying to move my 3 jacobs from one place to another and
> would like some tips.

It's easier to lure them than to chase. I don't feed my sheep grain on a
regular basis, but they all know what it is. If I shake the bucket many of
them will come. But you still have to have your area set up where you can
trap them. Even if they come to the grain, if they are flighty they will run
out before you can close a gate. Several small pens are better than one
large one. Working sheep in smaller areas means less frantic chasing, fewer
panicked sheep, and ultimately a calmer situation. Break your corral area up
with smaller panels.

Don't expect miracles overnight. In my experience, if you get sheep that are
very spooky as adults, they may not change much, although some sheep will.
(But when you have 50 you don't spend as much time trying to deal with the
spooky ones.)  Bit there are still ways to handle them with less wear and
tear on sheep and people. Lambs tame down easily with personal attention and
hand feeding.
Robin Lynde
Meridian Jacobs
Vacaville, CA