[Jacob-list] thumps and bumps

[Neal and Louise Grose]

I find that I often need to work sheep by myself. Dogs sometimes do little 
more than get in the way.

For catching the flock, it is helpful to have a funnel arrangement that 
turns so that the sheep are fooled into thinking that they can escape by 
going around the corner. 16 foot livestock panels can be curved to avoid 
having corners for animals to balk in., and the sheep may be in the narrow 
part be fore they wise up.

I like to use a 12 X 12 catch pen divided by two folding 8 foot gates. Sheep 
may be bunched behind the gates and worked off individually around the end.

With Jacob sheep, I find that trapping the beast against a wall with my knee 
while I work on them works well. It is even better if you can pull their 
front feet off the ground to prevent them from getting traction.

Neal Grose

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ralene Mitschler" <rmitschler at gmail.com>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 8:17 PM
Subject: [Jacob-list] thumps and bumps


> 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
>
> -- 
> Ralene Mitschler
> Chicory Lane Farm Jacob sheep
> www.blueflowerflock.com
> 687 Oxford Ave
> Hanover PA  17331
> rmitschler at gmail.com
> 717.630.2988
> 717.817.3794 cell
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