Building wooden race

[Man_in_black]

Anyone have any plans? Or experience?

@CopperBeech saw one on your twitter with double inlet before race; did you make that?

Diolch

 

[CopperBeech]

Hello!

No we didn't make that one, but i'm a fan. That particular one could do with some modification and if I was re-building it, i would make some changes, but in general the principle is a good idea.

I love a permanent handling area and I think they flow well through them, and to be fair, you can make a good, solid, wooden handling set up and pens, relatively cheap.

 

[Lovegoodstock]

Used to have one that worked fine but switch from dairy to sucklers meant used more and more dual purpose, switched from wood to crash barriers, preferred the wood but no choice really

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

I'm just about to start making mine. Got the ground prepared for laying the concrete for the race.

I'll post my plans when I finally decide what I want

 

[Man_in_black]

That particular one could do with some modification and if I was re-building it, i would make some changes,

Such as??

 

[Keepers]

Such as??

The ewes turn around where the twin races merge into one
The gates at the entrance to the races need some way of being pinned or latched open as they shut themselves
And the drafting gate needs to be able to hold itself in position if you have it open, rather than it shutting itself away into the side when let go and then the ewe runs the wrong way.....

Apart from that I have a few other issues which @CopperBeech doesn't have but that is purely related to my legs and arms not being as long as his and myself not being a very big person.
I find if stood in the race for some reason and a ewe decides to rush you, as the wood is grippy it does feel a bit like being grated into the sides rather than sliding a bit more with a rappa race, and the race is just too high for me to step over so I have to clamber, I am covered in bruises already

 

[Man_in_black]

myself not being a very big person.

I too am borrower sized so will bear in mind!

 

[Gator]

I too am borrower sized so will bear in mind!

Good things come in small packages ...............


Or so am told

 

[Man_in_black]

Good things come in small packages ...............


Or so am told

Crikey I must be a near perfect all rounder then!!

 

[neilo]

I too am borrower sized so will bear in mind!

Does being a pint sized midget explain the move from a Lleyn, to an even smaller breed?

If you're worried about being knocked about by you sheep, as described in @Keepers post, can you not just make the race so that you work the sheep from outside it? Perhaps building a walkway alongside like the American cattle yards if you're especially vertically challenged.

 

[Man_in_black]

Does being a pint sized midget explain the move from a Lleyn, to an even smaller breed?

If you're worried about being knocked about by you sheep, as described in @Keepers post, can you not just make the race so that you work the sheep from outside it? Perhaps building a walkway alongside like the American cattle yards if you're especially vertically challenged.

Whoa Whoa hot shot!
I'm not worried about anything knocking me about!

I do intend working from outside so would customise to suit. Just weighing up options for permanent set up.

 

[Al R]

The ewes turn around where the twin races merge into one
The gates at the entrance to the races need some way of being pinned or latched open as they shut themselves
And the drafting gate needs to be able to hold itself in position if you have it open, rather than it shutting itself away into the side when let go and then the ewe runs the wrong way.....

Apart from that I have a few other issues which @CopperBeech doesn't have but that is purely related to my legs and arms not being as long as his and myself not being a very big person.
I find if stood in the race for some reason and a ewe decides to rush you, as the wood is grippy it does feel a bit like being grated into the sides rather than sliding a bit more with a rappa race, and the race is just too high for me to step over so I have to clamber, I am covered in bruises already

View attachment 473622
View attachment 473624

What about bungee's to hold in place? We've got bungee on the drafter to lock 1 way or another and it's left on even when drafting as it's got enough movement in it.. ours is the old type 2 way drafter that you can't stop them with mind so use the exit door from ironworks turnover crate to stop them and slow them down.

 

[CopperBeech]

To be fair, I like the race. I like being able to get inside, I find there is less chance of knackering my back.

If I was going to modify the current set up on that farm, i'd make the races longer, i'd add some rollers at one point and id stagger the double race exit, so if the gate was removed, they didn't turn back into other side of the race.

I like a double to single or even better, single to double, to small single. . . . allows you to keep the sheep rolling and do three jobs at once in the race!

 

[yellowbelly]

The ewes turn around where the twin races merge into one

If the twin races tapered to the width of one ewe by the time they got to the merging point would this make a smaller space there and less room for ewes to turn round? Or would it restrict the flow too much?
Just thinking aloud.