Choice of Crook?

[steveR]

After seeing Herself go sprawling when trying to grab hold of one of HER ewes yesterday, ad ending wet and covered in mud and rather grumpy, it reminded me as it does every year as we approach Lambing time, I need a Crook! Just something to help grab hold of an animal in a small paddock or open yard.

As a complete novice with the device, what is going to be the best option for a novice to use? On the whole, the sheep here are pretty placid*, many were cades as the flock was built up, or kept from our own ewes. I am not going to be using it a lot (I hope) so would value thoughts from users please.... A few cheaper end here. Neck or Leg?? Long or Short??

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* right up until we want to grab one and help here pop a lamb out! Something we have ALL experienced.

 

[Bury the Trash]

how bout a super crook f rom them clever kiwis

Handling Equipment – Tagged "Super crook" – George Mudge Shearing

georgemudgeshearing.co.uk

 

[steveR]

how bout a super crook f rom them clever kiwis

Handling Equipment – Tagged "Super crook" – George Mudge Shearing

georgemudgeshearing.co.uk

Damned neat idea that! I thouight it was going to be a self catcher though....

 

[neilo]

Supercrook, every single time.I haven’t used any of my old, bent, aluminium ones since I bought one.

However, if you’re looking for a lightly used Ali one, that’s ideal for catching sheep round a corner, I may have just the thing...

 

[Bury the Trash]

but what about the broken finger or whatever thing should they come with a h and s warning, i havnt got one btw

but wouldnt mind one

 

[steveR]

Supercrook, every single time.I haven’t used any of my old, bent, aluminium ones since I bought one.

However, if you’re looking for a lightly used Ali one, that’s ideal for catching sheep round a corner, I may have just the thing...

Damned shame we are locked down, else a quick bike spin would be in order, across the Border and relieve you of the bent one!!

 

[neilo]

Damned shame we are locked down, else a quick bike spin would be in order, across the Border and relieve you of the bent one!!

The Ali ones are very flexible. Could probably have bent it in half to make it easy to carry on the bike too.

Seriously though, if you are buying one, get a Supercrook. End of.

 

[steveR]

So Neck catchers are preferred??

 

[Nithsdale]

.22lr









I'll get my coat...

 

[neilo]

So Neck catchers are preferred??

The Supercrook (& a lot of others) are double ended. Neck crook on one end but a leg crook with a catch on the other. I rarely use the neck end on mine, but it is handy on occasion.

 

[Bury the Trash]

leg i should think , i do with my old ally one anyway.

 

[Ryan774-80]

best crook out

 

[Nithsdale]

Is that longer than the bike width?
And what dia. is the shaft roughly?

Wonder if it'd get held in those bike gun mounts

 

[Ryan774-80]

Is that longer than the bike width?
And what dia. is the shaft roughly?

Wonder if it'd get held in those bike gun mounts

Yes a bit wider

 

[Agrivator]

Long enough to catch a sheep, but not too long to trip yourself up and .................

 

[neilo]

Is that longer than the bike width?
And what dia. is the shaft roughly?

Wonder if it'd get held in those bike gun mounts

They are longer than the bike width but can be shortened if you can’t judge gate posts very well. IIRC @Poorbuthappy has done just that?

I have mounted a couple of SWA cable cleats (c.15p each) on the back of my front box, which carry the crook but also allow me to grab it quickly and leap into action athletically.....or not.

 

[Nithsdale]

They are longer than the bike width but can be shortened if you can’t judge gate posts very well. IIRC @Poorbuthappy has done just that?

I have mounted a couple of SWA cable cleats (c.15p each) on the back of my front box, which carry the crook but also allow me to grab it quickly and leap into action athletically.....or not.

I've 2 gates only just wider than the bike.

The dog does my catching. But he's a lot slower than he was (not sure how the new one will fair in they dept. yet) and no doubt I'll start to lose a yard soon.


Maybe I will just use the .22

 

[steveR]

.22lr









I'll get my coat...

You may jest, but....

We were left here 20 odd years ago with a flock of VERY rough store lambs owned by an old chap from across the Border, grazing on tops and turnips. I had not seen him for several weeks and we had a number of the lambs in a poor way needing attention. Long and short of it, after 10-14 days I managed to track down a relative and found out he was in clink for animal cruelty!! Having seen some of his shepherding techniques, I can understand it in some ways...

I got an authority to sell the whole lot to a local abattoir, with my cut coming out first, then the balance to the Owner. However, we had a real problem with gathering and some of them were Feral, and a local lad with a dog really struggled on the day we collected them.

I ended up with 3-4 we couldn't catch and when we went through the flock, several were not fit to be slaughtered and went to the knacker.. Yes, he paid! The ferals were shot! I just could not be arsed any longer with the effing things... They went to the knacker too...

Sheep huh!

 

[Al R]

Yes a bit wider

I can’t see that lasting long here if wider than the bike, the amount of axles my trailers go through says as much

@Poorbuthappy did you have it re welded shorter or have you now just got 2 half lengths?

 

[neilo]

I've 2 gates only just wider than the bike.

The dog does my catching. But he's a lot slower than he was (not sure how the new one will fair in they dept. yet) and no doubt I'll start to lose a yard soon.


Maybe I will just use the .22

My second dog has now learnt to get in on the game, so my Supercrook is often only used at lambing time to retain the sheep after they’ve stopped her.
If number three would learn too then I could leave the crook at home.