Moving sheep on a road signage

[countrylad]

I’ve seen signs for supervised cattle crossings up north before, when lights show signs with the little beacons. Was thinking of making my own for moving the sheep.
I’ve got about 200 yds to move them along a road. Easy job right? Apart from the fact it’s between 2 sets of double bends.
I need to warn traffic approaching before an accident is caused. Currently I have to get about 5 folk involved, partially to move the woolie buggers but more so to stop/slow traffic!

Any ideas?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Take them in the trailer

 

[countrylad]

Take them in the trailer

The field gate is right on the road, and unfortunately I have no handling facilities, as it’s a standalone 2 acre field

 

[Paul E]

a) make a loading pen.
or
b) mow the field.

 

[countrylad]

a) make a loading pen.
or
b) mow the field.

I’m not wanting to invest a lot of money in it. The sheep are only there as a favour really to stop grass getting away for a family friend. Might just chuck some stores on it and be done with it. Leave them as field ornaments

 

[Paul E]

....but if you put stores on it, you'll still need to move them onto the road won't you? With the potential of causing an accident or getting them run into, which I presume is the purpose of the thread.
Or am I missing something?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

The occasional time we do it we block the road at the far end with a vehicle, leave someone there in case of emergencies and just get on with it. Hang back far enough so cars don't come flying up behind you. But I don’t make a habit of it. Ran 150 ewes 250 yards down the road last week, must have been 20 cars all waiting when we finished! Most of them got out and helped direct the sheep into the gateway while taking pictures and told me that had brightened up their week! Apparently me running hell for leather trying too keep in front of a flick that really really wants the sugar beet bag in my hand is amusing!

 

[countrylad]

....but if you put stores on it, you'll still need to move them onto the road won't you? With the potential of causing an accident or getting them run into, which I presume is the purpose of the thread.
Or am I missing something?

Sorry, I mean I’ll just chuck them in and leave them

 

[countrylad]

The occasional time we do it we block the road at the far end with a vehicle, leave someone there in case of emergencies and just get on with it. Hang back far enough so cars don't come flying up behind you. But I don’t make a habit of it. Ran 150 ewes 250 yards down the road last week, must have been 20 cars all waiting when we finished! Most of them got out and helped direct the sheep into the gateway while taking pictures and told me that had brightened up their week! Apparently me running hell for leather trying too keep in front of a flick that really really wants the sugar beet bag in my hand is amusing!

That would make sense! Quite road, Chuck the car up the top end and someone else down the bottom

 

[Coop]

What sort of road is it? A , B or an unclassified? Might be able to give you the right advice then rather than people saying trailer them or just don’t bother and make hay, which isn’t really helpful in mho

 

[countrylad]

What sort of road is it? A , B or an unclassified? Might be able to give you the right advice then rather than people saying trailer them or just don’t bother and make hay, which isn’t really helpful in mho

B road, but a little busy. Maybe a car every couple of minutes during the day. More at peak

 

[Coop]

I would put some slow signs or road work signs up before the bends and then have a vehicle either end blocking the road with some orange flashing lights on them. Other wise if you just had signs with flashing lights on you no some numpty would just drive straight through you.

 

[countrylad]

I would put some slow signs or road work signs up before the bends and then have a vehicle either end blocking the road with some orange flashing lights on them. Other wise if you just had signs with flashing lights on you no some numpty would just drive straight through you.

Cheers, think I’ll have to do this, maybe cones over the left hand side of the road?

 

[Coop]

That sounds good

 

[hendrebc]

Wear high vis jackets too. The cars will pay more attention to someone in flashy official looking gear and your less likely to get run over.

 

[delilah]

Am sure someone once told me that by law the road can be blocked for 20 minutes for the purposes of loading/ moving stock ? As others have said safest thing just block it.

 

[Woolless]

Prattley hurdles or similar to guide sheep straight into the trailer in the field? If it's two acres there can't be that many.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

not in the winter if it's less than 5 degrees C, unless the trailer is heated! So maybe walking them will be the only way!

Take them in the trailer

 

[Al R]

How many rams do you have?

 

[neilo]

We used to regularly cross an A road at home, to the extent that I put a couple of new gateways (sorry, reopened existing ones ) in so that they could run straight over. We went to having a big tractor with big flashing beacons at each side, with a couple of people, whilst I moved the sheep.
We did ring plod to come and help too a couple of times too (you'll need a direct number or local police station though, if there even is one), and they were very happy to do something a bit different, as long as it wasn't cold & wet...

In the end, I reverted to using a trailer most of the time, even on biggish mobs. Where we are now, I have a 60ac offlying grazing block, where we'd only have to move them about 50m along/across a reasonably quiet road between our tracks. I've been here 9 years and I haven't bothered yet. Trailering is so much less aggro, even if it takes slightly longer.