Surface for sheep handling pens

[Shepherd12]

We are planning to build quite a large sheep handling system in the centre of a 250 acre block away from home. The sheep pens will be heavily used. What would people recommend as the most suitable stone/other material to use. The pens are being designed to hold around 1000 ewes so concrete won’t be within our budget unfortunately. Thanks

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I’ve seen planings over recycled crushed chatter make a really good pen base. Free draining but clean

 

[Shepherd12]

I’ve seen planings over recycled crushed chatter make a really good pen base. Free draining but clean

What’s chatter? Crushed concrete?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

What’s chatter? Crushed concrete?

30-50mm crush

 

[HarryB97]

I’d use concrete on the race and forcing pen or it’ll get really chewed up. Planings or type one on the rest over some 50-70mm limestone with Terram under.

 

[puppet]

I’ve seen planings over recycled crushed chatter make a really good pen base. Free draining but clean

Agree with concrete race slightly higher to allow drainage. 1000 is a huge pen so maybe have 2 small paddocks to hold some back and let others leave to cut costs

 

[Shepherd12]

Thanks for the advice. Stupid question, does all the top soil need to come off before stoning? Only reason I ask is that it’s on deep black soil so it’s going to be some depth and amount of stone to fill it in. Or could we just take say 7-8 inches of top soil off and teram + stone her up?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Thanks for the advice. Stupid question, does all the top soil need to come off before stoning? Only reason I ask is that it’s on deep black soil so it’s going to be some depth and amount of stone to fill it in. Or could we just take say 7-8 inches of top soil off and teram + stone her up?

You can’t put stone onto topsoil

 

[Jonp]

I've used 3' x 2' council paving slabs for the base of my race. Sit them straight on the ground. Easy to do.

 

[sheepdogtrail]

We are planning to build quite a large sheep handling system in the centre of a 250 acre block away from home. The sheep pens will be heavily used. What would people recommend as the most suitable stone/other material to use. The pens are being designed to hold around 1000 ewes so concrete won’t be within our budget unfortunately. Thanks

Packed/roll the surface until it is firm. Then spread gravel and do any leveling work. Then pack the Gravel. 1000 sheep and your environment will do the rest in 1 year.

What type of yard are you going with?

 

[S J H]

I’ve got concrete for the race, and good wood chip for the pens, over crushed, I just scrape this off and replace it when it’s needed.

 

[toquark]

Thanks for the advice. Stupid question, does all the top soil need to come off before stoning? Only reason I ask is that it’s on deep black soil so it’s going to be some depth and amount of stone to fill it in. Or could we just take say 7-8 inches of top soil off and teram + stone her up?

The muck will eventually come up through the stone. Best dig it out if you can.

 

[sheepdogtrail]

Thanks for the advice. Stupid question, does all the top soil need to come off before stoning? Only reason I ask is that it’s on deep black soil so it’s going to be some depth and amount of stone to fill it in. Or could we just take say 7-8 inches of top soil off and teram + stone her up?

Best to go to bedrock if it is affordable. Do you know the perc rates of the topsoil you will be building on/over? Ideally, the top soil would be sand based with very little clay so it can withstand higher loads of sheep traffic.

I would still build at least a stone path for your race, handler and drench chute. That is where humans will be spending most of their time. And if you could cover those parts you will be a happy person at the end of the day.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Thanks for the advice. Stupid question, does all the top soil need to come off before stoning? Only reason I ask is that it’s on deep black soil so it’s going to be some depth and amount of stone to fill it in. Or could we just take say 7-8 inches of top soil off and teram + stone her up?

its just a sheep yard. and especially if yr soil is bottomless...
not even that depth just pull off the organic toplayer and then lay the membrane.

then add as much as you can , getting it up will give the water somwhere to go digging down and in wont.

shale as a sub layer and tar planings to top are ok avoid stuff with potential sharps in

cleaning off the top and then topping up in the futiue will be best done by min digger and grading bucket .
imo best to aviod wood chip

 

[Dyffryn]

Thanks for the advice. Stupid question, does all the top soil need to come off before stoning? Only reason I ask is that it’s on deep black soil so it’s going to be some depth and amount of stone to fill it in. Or could we just take say 7-8 inches of top soil off and teram + stone her up?

The big ? is why are you thinking of keeping sheep on land with loads if topsoil!!?

 

[Shepherd12]

The big ? is why are you thinking of keeping sheep on land with loads if topsoil!!?

Like sheep and they pay the bills . Not a fan of machinery

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Does anyone use pebbles anymore?
Guy I worked for had main holding pen as this with the idea it was self cleaning and drained well.
Main working areas were concrete.

Think the pebbles had pros and cons!

 

[Nithsdale]

Does anyone use pebbles anymore?
Guy I worked for had main holding pen as this with the idea it was self cleaning and drained well.
Main working areas were concrete.

Think the pebbles had pros and cons!

Did they need raked regular to keep them from mudding up? Or did they keep themselves clean?

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Did they need raked regular to keep them from mudding up? Or did they keep themselves clean?

Kept themselves clean iirc. The entrance was least likely to - I guess they were carrying more mud into there. Needed a good depth though. And the sheep were a little hesitant about them.

 

[flinty123]

If you're using the pens on your own flock not short term stores, then go for concrete.

Yes crush/scalpings will be cheaper, but you will increase foot related problems, especially amongst older ewes. Losing good breeding ewes a year or two early due to bad feet, is negative economy.

The secondary benefit is, you can cover the entire area with a roof in the future and create a dual purpose building for holding and grading sheep. The concrete will be far superior for mucking out.