- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
No idea.
Creep feeder, 147 lambs in the mob. Theres always a wee bit left when I fill it every morning - so it is adlib (it's easier to shift every morning when it's almost empty)
TexX ewes - which Tup to use?
- Thread starter Nithsdale
- Start date
No idea.
Creep feeder, 147 lambs in the mob. Theres always a wee bit left when I fill it every morning - so it is adlib (it's easier to shift every morning when it's almost empty)
- Location
- N.Lincs
Especially, as like everybody else, you'll have had a lot less grass than last year.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Not farming related...
But I had mentioned in another thread I was going up Ben Nevis on the 19th.
Just stuck to the tourist route (had wanted to do the North route up the CMD but decided against it with snow still capping the top).
Several small stops on the way up to take in views/get a breather and have a drink - took us 3.5hrs. 45mins stopped for lunch, pictures, whisky... and then 2 hours ish to get back down. If I had been myself I would have gotten down much quicker but one friend was feeling it on his knees so we slowed up for him.
But I had mentioned in another thread I was going up Ben Nevis on the 19th.
Just stuck to the tourist route (had wanted to do the North route up the CMD but decided against it with snow still capping the top).
Several small stops on the way up to take in views/get a breather and have a drink - took us 3.5hrs. 45mins stopped for lunch, pictures, whisky... and then 2 hours ish to get back down. If I had been myself I would have gotten down much quicker but one friend was feeling it on his knees so we slowed up for him.
- Location
- Devon
We were supposed to have done that Nith 2 summers ago. Would have been all 3 peaks done as a family, but I ended up in Inverness hospital having my gall bladder removed!
Looks like you had a beauiful day for it
Looks like you had a beauiful day for it
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
You'll need to get back up and do it!
Weather was really good. Very warm at Fort William and still (sweating buckets the first 3 miles stripped to just a t-shirt) when we set off, but around 0c at the top - with 25-30mph winds! Bloody glad I had my wooly hat and windbreaker smock with me!
My dad is 70. Turns out his grandfather, out of the blue, decided he would go up when he was 70... dad says there's no chance he could manage it (he isn't the best on his feet/balance and is bothered with sciatica at times). I've always enjoying a bit of hill walking, but I think it's given me the bug to do more! Next on the list is Skiddaw in Cumbria (Keswick) - only the 6th highest in England... but I see it uninterrupted from home, and have looked at it for 34 years
Weather was really good. Very warm at Fort William and still (sweating buckets the first 3 miles stripped to just a t-shirt) when we set off, but around 0c at the top - with 25-30mph winds! Bloody glad I had my wooly hat and windbreaker smock with me!
My dad is 70. Turns out his grandfather, out of the blue, decided he would go up when he was 70... dad says there's no chance he could manage it (he isn't the best on his feet/balance and is bothered with sciatica at times). I've always enjoying a bit of hill walking, but I think it's given me the bug to do more! Next on the list is Skiddaw in Cumbria (Keswick) - only the 6th highest in England... but I see it uninterrupted from home, and have looked at it for 34 years
- Location
- Devon
Intend to. But house building has got in the way since, and consequently lots of farm work to catch up too.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
About a month ago, there was a farm sale at Longtown market. Listed was a Harrington 3-man shearing trailer. Pictures up on website, it looked good - perfect for me, because it was actually a 2 man trailer with a 3rd stand on the left side of the rear clipping gate (I'm left handed).
So come sale day I had a rough price in my head I was prepared to go to... dad decides a day out would be nice so we set off for the 50min drive. Get there late, they are already selling the machinery. Dad joins the crowd around auctioneer as I look for this trailer... no sign of the damned thing! I come back over to where dad is to find him leaning against a Harrington crutching trailer.
I thought he was joking when he said he had bought it it's the same name, he says
£520. Missing it's ramp and has clearly been tipped - it's straight, but ball hitch was twisted and the metalwork scraped on the race where it's been dragged along tarmac
All the bits are there... the grand plan is to convert it into a proper shearing trailer. But, between other jobs, it was clear I was not going to have time to do it before shearing this year.
We will try using the crutching hatch, and just drop the ewes onto the ground to shear. It's a big drop, but should (hopefully!) be OK. I'm not doing the tups out if it though
2nd hanger for my machine made (homemade copy of the Harrington one) and ramp for the rear.... she's looking good!
It'll make more work for my neighbor who helps keep the ewes coming to us, but hopefully it'll cut down on catching and dragging the ewes for us - at 1 farm I was having to drag the ewes 10' uphill to my board. His hill ewes were fine, but the inbye ones it killed my back.
I have an itch to start shearing as it is... getting this ready has made me even more keen!
220 hoggs scheduled for the coming week, with 2-300 ewes the week after.
So come sale day I had a rough price in my head I was prepared to go to... dad decides a day out would be nice so we set off for the 50min drive. Get there late, they are already selling the machinery. Dad joins the crowd around auctioneer as I look for this trailer... no sign of the damned thing! I come back over to where dad is to find him leaning against a Harrington crutching trailer.
I thought he was joking when he said he had bought it
it's the same name, he says £520. Missing it's ramp and has clearly been tipped - it's straight, but ball hitch was twisted and the metalwork scraped on the race where it's been dragged along tarmac
All the bits are there... the grand plan is to convert it into a proper shearing trailer. But, between other jobs, it was clear I was not going to have time to do it before shearing this year.
We will try using the crutching hatch, and just drop the ewes onto the ground to shear. It's a big drop, but should (hopefully!) be OK. I'm not doing the tups out if it though
2nd hanger for my machine made (homemade copy of the Harrington one) and ramp for the rear.... she's looking good!
It'll make more work for my neighbor who helps keep the ewes coming to us, but hopefully it'll cut down on catching and dragging the ewes for us - at 1 farm I was having to drag the ewes 10' uphill to my board. His hill ewes were fine, but the inbye ones it killed my back.
I have an itch to start shearing as it is... getting this ready has made me even more keen!
220 hoggs scheduled for the coming week, with 2-300 ewes the week after.
- Location
- N.Lincs
+1 for that.
Used this set up this year.......
.Ours walked up into it a treat and after the first day we realised we didn't need one in the decoy pen (just out of pic) at all. I suppose it helped that they're used to walking up a ramp into the combi clamp.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
+1 for that.
Used this set up this year.......
View attachment 675480 ...so much easier rolling them out of the race than dragging them out of a pen
I had looked at one of those shearing crates... but at the price (and needing to shear atleast at 4 different sites) I thought a trailer would be easier and not much more money - although I have realised my wool packing crate doesn't fit on along with the ramp so I have more head scratching to do.
Only race my ewes go up is for shedding so it might be a fight. I've 2 10' wooden hurdles I made a few years back I've now sheeted with ply to make a race upto the ramp. Couple hock bars and hopefully they will flow
are they quiet enough / do they settle in there while they wait on there own or do they fuss/ try and jump out ? surely the decoy pen would help in that respect.....+1 for that.
Used this set up this year.......
View attachment 675480 ...so much easier rolling them out of the race than dragging them out of a pen
i fancy something to make catching and tipping easier in my old age...
- Location
- N.Lincs
That's not mine - it belongs to a friend of my daughter who comes to give me a hand for a couple of outlying mobs. He only got it delivered last week so hasn't had time to fit it on a trailer. When he gets it sorted, it'll be a 'bobby's job' - he'll just be able to back up to anybody's race, drop 2 pins in and crack on
- Location
- N.Lincs
I was impressed, we only had one jump out in 2 days. It's so much easier - with some of our big sods by the time you've got 'em dragged out of the pen and upended on the board you're knackered before you've got the machine switched on
Yeah and there,s always one who tries to slip out from the door in a trailler anywayI was impressed, we only had one jump out in 2 days. It's so much easier - with some of our big sods by the time you've got 'em dragged out of the pen and upended on the board you're knackered before you've got the machine switched on
... i just dont fancy one jumpin on me....
Less far to go / know where your going everytime ..with the back aid on tho i guess........ i like to keep the sling fairly high ..
. . which dont give me much movement.... in some directions ..
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
No pictures - I saw the abuse given on the shearing thread
But kicked off shearing '18 today. 100 hoggs done, with 50 left for tomorrow. Quite a few dirty tails this year due to the weather, and, being hoggs, lots of bellies and crutches to do... but on the whole they were good going, and definitely ready
The rust is knocking off me, but first day back and with this cold, I'm pretty knackered Body feels fine though - im just tired.
Trailer worked well. What a difference to catching and dragging out of a pen!! And the hoggs cooperated - only 1 wriggled and fought!
But kicked off shearing '18 today. 100 hoggs done, with 50 left for tomorrow. Quite a few dirty tails this year due to the weather, and, being hoggs, lots of bellies and crutches to do... but on the whole they were good going, and definitely ready
The rust is knocking off me, but first day back and with this cold, I'm pretty knackered
Body feels fine though - im just tired.Trailer worked well. What a difference to catching and dragging out of a pen!! And the hoggs cooperated - only 1 wriggled and fought!
- Location
- Scottish Borders
No photo - Coward !
Everyone’s an expert on here !
Everyone’s an expert on here !
- Location
- N.Lincs
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Once you've used one, you wonder why you didn't get one years ago
Can't do many on my own though... pen will still have a place
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Have been struggling with a cold since the start of last week (was buggered last Wednesday!) but started shearing last Thursday. Between my cold and other things we haven't bashed on yet really. 300 dry hoggs done and about 160 ewes so far.
My hoggs were very good shearing and were in good fettle, my friends hoggs were in good fettle but needed another week - their wool was a touch dry. Also, their necks!! I've never seen such tight/matted necks on hoggs before!
160 lowland ewes done today, overly fit (MASSIVE!!) but pretty good shearing and once I was over the shock of the size I found my groove and was clicking on well!
TexX ewes are getting done tomorrow.
The trailer is working brilliant so far, very pleased with it - it doesn't seem too big a drop to the ground and sheep are pretty easy pulled from it. I just tie the frame inside the curtain (which you should raise with the foot pedal) up with rope, nothing has tried escaping yet
My hoggs were very good shearing and were in good fettle, my friends hoggs were in good fettle but needed another week - their wool was a touch dry. Also, their necks!! I've never seen such tight/matted necks on hoggs before!
160 lowland ewes done today, overly fit (MASSIVE!!) but pretty good shearing and once I was over the shock of the size I found my groove and was clicking on well!
TexX ewes are getting done tomorrow.
The trailer is working brilliant so far, very pleased with it - it doesn't seem too big a drop to the ground and sheep are pretty easy pulled from it. I just tie the frame inside the curtain (which you should raise with the foot pedal) up with rope, nothing has tried escaping yet
- Location
- Devon
Trailer pictures pleaseHave been struggling with a cold since the start of last week (was buggered last Wednesday!) but started shearing last Thursday. Between my cold and other things we haven't bashed on yet really. 300 dry hoggs done and about 160 ewes so far.
My hoggs were very good shearing and were in good fettle, my friends hoggs were in good fettle but needed another week - their wool was a touch dry. Also, their necks!! I've never seen such tight/matted necks on hoggs before!
160 lowland ewes done today, overly fit (MASSIVE!!) but pretty good shearing and once I was over the shock of the size I found my groove and was clicking on well!
TexX ewes are getting done tomorrow.
The trailer is working brilliant so far, very pleased with it - it doesn't seem too big a drop to the ground and sheep are pretty easy pulled from it. I just tie the frame inside the curtain (which you should raise with the foot pedal) up with rope, nothing has tried escaping yet