thoughts on my handling pen idea

[spark_28]

summer project is to build a long term pen to save alot of time and effort. All that i tend to do is dose and crovect the sheep, sort the lambs and shear.

going with a concrete base. I got most of the material already like strainers etc and corrugated iron that ill use in the inside. the sheep will only be able to see infront of themselves. I cant justify spending 1000s for a small number of sheep. Will this flow work, the corners will be more rounded, the gates will be bought, im thinking just over 4m meshed ones to give me width.

the Black square is a shed that it will all be built off, so will be about a 4m wide initial run. This is where i could put individual lambing pens. then the first turn into a 2m (ish run) im thinking if im just doing winter dosing etc they can just be done in that area rather than a narrow race. the Run out will be the draft race and into a centre area. This is where i could shear.

Will the flow work?

 

[spin cycle]

could set proposed layout with hurdles and try it first?

 

[puppet]

Here is our layout. Gather on the left, can shed ewes and lambs either side of the race then run either lot back through to join up again in the first big pen. With a guillotine gate either end of race and some ropes can work singlehandedly.
4m for gathering OK but for dosing a race wide enough holding 2 ewes or 3 lambs saves them breaking back past you. Need a single width somewhere for the awkward ones.
Sheeted gates better than mesh if any horns likely. A few old sheets of corrugated tin works OK tied or tek
screws

 

[JockCroft]

In process of a similar plan, have tried various temporary ways with gates and hurdles to see which may work best. Race is fixed so routing around it.
How you planning on getting sheep to enter at first arrow. A forcing pen or big pen to smaller pen?
Sheep seem to go around corners like you have easier.
I am planning a forcing pen, but adding 2ft personel gates in both side. Surprising how often have to jump over hurdles, unless you are lucky and have plenty helpers.
What height are you making pens, have had lambs and gimmers jump 38". Probably always the same ones. I only have 140 ewes, but through the system most months.
Big mistake I made was plywood gate on race exit. Next project drafting/stop gate.

 

[M-J-G]

summer project is to build a long term pen to save alot of time and effort. All that i tend to do is dose and crovect the sheep, sort the lambs and shear.

going with a concrete base. I got most of the material already like strainers etc and corrugated iron that ill use in the inside. the sheep will only be able to see infront of themselves. I cant justify spending 1000s for a small number of sheep. Will this flow work, the corners will be more rounded, the gates will be bought, im thinking just over 4m meshed ones to give me width.

the Black square is a shed that it will all be built off, so will be about a 4m wide initial run. This is where i could put individual lambing pens. then the first turn into a 2m (ish run) im thinking if im just doing winter dosing etc they can just be done in that area rather than a narrow race. the Run out will be the draft race and into a centre area. This is where i could shear.

Will the flow work?

How many ewes do you have?

 

[spark_28]

In process of a similar plan, have tried various temporary ways with gates and hurdles to see which may work best. Race is fixed so routing around it.
How you planning on getting sheep to enter at first arrow. A forcing pen or big pen to smaller pen?
Sheep seem to go around corners like you have easier.
I am planning a forcing pen, but adding 2ft personel gates in both side. Surprising how often have to jump over hurdles, unless you are lucky and have plenty helpers.
What height are you making pens, have had lambs and gimmers jump 38". Probably always the same ones. I only have 140 ewes, but through the system most months.
Big mistake I made was plywood gate on race exit. Next project drafting/stop gate.

How many ewes do you have?

right now about 50 breeding ewes but hoping to expand that over the next few years.

Where the entry arrow is that can get extended out further and further to be holding pens as needed if and when i expand numbers. Im hoping to withing the next year to change to all hebrideans so i have to be more cautious about narrow gaps below rather than height as they are likely to go under than through!

 

[Fellstoflats]

If you can, go no more than 12' wide. A corner that narrows into the race is ideal. Single file race for shedding, double wide for drenching. If laying concrete from new, I'd put in a dip- this can be in the middle of a race.

 

[M-J-G]

The abity to get the whole lot in, shed them and bring them back round to treat them without getting in each other's way is key imo.
800-900mm dosing race alongside the shedding race is a must have as well.
Our race is only 3m long but I find it to be plenty.
I'd keep a footpath in mind, be it in your single for a walk through or drenching race for a stand in.
We only have 150 ewes, but they run as one group so facilities need to deal with over 400 individuals at times.

 

[spark_28]

The abity to get the whole lot in, shed them and bring them back round to treat them without getting in each other's way is key imo.
800-900mm dosing race alongside the shedding race is a must have as well.
Our race is only 3m long but I find it to be plenty.
I'd keep a footpath in mind, be it in your single for a walk through or drenching race for a stand in.
We only have 150 ewes, but they run as one group so facilities need to deal with over 400 individuals at times.

coudlnt the shedding race its self with the length (be about 6-8 metres long just act as a dosing race? they will run as one group too so the need for shedding will be minimal really.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

did something similar recently, did it similar to yours with a central race in concrete about 3 ft wide, treated my self to a guillotine gate for end so i can let them out at either end,

keep it wider for dosing then narrow it up for shedding, its fed from an 8 ft wide pen with load of bcak gates so i can force them forward then it funnels into the race.

 

[tepapa]

If your going for a simple square design like you have, Google Bud box, and try and incorporate that into it to fill the race

 

[M-J-G]

coudlnt the shedding race its self with the length (be about 6-8 metres long just act as a dosing race? they will run as one group too so the need for shedding will be minimal really.

Personally I hate dosing or vaccinating sheep in a single race, I'd much rather have a double where I stand in beside them and can treat them and let them back past me.
I just use the area where I walk alongside the single race as a dosing race and eithercan be filled from the same forcing pen.

 

[Al R]

Personally I hate dosing or vaccinating sheep in a single race, if much rather have a double where I stand in beside them and can treat them and let them back past me.
I just use the area where I walk alongside the single race as a dosing race and eithercan be filled from the same forcing pen.

That’s what I’m gonna do but have 2x 3’ dosing races. Limited to bolusing circa 360/hr at the moment. The emptying and refilling 30+ ewes at a time is what takes time, hoping with the DF to increase efficiency like we do with the Rappa.

I have an incredible brilliant system which new animals will run straight around and through etc plus it’s flexible enough to take the weigher then combi clamp out and put scanning trailer and shearing trailer in their place etc! It’s near 40 year old and not big enough now though but otherwise brilliant for flexibility and flow.

 

[spark_28]

how many sheep do you think about 40sqm2 will comfortably hold?

the initial pen will be about 32 but turning into another 16sqm so altogether about 56sm2