Tricky Sheep move...

[Robin2020]

A neighbour is allowing my sheep to graze a field. The difficulty is getting them there....but it is frustratingly close. I have a very small trailer and no dog. The flock is 40 ewes + lambs. So this would be 6 trailer loads. From the map you can see my filed (A). They would need walking over my first neighbours land (B) and end up in field C2. As you can see, it is a real shame to trailer them when it is so close. The neighbour in the middle is happy for me to walk them over but his grass is currently very inviting. He likes to mow it!
My concerns are that they will simply put their heads down in fields B. I also have the added issue of 1 month lambs hanging back and getting lost. My limited time with sheep (1.5years) tells me this is a guaranteed 5hr nighmare. On the other hand, if I can find a way...I have some nice grazing close by throughout the year.
From the arrows you can see one idea is to make a path through the woods....maybe a simple line of wire either side would guide them... Perhaps I just gather a team of 5 people to push them all along..??. They are great at following the bucket but I dont think the appeal will be enough this time... Maybe I just trailer them and get it done in a few hours....

Any ideas from the experts???

 

[Bury the Trash]

sounds frustrating

.......but seems like at the end of the day there could potentially be a nice relaxing 'Thai yoga massage'

 

[Benn]

If all b fields are fenced ,
One person in front with bucket of feed and one behind pushing up lambs shutting gates behind ,
Especially if person behind could have any type of dog doesn’t have to be working dog on long lead/rope.
Surprising how can move sheep with a dog on a long lead,

 

[Guleesh]

You want to try taking a couple hundred ewes and lambs up and down some roads, with the slow sheep and lambs at the back trying to escape to hide in bushes on the verges and the leaders tearing off ahead, turning into every open gateway and going over cattle grids into peoples gardens, all the time you're pressing on into the oncoming traffic whilst the tailback of traffic behind you grows longer and longer. Great on a long walk or up a hill when a ewe decides she can't possibly go on and plonks herself down in the road providing a show for the onlookers. Then you'd appreciate that your move is actually really easy, as what can really go wrong?

Personally I wouldn't keep sheep without having a dog, doesn't need to be that good a dog either, just something that's under control, will stop when told to and can get in front of a flock or follow behind.

 

[Happy at it]

Get a dog! But if you don't have a dog, would temp electric fence put up be enough to make a pathway, doesn't look far at all. bound to be able to get it sorted yourself easier than a trailer?

 

[d-wales]

month old lambs will be fine, even if they get lost they will soon find their mothers quick enough.

Get a few people, one in front with a bucket and the rest behind and on flanks. Keep them tight and go slow. They will to easily.

 

[Bury the Trash]

You want to try taking a couple hundred ewes and lambs up and down some roads, with the slow sheep and lambs at the back trying to escape to hide in bushes on the verges and the leaders tearing off ahead, turning into every open gateway and going over cattle grids into peoples gardens, all the time you're pressing on into the oncoming traffic whilst the tailback of traffic behind you grows longer and longer. Great on a long walk or up a hill when a ewe decides she can't possibly go on and plonks herself down in the road providing a show for the onlookers. Then you'd appreciate that your move is actually really easy, as what can really go wrong?

Personally I wouldn't keep sheep without having a dog, doesn't need to be that good a dog either, just something that's under control, will stop when told to and can get in front of a flock or follow behind.

yep,without a dog sheep can take the mickey.

big trailer helps

as do bikes even 2 wheeled ones because with a good rider with good 'stock knowledge' on one they know they can be out run by it.

 

[Dry Rot]

Surely there are free lance shepherds in the area? Or at least a regular shepherd who can spare an hour or so? Ask at your local market, farmer/small holder Facebook page, etc.?

 

[David1968]

Gather up a few people and just keep them moving. Don't let them stop and don't let them fan out.

 

[Guleesh]

yep,without a dog sheep can take the mickey.

big trailer helps

as do bikes even 2 wheeled ones because with a good rider with good 'stock knowledge' on one they know they cant be out run by it.

We regularly push the hill sheep back home, it's amazing how obedient they are when the dog is with us, they know they're beat so just go where we want them, the dog doesn't even have to leave our side most of the time, often just let him out the van and the sheep start moving.

Sometimes, we don't have the dog with us and try the same, it works the same up till the point the sheep realise there's no dog present, then they completely take the pi55, scatter all over the place and we wish we'd never bothered trying.

You're right about 'stock knowledge' too, a man on a quad can be as good as a man with a dog, but only if he can read the sheep properly, a skill that some people seem to naturally possess then there's others, even some who may have been around sheep all their lives that just can't see what the sheeps intentions are, no matter how obvious.

 

[Guleesh]

Surely there are free lance shepherds in the area? Or at least a regular shepherd who can spare an hour or so? Ask at your local market, farmer/small holder Facebook page, etc.?

Need to be somebody good though, or else @Robin2020 could end up with a couple sheep in Slad Brook, 2 sheep never to be seen again but last seen on Summer street, and the rest of them rampaging through the Thai yoga massage centre.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

I would avoid pushing them, it'll be hard work!

If you build a long thinnish paddock as a corridor and let them find the way in. Close off once they have all gone in and repeat until they get to the other end.

Don't forget to have the reels where you want to let them through.

 

[David1968]

If it's likely to be an ongoing arrangement, I'd persevere with moving them on foot. It'll become easier if you can get them used to a set route.

 

[Mc115reed]

Ask somebody with a dog or a big trailer to come do it for you? If you were near me I’d do it for £20 happily

 

[Guleesh]

Ask somebody with a dog or a big trailer to come do it for you? If you were near me I’d do it for £20 happily

You're not far from me though, I'll get £20 out of the mattress and I'll send you a PM next time we're doing a big move.

 

[Mc115reed]

You're not far from me though, I'll get £20 out of the mattress and I'll send you a PM next time we're doing a big move.

Wow wow wow wow hang on I didn’t agree too a big move he’s only talking 40 ewes and lambs a big move would be a bit more expensive lol

 

[Guleesh]

Wow wow wow wow hang on I didn’t agree too a big move he’s only talking 40 ewes and lambs a big move would be a bit more expensive lol

Tut tut, trying to charge more than the price you advertised. Forget it, I'm not prepared to pay more than £20 for you to drive here with your dogs and do the job.

 

[David.]

With all the ballache involved, I'd just trailer them.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Wow wow wow wow hang on I didn’t agree too a big move he’s only talking 40 ewes and lambs a big move would be a bit more expensive lol

yeah but surely you can afford it ......what with all that money saved on them mvf energisers

 

[unlacedgecko]

A neighbour is allowing my sheep to graze a field. The difficulty is getting them there....but it is frustratingly close. I have a very small trailer and no dog. The flock is 40 ewes + lambs. So this would be 6 trailer loads. From the map you can see my filed (A). They would need walking over my first neighbours land (B) and end up in field C2. As you can see, it is a real shame to trailer them when it is so close. The neighbour in the middle is happy for me to walk them over but his grass is currently very inviting. He likes to mow it!
My concerns are that they will simply put their heads down in fields B. I also have the added issue of 1 month lambs hanging back and getting lost. My limited time with sheep (1.5years) tells me this is a guaranteed 5hr nighmare. On the other hand, if I can find a way...I have some nice grazing close by throughout the year.
From the arrows you can see one idea is to make a path through the woods....maybe a simple line of wire either side would guide them... Perhaps I just gather a team of 5 people to push them all along..??. They are great at following the bucket but I dont think the appeal will be enough this time... Maybe I just trailer them and get it done in a few hours....

Any ideas from the experts???View attachment 1033919

Where are you?

I'm travelling Doncaster to Hereford on May 11. If you're asking the route let me know and I'll move them with my dog for a few ££