Tricky Sheep move...

Jackov Altraids

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
If you have the ewes and their lambs well marked. I would pick out a load and give them a full MOT, [check feet, vitamin drench, worm if appropriate, vaccinate and shear] and take them.
Then do the same and take another load, each time you are going to check them.

The only downside is if it is hard work to get them in and pick a matching bunch out.
 
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
my thoughts having just done 2 long woodland movements with young lambs.
team minimum of 3 - 1 front leading (bucket/bag with treats might be useful if they know what it is) - 2 sweepers at the back.. 3 is better as you can have rear left rear right and centerback.
polywire for laneways across fields is a good idea - one i use too.

go for it - itll be fun if nothing else.
 

puppet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
sw scotland
It doesn't look far to walk them. I would keep out of woods as harder to see their lambs. Sheep like a move so open the gate then just gently push them through each field while they nibble away. Keep the lambs moving forward. All done in an hour
Top tip. If you want sheep to go through a gate then just open it 2 feet. Wide open they usually refuse.
 

Robin2020

Member
Livestock Farmer
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,
Yes I have access to dogs. Sounds well worth trying 👌
 

Robin2020

Member
Livestock Farmer
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.
😃 yes I do have it easy. Those stories sound challenging for sure. Maybe this will give me the confidence to venture further!
 

Mc115reed

Member
Livestock Farmer
😃 yes I do have it easy. Those stories sound challenging for sure. Maybe this will give me the confidence to venture further!
I walked 300 lambs about 2 miles in winter down a quite lane… 1 went into a garden, sent dog in too fetch it out and it ran back too the field it came from with dog in hot Persuit… turned round and went after them… too find a dog Walker mortified on the side of the road at my collie sat on top of said sheep… threw it on the bike and f**ked off without saying hi… caught back up too the mob of sheep as they were on hole 9 of the golf course, fetched them off there back onto the road and the dick heads who’s gate I closed too the horse yard had opened it again so we all piled into there for a few laps with the pony’s… then eventually got too our field once we got out of there
 

Robin2020

Member
Livestock 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.
Interesting approach...
 

Robin2020

Member
Livestock Farmer
my thoughts having just done 2 long woodland movements with young lambs.
team minimum of 3 - 1 front leading (bucket/bag with treats might be useful if they know what it is) - 2 sweepers at the back.. 3 is better as you can have rear left rear right and centerback.
polywire for laneways across fields is a good idea - one i use too.

go for it - itll be fun if nothing else.
I think this will be what I try..
 

delilah

Member
You will be pleased to know they got the funds for the polytunnel and have permission to put it right on my boundary looking down on my home 😀.

When we brought this place we had a lovely view of the Downs. Then planning was given opposite and we now have a lovely view of what by common consent is the ugliest house in the village. It happens. You don't buy the view.
Sounds like they are making a go of it, embrace them, we're all on the same side of the fence, metaphorically if not always literally. (y) .
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
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
Hire a bigger trailer
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
When we brought this place we had a lovely view of the Downs. Then planning was given opposite and we now have a lovely view of what by common consent is the ugliest house in the village. It happens. You don't buy the view.
Sounds like they are making a go of it, embrace them, we're all on the same side of the fence, metaphorically if not always literally. (y) .

I'd want to see how attractive they are before I embrace them.
 

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