SageHill Ranch Journal

Thanks for the tips! Ohhhhh TIPS :D =D ;) so punny. Didn't mean it but hey (hay) when it happens it happens! :lol:
Looks pretty similar. I'll remember the flailing feet once I get to the tilt-a-whirl stage. The head gate on the one I have is "automatic" -- need to figure out the right spacing for the bars. Right now just getting them to go through there's a pin that holds it open.
 
The bars will need to be adjusted according to the size of the sheep (age and pregnancy factors) but that is true of the chair and any squeeze since anything sized to hold a junior yearling or smaller will be too tight on a mature ewe let alone a ram. We have found that putting a soft towel over their eyes seems to calm the sheep in both the squeeze and the chair.
 
Ridgetop said:
The bars will need to be adjusted according to the size of the sheep (age and pregnancy factors) but that is true of the chair and any squeeze since anything sized to hold a junior yearling or smaller will be too tight on a mature ewe let alone a ram. We have found that putting a soft towel over their eyes seems to calm the sheep in both the squeeze and the chair.
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:) When I've used the chair I did do the blindfold thing - nice smooshy towel or a soft shirt. I'll make sure I've got that close by.
 
Did you get the optional pads? I was thinking about getting the optional pads if they would fit my squeeze. Or, if the Lakeland pads are curved too much to fit my squeeze with its straight sides, I can make my own using plywood covered with foam and upholstered with vinyl. I really like the curved sides on the Lakeland squeeze. The price is too steep for me - I got mine for $700 closeout price on the sample, but the straight sides are vertical pipe. Maybe the vertical pipe is uncomfortable and making pads for the sides would help the sheep relax and not struggle.

Looking forward to pix. Did you get one of the packages? Or just the spin table?
 
Ridgetop said:
Did you get the optional pads? I was thinking about getting the optional pads if they would fit my squeeze. Or, if the Lakeland pads are curved too much to fit my squeeze with its straight sides, I can make my own using plywood covered with foam and upholstered with vinyl. I really like the curved sides on the Lakeland squeeze. The price is too steep for me - I got mine for $700 closeout price on the sample, but the straight sides are vertical pipe. Maybe the vertical pipe is uncomfortable and making pads for the sides would help the sheep relax and not struggle.

Looking forward to pix. Did you get one of the packages? Or just the spin table?
Click to expand...
No, I thought about the pads but decided I probably didn’t need them. I’m hoping the curved sides will be more comfortable for the sheep than the straight sides. Part of the reason I chose Lakeland that and some others had a pulley system - looked to me like something that either required more muscle and or just another thing to go wrong.
Oh do I wish I bought a system! Still watching the ol’ budget. Though the other day I was wondering where I’d put it! So there’s that. The lack of nice flat ground can sometimes be “helpful” 🤪
 
SageHill said:
No, I thought about the pads but decided I probably didn’t need them. I’m hoping the curved sides will be more comfortable for the sheep than the straight sides. Part of the reason I chose Lakeland that and some others had a pulley system - looked to me like something that either required more muscle and or just another thing to go wrong.
Oh do I wish I bought a system! Still watching the ol’ budget. Though the other day I was wondering where I’d put it! So there’s that. The lack of nice flat ground can sometimes be “helpful” 🤪
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PS - padding of some sort might make yours more comfortable for the sheep. Perhaps some carpet and carpet padding??
 
Ah yeah - long weekend and finally back to regular things - yay. Earned some $ for hay though.
This morning it was back to the "you must go through the tilt-a-whirl if you want to eat" mode. And it worked great - sent them through this morning twice and again this afternoon.
First time through was perfect. And then...........
The ram doubles as a roadblock. Grrr - someone tries to go through - oh and eat the yummy hay in the chute -- and he shoves them out of the way, nibbles all the hay in the chute and ..... backs out. Repeat, repeat - grrrr. Oinky oink 🐷 ram. As much as I wanted to hurry things along I just walked away and sat in the utv. After a bit they all went back through to .... more hay.
This afternoon Ol' Mama Stripe had enough of Mr Roadblock and pushed his butt outa her way. :D =D The rest followed nicely and Mr Roadblock decided he was going to miss out on the party and went through.
They are getting "slower" going through - ya - cuz it's not a race chute ;) - just wait 'til I use the headgate 😬 nice and steady will be much better than a charge of any kind.
So we're making progress!
This morning I was moving the contraption around and looked out the barn door to the other side of the pasture/turn out -- and COYOTE on the other (good side) of the fence. Grabbed the little persuader and popped him a good one. Did a jump and hightail it outa there. Obi was with and started patrolling the fence line. He checked out the entire fence line especially where the coyote had been. Very interesting to watch his behavior. No, I wouldn't use him to protect or leave him with the sheep - 'tis not his job or what he was bred for.
Sheep all watching Obi and I return from our "outing" - kinda felt they were saying thankyou all lined up like that.
IMG_1304.jpeg
 
You have some brave coyotes. And you are right, your dogs aren’t bred for fighting coyotes. I use Carson, my Great Dane/ Labrador cross, but in the front yard, with lambs. He barks, that’s all I want him to do.

Running the sheep through the tilt table is a smart idea. Be sure to give them treats.
 
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