Sheep Chair  

 

I'm a small flock owner.  I can't justify one of those snazzy sheep flippers.  I'm also a small person with a back that has seen better days.  Thus I've been trying to figure out how to flip my sheep for hoof trimming without the usual battles. 

I had a sheep chair.  It was great once you got the sheep in it.  However, backing a recalcitrant ewe to the chair was a real chore.  And isn't it amazing how they can hook their back leg around the chair leg so that once you flip them in that back leg is twisted horribly down and out so you need to get them out ASAP?
   
       

 

The sheep move right through the chair into position. 

I decided to let the sheep get themselves into position on the chair.  I cut my chair up with a hacksaw and reconstructed a chair built into a chute.  I lift the chair bottom so the sheep can travel through the chair into position. 

Their destination is a dead end made with lambing jug panels.  It helps to move the sheep through this a time or two before closing the end.  That way they are comfortable passing through the chair part.  I just tied pieces of tarp to make the sides seem solid.  Add a couple sheep loose at the end and they really don't seem to focus on getting out the side.

 
     

A ram lamb goes for the bucket.

  

 Some grain with a milk crate lures most of them into actually lifting their front end for you. 

     

Oh so ready for me to trim feet.  I made this chair a bit taller to put the animal at a more comfortable postion for me.

  

Then I simply drop the chair bottom, swing open one of the side panels and finish flipping the sheep in.  If you are quiet and quick you can have them flipped before they realize trouble is up.  There is no where to go since the lower chair bar is behind them and they are against the side panel with you approaching the front shoulder.

The side panes are just attached by a piece of hay string over a hook.  It was important to me that I be able to swing them away for easy access to the sheep from all points.   I unhook the sides to work on the sheep.
     

  Chair detail.  Note that the side rails slide along the top and bottom rails.  Nothing fancy, just an eye bolt.  This way the chair widens for big sheep and tightens down for wild and narrow lambs.  There's also some little wood stops to keep the chair bottom rail from hopping out of position.
     

  It's not a perfect solution.  I added a bar at the back of the chair so once a sheep moves into that part of the sheep I drop the rail so they can't backup.  Also, twirly lambs are quite good at turning around and being generally uncooperative.  It works best for the great big greedy ewes and rams.  They move right up to the bucket and are not nimble enough to avoid being flipped.

The basic concept is to allow the sheep to move into position by themselves.  You may be able to move them in from the side on a regular chair.  My design reflects my ideas coupled with whatever supplies I could find in my shop.
     

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©2004-2006 Maria Amodei