What is the best way to restrain or get horned sheep on the ground?

Keep in mind, I am slightly petite and I do this alone.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), September 26, 2000

Answers

Hey from NM, R. I'm 5'2" & weigh about 120; most of my goats don't weigh over 80# & my sheep are probably around 100# (but I do have a Saanen wether that tips the scales at nearly 200#). Don't know how big your ram is, but if there are two people there, one person can steady him by the horns while the other grabs the two legs on one side and yank for all you're worth till he's end-over-end, then set him on his butt. They might fidgit a bit, but they can't do a lot in that position; mine turn into rag dolls. If it's just you by yourself, then get him in a corner and do it. Sometimes it's a struggle, but I don't think you can hurt him. I'm a novice at this myself, but I've done it. Good luck.

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), September 26, 2000.

If you don't want your sheep on its butt, but need it to be laying on the ground try this: Get a rope around its horns and tie its head down low on a post. Reach under its body and grab the front and rear leg farthest from you, grab them just above the "ankles". Then, stand up while pushing your chest into the sheep. You might end up on top of the sheep on the ground, but it works and you wont get gored.

If you can get the sheep on it's butt it sure does make them calm, they just seem to go limp.

-- Julie (julieamc@excite.com), September 26, 2000.

I've never tried it with sheep, but have felled buck goats with horns many times this way. Standing on one side of the animal,bend over,grasp the two legs that are closest to where you are standing, and pull. The sheep or goat will fall slowly against you, before it gets up,kneel on it's neck or head. The advantage of this is that it gives you more control,and you don't knock the wind out of the animal. It also never gets a chance to run off before you can keep it there!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), September 26, 2000.

I have sheep, horned as well as polled. I get them down all the same way. Put your left thumb in sheeps mouth, back of incisor teeth and place other hand on sheeps right hip. Bend sheep's head toward her left shoulder and swing sheep toward you and lower sheep to the ground as you step back. You can set them up on rump for trimming feet or shearing or lay them flat. My sheepshearer showed me this and it is also shown in Raising Sheep The Modern Way by Paula Simmons, an excellent book by the way and sold in Countrysides book dept. ate

-- Kate Henderson (sheeplady@catskill.net), September 27, 2000.

As far as restraint when you get them down, MidStates Woolgrowers sells a dandy gizmo called a gambrel but I've seen it in other places, too. It looks like a W and you put the middle over the back of the critter's neck with a foreleg in each of the V's. It doesn't matter how big the beast is, it can't get up although one of my ewes managed to get her hindfeet under herself and scooted along a few feet. She didn't go very far or very fast and gave up quickly. They aren't expensive but really work well when you don't have a second pair of hands.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), September 27, 2000.

Marilyn, what a great product! I always have to do stuff with my sheep by myself, and while the thumb behind the incisors works, I have never done it WELL. Do you have contact info for Midstates? Thanks!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), September 27, 2000.

Thank you everyone for your answers. I did buy one of those gambrels, but haven't used it yet. First I have to get the sheep on the ground. These sheep intimidate me more than my horned cattle! Of course, being butted by the ram on the second day didn't help any. I know my cattle are afraid of me and will leave when I get close, but these sheep don't so much and the ram comes up to be petted. I don't like that. I would rather they run. One of them butted my dog too. So now I keep her away from the sheep.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), September 28, 2000.

Speaking of rams, some observations I have made: About getting butted; I always carry a length of black pvc pipe when I go in with any rams. Its a visual barrier and if I need to hit them on the nose, it doesn't do any damage( better than a 2x 4!)Also Premier Sheep Supply sells a neat looking ram shield that stops direct vision ahead and keeps rams from butting you or other sheep. Sort of like blinders on a horse I think. I haven't bought one, but am thinking about it. Contact them at www.premier1supplies.com or www.premiersheep.com. They have an excellent catalogue that is full of useful information as well. My old working Border Collie, Ben, died after getting butted by a ram against a gate last fall. He was 14 years old and getting hard of hearing and developing cataracts and didn't see the ram or hear me yelling until it was too late. I learned a hard lesson and now never let my dogs in an area where there are rams and no escape route for the dogs. In the fields I have no problems , but in a corral or pen, the dogs are at a disadvantage.Also my experience has been that a ram that has been handled and shown at fairs ends up far meaner than the others that receive little attention. I have a few wethers we keep for their wool and to keep a ram company in off breeding season...keeps the pens from getting destroyed and sheep are happier together anyway.

-- Kate Henderson (sheeplady@catskill.net), September 29, 2000.

I have found that rams, like all animals have distinct personalities. If you have a problem animal it is best to replace it with one more to your liking. In the meantime take a staff with you and as soon as there is a problem, like your ram buddy starts dropping his head, bring the staff up under his chin. They are not willing to ram with their heads in any position but down. It is instinct, keeps them from getting hurt when facing another ram. If you raise their heads they stop and try to move away. This buys you time. Once they decide to ram I've never seen them just give up on the idea. I've never heard of one being broken of this urge. They either do it or don't. If you are caught in the open with no protection, you must wait until the last second...step to either side...and grab him around the neck ... lifting his head gently,hoss him over to the gate and get out. Once you let go he backs up two steps and comes at you again, so be sure of your escape when you do. Yes this all comes from experience, nice big suffolk, aptly named Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mutton isn't bad if you know what to do with it. His replacement Benjamin used to give me the evil eye but we had this understanding.

-- Ed Weaver (edzreal@postmaster.co.uk), September 29, 2000.

dont hit them with anything, especially on the head. your sheep will 'butt' you because they are used to being petted or scratched on the top of their heads. DON'T!! try scratching under their chins only for a while, and see if behavior changes. they only seem to 'butt' because they want to have attention.

-- mike (mikenshannon@msn.com), September 20, 2001.