Always move sheep slowly, calmly, and quietly. Do not allow splinter groups to develop. To move individual sheep, hold the sheep under its jaw and push its dock ("go-button"). Small numbers of sheep can be halter-broken for ease of moving and handling.
Fences, gateways, gates and all facilities used to handle sheep must be constructed and maintained to reduce the risk of injury. Sheep must not be lifted off the ground by only one leg, or by the head, ears, horns, neck, tail or wool, unless in an emergency.
7) If the worst happens and you're cornered by one of these vicious predators you have a split second to react. Try to make yourself look as large as possible by standing on your tiptoes and raising your arms above your head. Shout loudly, but do not shout “mint sauce”.
A shepherd's crook is a long and sturdy stick with a hook at one end, often with the point flared outwards, used by a shepherd to manage and sometimes catch sheep. In addition, the crook may aid in defending against attack by predators.
It is easy when they are in the barn, where you can have a pen set up. When they are on pasture, you can push them in a corner of a grazing cell or build a pen with an electric netting in that corner, where you can catch a sheep easier.
Sheep tend to be very easy keepers. Most do well with a three-sided pasture shelter.
Rotational grazing
Once one field has been grazed, livestock are moved to a new patch of grass. The first field is then rested and the sward is given time to regenerate. Some farmers have a rotational grazing pattern of one to two weeks. Others opt for a more intense approach – moving livestock every few days.
Sheep are not difficult animals to raise; however, they do require a higher level of management than beef cattle.
On average, the sheep that were studied lay down for around 12 to 13 hours a day, with those kept indoors lying for a little longer than those outside.
If shearing in autumn then all sheep should be crutched in late winter, a couple of weeks before lambing is due. A pre-lambing crutching coincides with removing wool from around the udder to reduce the risk of udder strike and makes suckling easier.
Crouch behind the sheep, bend your knees, take the weight on your knees and hold it firmly. Stand up using your legs (not your back) and lift the sheep off the ground. Swing the sheep towards the top of the fence, boosting it with your leg.
Sheep are highly social animals. They like to be around other sheep they're familiar with and find it stressful to be isolated from their flock.
Sheep shearing is the process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. The person who removes the sheep's wool is called a shearer. Typically each adult sheep is shorn once each year (depending upon dialect, a sheep may be said to have been "shorn", "sheared" or "shore" (in Australia)).
Sheep are frightened by sudden loud noises, such as yelling or barking. In response to loud noises and other unnatural sounds, sheep become nervous and more difficult to handle.
Again, because of their instinct to stay close together sheep will move toward another sheep or a perceived friend. Often times a friend can be a person, particularly if the person feeds the sheep. By using this instinct, shepherds have controlled sheep movement for centuries.
Signs that a sheep is uncomfortable include: Loud vocalizations as you approach. Lightly to moderately pawing at the ground or stomping (can indicate anxiety or irritation) Arching their body.