Stanchion! God bless you (sounds like a sneeze). What the heck is a stanchion?
Simply put, a stanchion is a device that will keep an animal in one place, while also allowing them to eat and drink while they’re being confined. That’s my definition. Dictionary.com says, “an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window, stall, ship, etc.” Wow, that isn’t really even close, but the upright bar part is important.
We are anxiously awaiting lambs from Daisy (almost assuredly twins, hopefully not triplets) and Dolly. Should one of them initially reject their lamb(s), the use of a stanchion can help solve the problem. If we can “immobilize” the mom, the lamb can get a shot at the teats, and after a few days (I guess) the bond will be created.
Louise emailed me photos and plans for the stanchion she uses, and this afternoon I put one together using material I fortunately had around the place – a sheet of 3/8″ plywood, an old metal mop handle (this is the “upright bar”), some U bolts to hold the bar in place, and some metal strips I have been using to make loops on the sides of jug panels through which rebar slides to hold them together.
The plywood is cut so its 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. In the middle I cut an 8 inch by 30 inch opening 6 inches up from the bottom edge. The ewe’s head goes through the hole, then we’ll slide the mop handle through the U bolts which are situated above and below the opening so that the 8 inch width is cut roughly in half. Her neck can fit in, but she can’t pull her had back out. Set it kitty corner in the jug, secure it to the wall/panel, and the ewe has a little space where we can give her food and water. Then we try to get the lamb on the teat for a couple days.
Stanchion
Peg and I had discussed how we might make a stanchion about a week ago. The one I made today is nothing like what I was envisioning, and I expect it will work way better. Louise comes through for us again.
Todd