Orphan Headgate
Enables orphan lambs to nurse from another ewe. Because the ewe is not able see or smell the lamb, she lets it nurse. Often, after 3 days, ewes will accept the lamb(s).
California Residents: Proposition 65 Information
Specs
- 36" tall
- 1-1/2" deep
- 46" wide unfolded
- Folds down to 6" wide for easy storage
- Space for ewe's neck adjusts (3 widths) with movable pin
- Hot-dip galvanized (should not rust unless left in wet manure)
- Fits into existing lambing pens with 2 connecting pins (not included)
- Approximate wall thickness is 2-3mm depending on size of square tubing
Installation
- Place orphan headgate in corner of pen.
- If using wire panels in the pen, have the orphan headgate so that the connectors are sticking through the wire panels. Slide a connecting pin (not included) into each connector. If using wood pens, just wire the headgate to the sides of the pen.
- Adjust width of headgate to fit ewe's neck.
Precautions
Listed below are recommended optional components or related items. Your particular situation may require alternative recommendations. Please call and talk to our consultants if there are any questions at 800-282-6631.
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Handling Equipment
Ground Rod and/or Connecting Pin, 3'
Item #151200 -Effectively ground energizers or firmly secure handling equipment. Galvanized pin is resilient to rust and wear.
$8.00 -
Lambing and Kidding Aids
Tooth File
Item #558210 -For filing the teeth of sharp-toothed lambs and goat kids. Smooths the tips of “needle-like” teeth to prevent dams from rejecting their offspring.
$27.00 -
Handling Equipment
Linking Stake
Item #917800 -Linking stake for connecting panels, gates, chutes of sheep and goat handling or feeding systems.
$11.30 -
Handling Equipment
40" x 48" Welded Wire Panel, 4" holes
Item #964700 -Sturdy, hot-dip galvanized wire panels are great for lambing and kidding pens, gates, fence lines and many other projects. 1/4 in. dia. rods. 4"x4" spacings.
$67.00
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Kim A from New York
Head gate was easy to assemble (once we had the correct parts) and works as expected. Have already successfully bonded first lamb this year, within 24 hours—no bottle lambs so far!
The reason we’ve given a 3-star rating was that the package arrived damaged and with the nuts and bolts mssing. We contacted Premier and a single replacement bolt was sent, which was both the wrong size and not 4, as required. We needed to use the the headgate, so bought the bolts ourselves. The whole process was time consuing and unhelpful when you’re in the middle of lambing season. We go to Premier becasue we expect (and have usually found) good service and were disappointed this time.
Karen C from Michigan
Received headgate quickly. Ewe did not kick her lamb away when we held her for nursing. However she is strong and multiple times a day was hurting us. (Lamb had scours so bad it had to be cleaned off, and so the rejection.)
Headgate was easy to assemble. Sturdy despite ewe’s initial efforts to escape. We used unistrut and 90° brackets for pins to attach to wood. This jug is part of a unused horse stall. Worked great in the corner. Enough room for bucket of water and hay. Kept her there for 6 days. Lamb could go by her neck and chew on her hay a bit. We let her out and watched.
To our amazement it worked. She acted normal. All is well and we are very happy.
Phillip G from South Carolina
After using a homemade head gate, I decided to get something more robust and more ergonomically designed. I love this design because it ensures momma has enough room for hay and water—especially if you place it in the corner of a pen. I think the method of locking onto the panels is excellent and simple.
I love this design more than homemade versions made of wood because there is no way for a ewe to get rubbed raw or splinters in her neck.
Definitely a tremendous deal for what it does. Do yourself a favor and get one of these to avoid the costly loss of orphaned lambs and/or bottle feeding! It’s amazing how grafting and forced acceptance can work.
Kylee K from New Mexico
This item did not live up to Premier 1’s typical high standards.
I ordered this grafting gate in April 2022. It was delivered promptly, and the box did not appear to be damaged upon arrival. Despite that the gate was barely intact. The two solid side panels are held onto the frame by rivets and upon arrival only most of the rivets were either missing, broken, or improperly installed. There were exactly four intact rivets on the right side, out of approximately 18 drilled holes and the other side was just as bad. Thankfully I did have a selection of rivets and a rivet gun at my disposal in order to fix the panels. The frame of the gate is sturdy and held up to the 180lbs horned boer doe without issue for the few days that we kept her in the gate. Overall I can’t say I would recommend this gate, especially if you’re not able to repair the side panels upon arrival.
Sherry C from Texas
We finally decided to order this in advance of lambing season after years of deliberation. Sadly the unit we received was very poorly made and we ended up returning it. The hinges were very loose so that one side panel moved up and down contributing to the already large gap under the head opening. With our smaller breed a lamb could easily get caught in the gap and both ewe and lamb could get pinched in the hinge barrel. The frame is sturdy but the panels are poorly welded and there were several gaps and sharp points that would need filing down. For the price, the quality was not as expected. A head gate is something you hope not to need but if you do, you should have confidence that it won’t cause further harm. Sadly we did not and the product was returned.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to