The "Premier" Fiberglass Crook
Product Details
This fiberglass crook is light and strong—so it's "quick" to use even in relatively weak hands.
Benefits:
- Quickly catches lambs and kids
- Can close gates
- Easily lifts newborns out of pens
- Sorts rams from ewes
- Guides livestock through handling yards
- Use as an easily seen pointing device
Which crook is right for you?
Each crook has their benefits. No shepherd is complete without a crook in hand, they save time and command the flock. Visit this link to compare all crook options.Specs
- 53"L
- Neck opening: 4-3/4"
- Top is a tough molded plastic that holds its shape and rarely breaks.
- Shaft is durable, coated fiberglass. Unlike aluminum, it does not bend or deform.
We also carry handcrafted crooks and walking sticks which make the perfect gift for any cane enthusiast.
Tips
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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Restraint and Control
Gambrel Restrainer, large
Item #811000 -Restrain and control sheep and goats of all sizes. Fits over the animals neck and locks their front legs in place.
$17.00 -
Restraint and Control
Restraint Cuff, small, 24 mm
Item #811030 -Strong clasp can contain any build of sheep and it comes in different sizes for your convenience.
$10.75 -
Restraint and Control
Restraint Cuff, large, 29 mm
Item #811032 -Strong clasp can contain any build of sheep and it comes in different sizes for your convenience.
$11.75 -
Crooks
Shepherd’s Dog Whistle
Item #818000 -A variable-pitched whistle to aid in livestock herding. Train and transmit commands to sheepdogs, gundogs and other working dog breeds.
$2.25 -
Books
Managing Pasture Book
Item #981015 -A complete guide on building healthy pasture for grass-based meat and dairy animals.
$30.00 -
Books
Pasture Management Guide
Item #984000 -The best modern guide we've seen by far. Highly recommended for all Midwest shepherds who pasture sheep.
$18.00
Write a Review
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Peter P from New Hampshire
I purchased a Premier crook after owning a Colroy crook for 7-8 years. This crook did not last a year before the shaft splintered / bent in the middle like a noodle. So I purchased another Colroy crook 3-4 years ago and found that the newer ones had changed and were also thin wall fiberglass, weighing less and very similar to the Premier crook. That 2nd one had the head came loose after about a year of use. Now I use the aluminum red coat hook which bent several times rather easily but it does bend back. Not so pretty but functional for 5-6 years so far. The Premier crook, I repaired by mixing some epoxy and poured some down the shaft from the bottom and stuck a 3/8 fiberglass fence rod down inside. Then added more epoxy. It weighs a bit more but stiffened up the damage area, so it does work. The cheapened Colroy got the top of the shaft cut down 2 inches and I reattached the hook end and it makes a good walking stick.
The Colroy looks like it's been discontinued. Built to the original specs, they were well made and did last a while.
Christopher G from Wisconsin
I found this crook was too lightweight for my Polypays, and didn't hold up, at least not in cold weather. Its light weight makes it faster for catching small lambs than a clunky hickory one, but if you're going to try to catch grown ewes, I'd recommend a heavier crook.
Nathan G from West Virginia
I bought a Colroy crook from Premier a few years ago that looks just like this Premier brand crook.
I'm assuming the "Premier" fiberglass crook is either the Colroy that was sold by Premier for many years or a "knock-off" of it, due to the Colroy getting too pricy.
For decades we used wooden neck crooks from feed stores. They're way too heavy and the neck opening for them tends to be too big to get a good "hold" on sheep.
Heavy weight wooden crooks swing slowly. Even in a "catch" pen, where most catching should be done. A ewe darting around to evade a crook can inadvertently hurt herself in panic by the time a clumsy hook finally connects.
The Colroy, like the Premier crook shown here, is dull black, the best color--sheep are slower at detecting its presence than brightly colored or light-colored wooden crooks.
My fiberglass Colroy crook also broke off at the juncture of shaft and hook, but it was after 3 years of hard use.
Annoying? Yes. But it cost me about $10 a year and saved me a lot of time.
When the crook broke, the ram (about 300 lbs.) got away and then was crook-spooked helping spook the rest of his pen-mates. My clumsy wooden back-up didn't help matters.
Incidentally, I occasionally need a leg crook, so I attached Premier's cast aluminum crook head to the "tail end" of the Colroy crook I bought. It worked great and is till attached to the good end of the now frazzled and headless Colroy handle.
If I get time, I'll write details about how I did that in a review of the cast aluminum leg crook.
Premier products and personnel are innovative, helpful and always a pleasure to deal with.
Nathan Griffith, editor
Sheep! Magazine
Brett P from Michigan
I really liked this crook ... right up until the shaft collapsed when a ewe put a little too much strain on it. Then it was pretty useless except on newly born lambs. We had to go back to using the aluminum crook. I agree with Martin S. that the shaft needs to be reinforced.
Brett P.
William K from Washington
I had a similar experience as Martin S. Interestingly enough with one of my "wilder" Katahdins, those girls can generate a lot of force when they get up to speed. The shaft on my crook collapsed, fortunately I had the metal crook as a back up and was able to get the ewe into the lambing shed in time for a successful birth. If I had not had the back up crook things could have gone very badly. I'm not sure what the comment about not using it as a "pry bar" is all about. I hook a ewe, move up the shaft until I can straddle the animal and put a belly band on her so I can move her. If there is a better way to accomplish this task I'd be grateful to learn it.
