Sweep gate hinge

[midhilldexters]

Doing some research and looking for a sweep gate hinge, but not having much luck. Pretty sure that's what it would be called. It's for pushing your animals into a lane or alley that would lead to your chute.
Not sure if I can buy the hinge on its own to make my own set up.

Carol K

[dexterfarm]

how would that be different than a regular gate hinge? Ours have a pretty wide swing to them as long as you dont mount them on to big of a post.

[midhilldexters]

Don't think mounted on a small post they would be strong enough to do the intended job.

Carol K

[legendrockranch]

Carol, sent you pictures of our set up. Would have posted them here but just didn't want to take up anymore space on the forum.

Barb

[Dahdo]

Barb, can you send them to me too? I'm working on an upgrade to our handling area that includes a crowding pen/sweep gate.

Carol, I am looking at some heavy duty double strap hinges. They have a hinge pin that screws into the post just like those on a metal farm gate, but they have straps that bolt through the wood sweep gate. I'll try and post a link to a photo.

[midhilldexters]

Thanks Barb got them. Yes Dave would like to see that also, thanks.

Carol K

[zephyrhillsusan]

legendrockranch, if you'll send me the photos I can upload them onto my Imgur account and post them here with the photo sharing; it doesn't take up forum space, and it might be helpful for others looking at this post--and save you emailing all of us!

[legendrockranch]

Thank you Susan I really appreciate it. Feel free to pick and choose what pictures to use.

Barb

[zephyrhillsusan]

Here are Barb's pens.  legendrockranch, if you'll explain in a post below, by number, I'll copy your explanations by each number above the photo to make the "tour" more thorough.  

1)  is inside the working area. The animals come in through a very wide alley way (which isn't shown) to the left. Behind me is a covered area. There are 4 pens that we sort the animals into before we start working them.
Squeeze chute is in the center leaving enough room for a person on each side of the chute if needed. To the left of the chute you see a gate that is closed, that is the start of our tub with the sweep gate. We open the gate let an animals in. Roughly after 1 panel you will see the start of our sweep gate.



2)  shows basically the same thing but you can see the solid sides on the alley way.



3)  shows the covered area I spoke about earlier. We use this area for sorting of the animals before we start working them. Calves might go in one pen, cows in another, any for preg checks etc. There are gates in all of them so animals can be moved from one pen to another. We also sometimes use this area for calving. LOVE it because it is covered. Behind the pens is another alley way that leads to the barn which has an inside/outside pens and a long run.



4)  To the far right you see a solid sided loading cattle area. A little explanation is needed here. Once the cattle go through the tub towards the alley way we had another area made with a solid gate inside. Picture a Y we can choose whether the animal goes to the squeeze chute or to the loading (trailer) area by opening or closing the gate. The loading area inside is made into a ramp. So cattle can just walk straight in without having to jump in.
The vet when he comes backs right up to the panels, there are two gates that open up leading directly to the squeeze chute. Behind the squeeze chute itself you will see another small door, that is easy access for palpations, or checking anything in the back of the animal including the scrotum of a bull.



5)  most of the working area.



6)  most of the working area.



7)



8)  is the "upper" part that Carol wanted to see, calling a hinge.



9)  is the end part of the sweep gate, not sure what they call it. When your closing the sweep pushing an animal toward the alley way, sometimes they just don't want to go an will turn around. This piece will prevent the gate from moving back keeping you safe.



10)  is the bottom hinge to the sweep gate.



11) is the bottom hinge to the sweep gate.



12)   is the end part of the sweep gate, not sure what they call it. When your closing the sweep pushing an animal toward the alley way, sometimes they just don't want to go an will turn around. This piece will prevent the gate from moving back keeping you safe.

I love our working area but there would be changes I would make or add to it. It would be fully covered, so if you are working animals you don’t have the sun or rain beating down on you.
My neighbor has his working area inside of his barn! As I also mentioned earlier we would have solid sides to the grougd on the tub area and the alley way so cattle can’t stop and look under for a way to get out. There is a space I don’t care for just after the alleyway where the squeeze chute meets, calves try and weaney their way through it if we’re not pushing them fast enough. We never have that problem with the cows. Just so you know, we work one animal at a time, I hate seeing animals that are packed in like sardines. That’s when things can go wrong.
If you do decide to get a squeeze chute make sure it has a full side opening. Sometimes fat pregnant cows can not go through the head catch, so we have to open up the side to release them. Same holds true is your bull is on the large side.

Barb

Read more: dextercattle.proboards.com/thread/4574/sweep-gate-hinge#ixzz3ajdyXfcp

I just wish you had the rain beating down on you all the time!

[midhilldexters]

Here is something from NZ that is similar to what I was trying to describe.

www.teparidirect.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=149


Carol K

[legendrockranch]

A BIG thank you Susan

Picture 1, is inside the working area. The animals come in through a very wide alley way (which isn't shown) to the left. Behind me is a covered area. There are 4 pens that we sort the animals into before we start working them.
Squeeze chute is in the center leaving enough room for a person on each side of the chute if needed. To the left of the chute you see a gate that is closed, that is the start of our tub with the sweep gate. We open the gate let an animals in. Roughly after 1 panel you will see the start of our sweep gate.

Picture 2, shows basically the same thing but you can see the solid sides on the alley way.

Picture 3, shows the covered area I spoke about earlier. We use this area for sorting of the animals before we start working them. Calves might go in one pen, cows in another, any for preg checks etc. There are gates in all of them so animals can be moved from one pen to another. We also sometimes use this area for calving. LOVE it because it is covered. Behind the pens is another alley way that leads to the barn which has an inside/outside pens and a long run.

Picture 4, To the far right you see a solid sided loading cattle area. A little explanation is needed here. Once the cattle go through the tub towards the alley way we had another area made with a solid gate inside. Picture a Y we can choose whether the animal goes to the squeeze chute or to the loading (trailer) area by opening or closing the gate. The loading area inside is made into a ramp. So cattle can just walk straight in without having to jump in.
The vet when he comes backs right up to the panels, there are two gates that open up leading directly to the squeeze chute. Behind the squeeze chute itself you will see another small door, that is easy access for palpations, or checking anything in the back of the animal including the scrotum of a bull.

Pictures 5 & 6 most of the working area.

Picture 8, is the "upper" part that Carol wanted to see, calling a hinge.

Picture 9 & 12 is the end part of the sweep gate, not sure what they call it. When your closing the sweep pushing an animal toward the alley way, sometimes they just don't want to go an will turn around. This piece will prevent the gate from moving back keeping you safe.

Pictures 10 & 11 is the bottom hinge to the sweep gate.

I love our working area but there would be changes I would make or add to it. It would be fully covered, so if you are working animals you don’t have the sun or rain beating down on you.
My neighbor has his working area inside of his barn! As I also mentioned earlier we would have solid sides to the grougd on the tub area and the alley way so cattle can’t stop and look under for a way to get out. There is a space I don’t care for just after the alleyway where the squeeze chute meets, calves try and weaney their way through it if we’re not pushing them fast enough. We never have that problem with the cows. Just so you know, we work one animal at a time, I hate seeing animals that are packed in like sardines. That’s when things can go wrong.
If you do decide to get a squeeze chute make sure it has a full side opening. Sometimes fat pregnant cows can not go through the head catch, so we have to open up the side to release them. Same holds true is your bull is on the large side.

Barb

[midhilldexters]

Thanks so much for providing all the pics Barb and to Susan for getting them up for us all to see.
Ok here is my question. On pic 11 the bottom hinge, what does that hinge sit on or float on? Something must stop it from falling to the ground and keep it in place? I'm presuming its the bottom hinge that does that? Hope I explained it right.

Carol K

[legendrockranch]

I sent Susan 2 more pictures, she's probably watching Survivor and wishing she'd never offer to help.

The new pictures show better how it works. There is a stop on the post that will not allow the piece to go down further. If you look closely at picture 10 you can see a piece of metal that sticks out just a tiny bit further than the circular hinge. This is welded directly to the post and does not move. This prevents the hinge from going down.
You explained it correctly I just hope you're able to understand what I'm saying. If Susan is able the new pictures will show it better.

Barb

[zephyrhillsusan]

No "Survivor"--never seen it! We had a meeting at church, then tried to watch "Friday Night Lights," but after the fourth time Netflix blinked out on us we gave up and watched an episode of "NYPD Blue." They've finally come out with the seasons following Season 4, so I bought several for Herb for his birthday. It took about 3 or 4 minutes each time for Netflix to reload "Friday Night Lights" because our internet is being VERY funky tonight! So I'll try to upload the photos in the morning.

[zephyrhillsusan]

Here they are.  Explanation above.  Feel free to explain more, legendrockranch.