Corral designs for sorting calves off cows

[Blaithin]

Don’t leave them free feed, start feeding times so they come in when you’re there, feeding. Might have to catch them in batches.

Probably end up with one in the herd that never comes in and ends up being a grandfathered in replacement just because you can’t get it out. Ever.

If they like the food enough and it’s not a giant pasture it shouldn’t take them more than a week to realize your arrival means food.

[burnt]

Lots of great ideas here... thanks! I have tried the creep panel, but calves tend to come back out before I get it closed off.

Any ideas for how to make any of these ideas work when there is just 1 person?

Then you've likely discovered that once they are onto your plan, they get kinda skittish PDQ.

Not nice watching a smash of calves all trying to jam thru the creep gate at once. Been there done that.

Only thing that might work for the creep gate idea is like Blaithin said - limit feed and then try to sneak up and drop the main gate. Depending on your setup, that may not be an option.

Works good here since the creep gate is in the barn and I can get around behind the barn wall to swing the outer gate shut.

[Blaithin]

How wild is your herd? Mine are like sloths so I don’t have an issue with wild calves. If your herd is still in pasture mode and not dopey winter mode then whenever you go feed them, take 5-10 minutes and walk around and through them.

Can help erase suspicious minds and make shutting gates easier. If your cows don’t care about you, the calves quickly won’t.