6 Best Sheep Drench Guns For Accurate Dosing That Old Shepherds Trust
Ensure precise medication for your flock. Our guide reviews the top 6 drench guns for accurate dosing, trusted by experienced shepherds for years.
There are few jobs on the farm less glamorous than drenching sheep, but there are even fewer that are more important for their well-being. A good drench gun isn’t just a convenience; it’s a critical tool for delivering accurate, life-saving medication. The right one feels like an extension of your hand, while the wrong one can lead to wasted medicine, stressed animals, and persistent health problems.
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Why Accurate Drenching Protects Your Flock Health
Under-dosing is the fastest way to breed superworms on your pasture. When you don’t give a sheep the full, correct amount of dewormer, you kill off the weakest parasites but leave the strongest ones to reproduce, creating a resistant population that becomes nearly impossible to treat. This isn’t a theoretical problem; it’s a real threat that can render your pastures and your treatments useless over time.
On the other flip side, over-dosing is just throwing money away and can be toxic to the animal. Many drenches have a narrow margin of safety, especially for lambs or ewes in early gestation. An accurate drench gun ensures every animal gets exactly what it needs—no more, no less. This protects your flock’s health, your wallet, and the long-term effectiveness of the medications you rely on.
Prima Tech 70ml Drench Gun: The All-Round Workhorse
If you walk into a hundred barns, you’ll find a Prima Tech drench gun in ninety of them. There’s a reason for that. It’s durable, reliable, and straightforward to use, making it the perfect all-rounder for a small to medium-sized flock with mixed-age animals. The dose is simple to adjust with a dial, and it holds that setting securely, even after drenching dozens of sheep.
The Prima Tech’s design is a smart balance between robust construction and user comfort. It’s not as heavy as an all-metal gun, but it’s far tougher than cheap plastic alternatives. It draws fluid smoothly and delivers it consistently, which is exactly what you need when you’re working through the flock one by one in the handling chute. It’s the kind of tool you buy once and, with proper care, can expect to use for a decade or more.
NJ Phillips Metal Drencher: A Tool Built to Last
The NJ Phillips is what your grandfather probably used, and for good reason. These things are built like tanks. Made almost entirely of metal, they have a heft and precision that plastic guns just can’t replicate. When you hold one, you can feel the quality of the engineering. It’s an investment, but it’s often the last drench gun a shepherd ever needs to buy.
The main advantage here is unmatched durability and long-term accuracy. The metal components don’t warp or wear like plastic, meaning the dose you set is the dose you get, year after year. While heavier than other options, that weight provides stability and a positive feel during use. For the shepherd who values buying tools for life and demands absolute precision, the Phillips is the undisputed champion.
Simcro Premium 30ml Gun for Thicker Medications
Not all drenches are created equal. Some, like propylene glycol for preventing ketosis in late-gestation ewes or certain mineral supplements, are thick and viscous. Trying to administer these with a standard drench gun can be a frustrating exercise in clogs, drips, and inaccurate doses. This is where the Simcro gun shines.
Its design features a larger valve system and a robust piston that can handle thicker liquids without failing. The action is smooth, preventing the sudden "jerk" that can happen with other guns, which is less stressful for the sheep and your hands. If you find yourself regularly administering anything thicker than a standard dewormer, having a specialized gun like the Simcro in your toolkit saves an immense amount of time and ensures those critical nutrients are actually delivered.
Allflex Repeater Syringe for Lambs and Small Doses
Deliver precise, adjustable medication with this 50ML semi-automatic syringe. Features include a luer-lock tip for secure needle attachment and adjustable dosage from 1-5ML.
Drenching a 200-pound ewe and a 40-pound lamb are two completely different jobs. Using a large 70ml drench gun to deliver a 2ml dose to a lamb is imprecise and clumsy. The Allflex Repeater Syringe, fitted with a proper drench nozzle, is the perfect tool for this delicate work. It allows you to set very small, precise doses and deliver them quickly and accurately.
This tool is a multi-tasker, which is a huge bonus on a hobby farm. With a needle, it’s your go-to for vaccinations like CD&T. With a drench nozzle, it’s ideal for oral supplements like selenium or initial lamb dewormers. Its lightweight design and fast, repeatable action make processing a group of lambs far less of a chore, ensuring each one gets the exact small dose it requires for a healthy start.
HSW Drench-Matic for Large Flock Efficiency
Once your flock grows beyond 30 or 40 head, the time spent refilling a standard drench gun starts to add up. The HSW Drench-Matic, with its tube-fed, self-filling system, is a game-changer for efficiency. You simply drop the feed tube into your medication bottle or a backpack reservoir, and the gun automatically refills after each dose.
This system dramatically speeds up the process and reduces animal handling time. You can work through a line of sheep in the chute without ever stopping to measure and refill, which lowers stress for everyone involved. While the initial cost is higher, the time saved and the consistent accuracy it provides make it a worthwhile investment for any shepherd managing a larger hobby flock. It turns a long afternoon’s work into a quick morning task.
Agri-Pro Plastic Drencher: A Lightweight Option
Sometimes, you just need a simple, functional tool that gets the job done without a big price tag. The Agri-Pro plastic drencher is exactly that. It’s an affordable, lightweight option that is perfect for the new shepherd, someone with only a handful of sheep, or as a reliable backup to keep in the medicine cabinet.
The trade-off is durability. It won’t stand up to the same level of abuse as a metal Phillips or a heavy-duty Prima Tech, and its accuracy may drift slightly after a few seasons of heavy use. However, for occasional drenching, it’s perfectly adequate. Its light weight also makes it easy to handle, which can be a real benefit if you’re working alone or have smaller hands.
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Drenching Equipment
The best drench gun in the world is useless if it’s clogged with old medication. Proper cleaning is not optional; it’s essential for accuracy and tool longevity. The moment you finish drenching, your first step should be to run clean water through the gun until it comes out clear. This prevents the drench from drying and seizing the internal parts.
After the initial rinse, disassemble the gun according to its instructions. Wash all the parts in warm, soapy water, using a small brush to clean the barrel and nozzle thoroughly. Once dry, lubricate the O-ring or washer with a small amount of silicone lubricant or even vegetable oil. This keeps the rubber supple and ensures a smooth action and a proper seal. Storing a clean, lubricated gun will guarantee it’s ready and accurate the next time you need it.
Happy Belly Soybean Oil is a light-tasting and versatile cooking oil, perfect for frying and everyday use. This cholesterol-free oil contains 14g total fat per serving.
Choosing a drench gun is about more than just convenience; it’s a direct investment in the health of your flock and the sustainability of your farm. Whether it’s a lifetime metal tool or an efficient tube-fed system, the right gun makes a hard job easier and ensures your animals get the precise care they need. A reliable tool you can trust is one of the cornerstones of good shepherding.
