How much chain

[Rod]

How long a chain are oxen folks carrying for general work? And what kind of hooks, grab on one end and slip on the other?

[Carl Russell]

Rod, I use a bitch link ( key eye grab) on the staple with the ring. Then I have a chain that extends to a stride’s length at the heel (walking easily without clipping the heels), which also has a bitch link at the end. These links have a ring built into them, as well as a grab, then I have whatever I need to go over a hook, pin, or to grab a chain. Then when I’m logging I use the same choker chains that I use the rest of the time. This way I never have to change the length of the working chain. I do have enough extra though (about a foot)in case the chain needs to be lengthened or played with for some reason. Carl

[Rod]

Hi Carl
Do you use any type of chain protector to keep the chain from rubbing the animals legs?

[Carl Russell]

Rod, I found an old Cloth-type fire hose years ago in a barn sale or auction or something, and I cut about 3-4 feet of that and slip it over the chain back by the heels. It seems to hold up for quite a while, and it is flexible enough that I can coil the chain around the tops of the bows on top of the yoke to carry it when we’re not pulling something. Carl

[Howie]

I grew up with a bitch link having two eyes so you used it to fasten two chains together. The link that you are talking about we called a chain harp.
I use a 10 foot chain with a grab hook in one end and a harp in the other. There is also a harp along with a ring in the yoke. In the woods I prefer a pole about eight feet long with a harp on the end.

[Vicki]

I like a calabash ring on my yoke, or I’ve used a grab hook on the yoke, in addition to the ring. I like a chain 10′ to 12′; my oxen are rather small. Usually a grab on one end, slip on other. For pulling logs, I usually bring a 3′ length to put on the log(s)that has a ring or slip on one end–maybe this is what you call a choker chain?–then I don’t need to adjust the working chain. Like Howie, and because I learned from him, I use a pole often, especially with a sled or scoot.

[Author]

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