Post by AnnB (NE) on Aug 6, 2008 4:20:50 GMT -5
How do you deal with escapees?
Do you call the neighbors?
Run yourself ragged trying to catch an animal that isn't going to
let you within 20 feet?
Panic?
Cry?
Cuss?
All of the above?
Genie figured out tonight that this dry ground makes for a very weak electric fence, and of course the grass on the other side always looks better. Anyway I go out to feed the 2 heifers and the bull their alfalfa pellets and find that there is only 1 heifer and the bull in the pen. About that time, Genie bellowed and I saw her go across the road into the neighbor's corn field. I was devastated, I was sure there wasn't a chance of getting her back tonight. The corn is so tall she could live in there until harvest and not be seen, a creek runs through it too. I ended up driving the dirt road, hoping to see her in the headlights, and finally, there she was, and thank goodness she was on our side of the road. I purposefully spooked her so that she would move further onto our property, and she disappeared into our woods at a run.
I came back to the house, smoked a cigarette, cried a bit, cussed a lot, then went back out with the flashlight and there the little hussy was -- about 60 yards from the driveway, almost a 1/4 mile from where I'd last seen her just 15 minutes before! Made me wonder if she'd actually followed the truck back.
So, since she was acting like a goof (scared of the flashlight), I
decided to try bringing her foster mother out, even though she's
been weaned for over a year. She joined right up with the old cow and walked right into the escape-proof corral. I was soooo relieved!
So now it's off to bed, and hope that no one wants me before noon!
Ann B
Do you call the neighbors?
Run yourself ragged trying to catch an animal that isn't going to
let you within 20 feet?
Panic?
Cry?
Cuss?
All of the above?
Genie figured out tonight that this dry ground makes for a very weak electric fence, and of course the grass on the other side always looks better. Anyway I go out to feed the 2 heifers and the bull their alfalfa pellets and find that there is only 1 heifer and the bull in the pen. About that time, Genie bellowed and I saw her go across the road into the neighbor's corn field. I was devastated, I was sure there wasn't a chance of getting her back tonight. The corn is so tall she could live in there until harvest and not be seen, a creek runs through it too. I ended up driving the dirt road, hoping to see her in the headlights, and finally, there she was, and thank goodness she was on our side of the road. I purposefully spooked her so that she would move further onto our property, and she disappeared into our woods at a run.
I came back to the house, smoked a cigarette, cried a bit, cussed a lot, then went back out with the flashlight and there the little hussy was -- about 60 yards from the driveway, almost a 1/4 mile from where I'd last seen her just 15 minutes before! Made me wonder if she'd actually followed the truck back.
So, since she was acting like a goof (scared of the flashlight), I
decided to try bringing her foster mother out, even though she's
been weaned for over a year. She joined right up with the old cow and walked right into the escape-proof corral. I was soooo relieved!
So now it's off to bed, and hope that no one wants me before noon!
Ann B