Post by Andrew Ray on Aug 16, 2011 5:08:18 GMT -5
I've read through some of the "tree of knowledge" threads on tying out, and want to share my experience so far with tying out my cows:
Some people have said not to use chain, and I can see particularly how it can be bad if the cow is tangled and you need to cut it quick, but I don't understand what kind of chain is being used that causes cuts. I am using chain because at 600€ and 500€ each my cow and bull are pretty big investments that I don't want someone to easily be able to walk away with. When I was at the store I was considering the smaller chains, but asked the clerk what size of bolt cutters were required for different sizes of chain. I selected a chain which requires bolt cutters with 3 foot long handles to cut through, and then it still took the clerk serious effort to cut the chain with those. The links in my chain are about just shy of 1" x 2" and 1/2" thick.
Each cow gets a 25' section where one end is padlocked around the neck (not tightly, just enough so it can't slip over the head and horns) and the other around a tree. This is a bit of a provisional system, and I also have some electric net fencing that I plan to put them in at times. Because of not really thinking things through ahead before getting the cow, I forgot that I intended to weld in the middle of the chains a steel swivel. In spite of this, I've had no problems with the chain getting wrapped around the legs, which I credit to the size of the chain. I suspect a smaller chain would more easily tangle. The cow is calmer and doesn't usually twist the chain around anything, but the bull will get it tangled around brush and even somehow grass, but never around himself.
Swivels do make a big difference though, especially with rope which I use with the goats. When I started tying out the goats with rope I would be amazed at how rapidly they could tie their legs up with the rope and quickly bought swivels. Now I only have to be amazed at how they can tie the rope into very intricate knots around saplings. For the goats though I will be trying out a "wireless" radio pet fence when my mom brings it from America next week.
Some people have said not to use chain, and I can see particularly how it can be bad if the cow is tangled and you need to cut it quick, but I don't understand what kind of chain is being used that causes cuts. I am using chain because at 600€ and 500€ each my cow and bull are pretty big investments that I don't want someone to easily be able to walk away with. When I was at the store I was considering the smaller chains, but asked the clerk what size of bolt cutters were required for different sizes of chain. I selected a chain which requires bolt cutters with 3 foot long handles to cut through, and then it still took the clerk serious effort to cut the chain with those. The links in my chain are about just shy of 1" x 2" and 1/2" thick.
Each cow gets a 25' section where one end is padlocked around the neck (not tightly, just enough so it can't slip over the head and horns) and the other around a tree. This is a bit of a provisional system, and I also have some electric net fencing that I plan to put them in at times. Because of not really thinking things through ahead before getting the cow, I forgot that I intended to weld in the middle of the chains a steel swivel. In spite of this, I've had no problems with the chain getting wrapped around the legs, which I credit to the size of the chain. I suspect a smaller chain would more easily tangle. The cow is calmer and doesn't usually twist the chain around anything, but the bull will get it tangled around brush and even somehow grass, but never around himself.
Swivels do make a big difference though, especially with rope which I use with the goats. When I started tying out the goats with rope I would be amazed at how rapidly they could tie their legs up with the rope and quickly bought swivels. Now I only have to be amazed at how they can tie the rope into very intricate knots around saplings. For the goats though I will be trying out a "wireless" radio pet fence when my mom brings it from America next week.