Post by mummaducka on Feb 21, 2016 0:06:28 GMT -5
Thanks Tamara- i've been quite busy getting kids to boarding school and one to uni! plus mostly have been really sick with Haemophilus influenza-HIB which is making a resurgence along with whooping cough due to non vaccinators- but that's a whole other issue am finally feeling a bit more energized!
I wouldn't ever tie a cow to a fence post, you are quite right about her hurting herself in the wire. But a panel on your yards is a different story. A sturdy tree trunk should do the job too. Tie her when you feed her- do you have some pellets? Be sure to use a quick release knot so you just pull on the tail and the whole thing will come loose if she panics. Use the tree between you and her to hold her weight if she pulls. It's really hard to explain, but it's kinda like leverage. I have lead ropes attached to solid parts of my fence where i feed my girls. Gertie at first pulled quite a bit, but was always keen to eat, so that helped, now they go to their feeding points and get tethered for meals- they have to be either side of the gate or one on the yards but spread right out- otherwise bessie will pinch gerties feed! Lol
To teach to lead i used a little whippy thing to tap gertie on the rump ever so slightly. But a length of poly pipe would do the trick as well. I practised leading her morning and night for months and finished off with her having a biscuit of hay- Bessie was usually still eating so i had a bit of time. Gertie was dry so wasn't having a lot to eat, i used a few pellets to get her tethered then gave her a bit of a feed and then we practised leading. I found it most beneficial to have all the other calves and bessie contained away from her.
I also had various points in the paddock marked in my mind so that if she pulled i could get to a tree/ gate post and wrap the lead around it to take the weight until she calmed down. Once when i was leading her up the driveway i was told something by hubby that made me really cranky and i lost focus- well she pulled me up the side of the landcruiser and in through the rose garden. That day i injured a muscle in my hip that's taken about 8 months to heal! So try to keep your mind clear and focussed on happy things!
The best halters are the hamilton ones. I find them really strong and soft as well. I leave my halters on my girls as i am with them at least twice a day so would know if something caught them up. Here's where i got mine from
www.fmb.com.au/CatalogueRetrieve.aspx?ProductID=9611154&A=SearchResult&SearchID=7850485&ObjectID=9611154&ObjectType=27
They also make yearling and calf sized ones. They are really strong. Gertie was so strong and defiant initially that she broke two halters!! One was a horse one, which i thought would be stronger!
Now she leads very nicely and i usually just have the collar on her.
I wouldn't ever tie a cow to a fence post, you are quite right about her hurting herself in the wire. But a panel on your yards is a different story. A sturdy tree trunk should do the job too. Tie her when you feed her- do you have some pellets? Be sure to use a quick release knot so you just pull on the tail and the whole thing will come loose if she panics. Use the tree between you and her to hold her weight if she pulls. It's really hard to explain, but it's kinda like leverage. I have lead ropes attached to solid parts of my fence where i feed my girls. Gertie at first pulled quite a bit, but was always keen to eat, so that helped, now they go to their feeding points and get tethered for meals- they have to be either side of the gate or one on the yards but spread right out- otherwise bessie will pinch gerties feed! Lol
To teach to lead i used a little whippy thing to tap gertie on the rump ever so slightly. But a length of poly pipe would do the trick as well. I practised leading her morning and night for months and finished off with her having a biscuit of hay- Bessie was usually still eating so i had a bit of time. Gertie was dry so wasn't having a lot to eat, i used a few pellets to get her tethered then gave her a bit of a feed and then we practised leading. I found it most beneficial to have all the other calves and bessie contained away from her.
I also had various points in the paddock marked in my mind so that if she pulled i could get to a tree/ gate post and wrap the lead around it to take the weight until she calmed down. Once when i was leading her up the driveway i was told something by hubby that made me really cranky and i lost focus- well she pulled me up the side of the landcruiser and in through the rose garden. That day i injured a muscle in my hip that's taken about 8 months to heal! So try to keep your mind clear and focussed on happy things!
The best halters are the hamilton ones. I find them really strong and soft as well. I leave my halters on my girls as i am with them at least twice a day so would know if something caught them up. Here's where i got mine from
www.fmb.com.au/CatalogueRetrieve.aspx?ProductID=9611154&A=SearchResult&SearchID=7850485&ObjectID=9611154&ObjectType=27
They also make yearling and calf sized ones. They are really strong. Gertie was so strong and defiant initially that she broke two halters!! One was a horse one, which i thought would be stronger!
Now she leads very nicely and i usually just have the collar on her.