Post by Lannie on Jan 23, 2021 8:46:24 GMT -5
Update: Morgaine is now visiting the bull.
I wasn't sure it was going to happen, because I wrenched my knee (again!) and can barely hobble. I have to have one of Rich's canes with me in case it gives out. The long and short of it is, I couldn't get behind her to herd her into the little holding cell near the open trailer.
Oh, funny bit: As soon as Rich brought the truck down to the corral, Cricket gave us the old hairy eyeball, put her head down, and marched off across the pasture to hide in the trees up on the hill. ("They're not getting ME back in that infernal box!") Morgaine and Helen went with her. Rich was worried, but I said, never fear, they're ruled by their stomachs, and we went ahead and hooked up to the trailer and got it into position. Then I went back in the barn to fetch some hay, which I put inside the corral panel pen in front of the open trailer. Then I called Morgaine. ROFL! She came busting out of the trees at a full gallop, followed by Helen, also running! They're SO predictable... Cricket waited a bit, but pretty soon I saw her peeking out from between the trees and she started cautiously coming down the hill. Meanwhile, Morgaine was first into the cow pen, so I shut the gate behind her, and tossed some hay outside the pen fence for Helen and Cricket.
Rich didn't want me to have to walk too much, so he told me to go stand by the trailer and call Morgaine, and he'd get behind her and herd her in, but she veered off at the last second (and now I must vent my spleen) so he THREW HIS WALKING STICK AT HER AND YELLED, which made her start running. Then I yelled at Rich! "Blankety-blankety-BLANK!!! DON'T MAKE HER RUN! DAMMIT!" I don't know how, after all these years, he CAN NOT figure out that a frightened cow is NOT going to meekly do what he says. Especially if he's THROWING SOMETHING AT HER!
OK, my spleen is vented and I feel better. I told Rich to go stand at the other (incoming) gate and just block her from leaving, and I continued to call her and picked up some of the hay so she could see it. It took about 30 seconds, but her stomach got the better of her and she walked right into the trap. I let her eat while I hobbled around behind her and pulled the open panel shut. There wasn't a lot of hay, so she finished it pretty quick, then a few snaps on the behind with the spanking stick and she was in the trailer. Easy-peasy.
I hope Helen loads as easily. I hope my knee is better by Monday! Monday is Helen's day.
Oh, I almost forgot, I stuck Morgaine with the hormone shot and slapped a patch on her while she was eating that bit of hay, and I don't think she even noticed. She twitched her skin for a few seconds after the needle-stick, but that was all the reaction I got from her. I guess it's really true, the less Jersey, the less drama! LOL!
I wasn't sure it was going to happen, because I wrenched my knee (again!) and can barely hobble. I have to have one of Rich's canes with me in case it gives out. The long and short of it is, I couldn't get behind her to herd her into the little holding cell near the open trailer.
Oh, funny bit: As soon as Rich brought the truck down to the corral, Cricket gave us the old hairy eyeball, put her head down, and marched off across the pasture to hide in the trees up on the hill. ("They're not getting ME back in that infernal box!") Morgaine and Helen went with her. Rich was worried, but I said, never fear, they're ruled by their stomachs, and we went ahead and hooked up to the trailer and got it into position. Then I went back in the barn to fetch some hay, which I put inside the corral panel pen in front of the open trailer. Then I called Morgaine. ROFL! She came busting out of the trees at a full gallop, followed by Helen, also running! They're SO predictable... Cricket waited a bit, but pretty soon I saw her peeking out from between the trees and she started cautiously coming down the hill. Meanwhile, Morgaine was first into the cow pen, so I shut the gate behind her, and tossed some hay outside the pen fence for Helen and Cricket.
Rich didn't want me to have to walk too much, so he told me to go stand by the trailer and call Morgaine, and he'd get behind her and herd her in, but she veered off at the last second (and now I must vent my spleen) so he THREW HIS WALKING STICK AT HER AND YELLED, which made her start running. Then I yelled at Rich! "Blankety-blankety-BLANK!!! DON'T MAKE HER RUN! DAMMIT!" I don't know how, after all these years, he CAN NOT figure out that a frightened cow is NOT going to meekly do what he says. Especially if he's THROWING SOMETHING AT HER!
OK, my spleen is vented and I feel better. I told Rich to go stand at the other (incoming) gate and just block her from leaving, and I continued to call her and picked up some of the hay so she could see it. It took about 30 seconds, but her stomach got the better of her and she walked right into the trap. I let her eat while I hobbled around behind her and pulled the open panel shut. There wasn't a lot of hay, so she finished it pretty quick, then a few snaps on the behind with the spanking stick and she was in the trailer. Easy-peasy.
I hope Helen loads as easily. I hope my knee is better by Monday! Monday is Helen's day.
Oh, I almost forgot, I stuck Morgaine with the hormone shot and slapped a patch on her while she was eating that bit of hay, and I don't think she even noticed. She twitched her skin for a few seconds after the needle-stick, but that was all the reaction I got from her. I guess it's really true, the less Jersey, the less drama! LOL!