Cows can fly; prevention help

EddieWalker · May 30, 2015

I've never had cattle, so I'm just guessing that she doesn't like being alone. From what I've been told, if they want out bad enough, they will go right through the fence. Usually it's to get food, but it sounds like yours has plenty of food, so the other reason must be it wants to be back with the herd.

As for your electric fence, how well did you ground it? If your soil is dry or rocky, getting a good ground is going to make it hard for the fence to work properly. The instruction I read for mine required three six foot ground rods to be used ten feet apart from each other. And that was for good soil. Then they went into how to improve ground for poor soil by adding more ground rods at the halfway point of the fence. You also have to be sure that your hot wire is 100 percent free of touching anything that can ground it out. Wet wood will ground out the wire. Insulators too close to a t post will cause problems. While it's a very simple concept, there are a lot of little things that can affect the amount of current that you get out of it.

Eddie

jix · May 30, 2015

Only stands to reason...why else do we stay married after forty years of being harped at, anyways

texasjohn · May 30, 2015

You need...
higher fence AND
an older gentle cow as a buddy and a lead animal...two heifers are like two 12 yr old girls...flighty at any moment.

greenmojo · May 30, 2015

I think I am going to go with a combination of ya'lls suggestions here.

I have a bunch more of the Gallagher EquiBraid left, and will run another strand at the very top of the fence in addition to the one I have at the 46" height mark, just to give a little more visual impact as well as dissuade her from putting her neck out over it.

I can't seem to find the breed of companion that I want locally, so I may just pick up some inexpensive grass eater to hang out with her until I do. Doing a search now in central washington.

Can a sheep get tossed in with her? or would sheep just climb through the barbed wire?

~Moses

MacLawn · May 30, 2015

The only thing I know about cows is that white stuff that comes out the bottom tastes might good, and makes some other good stuff too! And, they taste good.

And, my neighbor across the road has horses, and one donkey. They told me the donkey keeps the horses company when they leave just one horse behind to take the others riding. Company for ye cyow. And, I do know they will kill coyotes. Donkeys hate coyotes about as much as me.

texasjohn · May 30, 2015

maybe a cow from a rescue shelter...whatever you get, make SURE it is GENTLE else you will be running after two critters.

rgr33 · May 30, 2015

When I had cattle, I sold yearlings to hobby farmers in the area. I always advised them to keep their new cow in a well fortified small pen for the first week. Cattle are fearful animals, worse so when separated from their herd and put in a strange new surrounding. After a while, they relax a little and settle in, that happens easier if they have a companion available. Barb wire is my least favorite fencing, if you want to.have a trouble free fence, woven wire 48 inches high with 2 strands of electric wire 12inches on top,
I once had an angus cow that would sidle up to a smaller yearling and push them hard into the fence line, knocking the whole section down. She would head directly for the lawn and munch away while I was at work. The only reason I didn't send her packing was she often threw twin calves and I figured she was worth the trouble. Had many a long talk with her about her wicked ways, but she never bought into the idea of staying home.

greenmojo · May 30, 2015

MacLawn said:
And, my neighbor across the road has horses, and one donkey. They told me the donkey keeps the horses company when they leave just one horse behind to take the others riding. Company for ye cyow. And, I do know they will kill coyotes. Donkeys hate coyotes about as much as me.

Thats a few suggestions for donkeys... hmmm, going to have to look into these. Donkey sounds so strange, but I'll research right now.

texasjohn said:
maybe a cow from a rescue shelter...whatever you get, make SURE it is GENTLE else you will be running after two critters.

Yes, I was thinking that... I have to get something calm, or I will be shooting two cows this week.

~Moses

greenmojo · May 30, 2015

rgr33 said:
When I had cattle, I sold yearlings to hobby farmers in the area. I always advised them to keep their new cow in a well fortified small pen for the first week. Cattle are fearful animals, worse so when separated from their herd and put in a strange new surrounding. After a while, they relax a little and settle in, that happens easier if they have a companion available. Barb wire is my least favorite fencing, if you want to.have a trouble free fence, woven wire 48 inches high with 2 strands of electric wire 12inches on top,
I once had an angus cow that would sidle up to a smaller yearling and push them hard into the fence line, knocking the whole section down. She would head directly for the lawn and munch away while I was at work. The only reason I didn't send her packing was she often threw twin calves and I figured she was worth the trouble. Had many a long talk with her about her wicked ways, but she never bought into the idea of staying home.

That makes sense, I am looking now for a companion and she is still in jail. She's laying down at the moment chewing away, looks calm, but I don't feel like running around the mountain today, so she can stay put for now.

~Moses