[Jacob-list] Catching Rams

[ranchrat]

Linda <patchworkfibers at windstream.net> wrote:


> What's everyone's favorite way of catching adult rams?


Uh gees..while scratching them under their chin, I guess I could grab a
horn or two or four.LOL

My son was down visiting yesterday to help with all the firewood from
the wind storm and it took more time for him to mess with his phone for
a picture.than it would have taken to catch one of my boys.  We run the
Australian Cattle Dogs in the ram pasture every evening and all the boys
like to stand in the doorway of their barn and pretend to be the
cheering squad.  As of late, two of them come over to the side of the
corral to have their chins scratched, so I usually set up a folding
chair on one side, watch the dogs run, and sit there scratching the
"mean savage big horned monsters."  How one could EVER think of one of
these rams as a hunting "trophy" just kills me.oh you'd have to be some
sleuthing hunter to bag one of these boys.NOT!!

All ours are halter trained, will stand quietly to have toes trimmed,
stand quietly tied high on a fence if required, draft trained to pull
our covered wagon in the Bighorn Rodeo Parade, and you pretty much hafta
tell'em to MOVE outta the way when changing their water or adding more
bedding.  Not that I'll ever totally trust an intact male (we never turn
our backs on one nor do we "pat" them on the head to encourage
butting!), just really nice to have good mannered boys about.  Now
because the boys get chin scratchies, it is just a matter of leaning
over the corral and rubbing my fingers together and they'll saunter on
over to see what's up.

Can't stand spooky critters, so it ain't uncommon to find me with a
chicken perched on my arm.or head or pulling on my shoe strings trying
to make me trip up.  If you can't work on your livestock, you can't keep
them healthy.  When I first began doing the fun stuff on the Jacobs, I'd
carry around this small nylon bag of grain.  Anytime I "captured" a
victim, they'd end their ordeal with a treat.  Sometimes I'd just catch
them to give them a treat.  Keep 'em guessing!  If your animal is
stressed over being caught, you really do have an ordeal on your hands
before you even get started.  In sheep, because of the fiber, you hafta
put your hands on them to condition score them.if you don't handled your
animals, you are not going to catch the first signs that something is
wrong with them from parasites to weight loss.  Mine get pats every
day.only way a good shepherd can do their work & look after their stock.

Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins - Rat Ranch, Alberta
Home of Canada's 1st Grand Champion Jacob Ewe Melody
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