bward
Well-known member
I came up with this idea after I had a very mean Mad Simmental mother want to rip me to shreds if I entered the pen to treat her sick calf. After darting around the perimeter and setting up the gates, I used a long garden hose with a nozzle attached, and sprayed her directly in the face. It makes them absolutely powerless and they retreat in seconds. You can then pop over the fence and keep the hose going while directing them through the gate. if the animal turns to face you again, direct the force of the water on the face and it will make her turn tail. Not only does it make them retreat, but it knocks them down several notches removing a lot of the fight out of them.
I hadn't used the hose for years and then this year had a very normal heifer go balistic after we assisted her birth by straightening a calfs leg. She was heads up and ready to rip anything to pieces. 6 hours later her calf had not gotten up to drink and we had to get this crazy girl in the squeeze somehow. I remembered my hose trick and was able to move her to the next pen and down the chute with a little painless water. It settled her ruffles completely and she stood quietly in the squeeze while we helped junior latch on.
I hadn't used the hose for years and then this year had a very normal heifer go balistic after we assisted her birth by straightening a calfs leg. She was heads up and ready to rip anything to pieces. 6 hours later her calf had not gotten up to drink and we had to get this crazy girl in the squeeze somehow. I remembered my hose trick and was able to move her to the next pen and down the chute with a little painless water. It settled her ruffles completely and she stood quietly in the squeeze while we helped junior latch on.
