Stupid Turkeys
These are turkeys.
Bulls Turkeys have a tendency to just lower their heads and shake them at you when you are on foot. No respect. Them for me... I have all the respect in the world for them... therefore... Fierce Dog.
Trust me.
I know.
They are NOT bulls in the neighbor's place... they are Vagrant Delinquent Escapees from our pasture where they rightfully belong eating OUR green grass, not the neighbor's.
Therefore, they are Turkeys with a capital T.
Especially since Vernon had already repaired the broken fence and got them out of here this very same morning. And here I was, attempting the same feat only 7 hours later.
Luckily I had my Fierce Dog.
Fierce Dogs are handy to have when you are trying to move bulls turkeys on foot off of gorgeous green fields back to less gorgeous less green pasture.
He's bait. Or at least I hoped he would be instead of me.
I sure wasn't going to get that close.
Poifect.
I called Fierce Dog back to me at this instant... and things Looked Good.
All they had to do was go up to that little corral and back through the gate they'd knocked down (and I'd repaired). That's it. Simple. So simple. They'd already done it once today and cattle turkeys can be creatures of habit.
Of course, if you've noticed... there's one on the wrong side of the fence. Actually, there were two... but I'd worry about that once I had the majority in the proper pasture.
About 5 seconds after I took this nice low stress livestock handling type picture... they took off at a jog around the hill to the right... which I clambered over, trying to catch the eye of the lead turkey. He saw me... stopped... which irritated the turkey behind him... and they started shoving, then the whole crew turned and ran BACK down to the field.
I now huffed and puffed over the steep hill by the houses to cut them off, which unfortunately, turned them into the open gate the other two turkeys had escaped through.
I'd say this was the last time I saw them... but no. I was stupid enough to climb this hill as well, just to see them disappear down a draw about a quarter of a mile away. Turkeys can "hoof it" when they want to.
Please notice how Blue the sky was.
I admit... I added many a blue word to the atmosphere adding to its intensity.
Neverfear, Vernon and Daniel on horseback retrieved them this morning... and put them in our bull pasture... where they were heading. It's best to cooperate with Stupid Turkeys after a while...
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April 28, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "You Scratch My Back..."
April 28, 2009 Guest
April 28, 2008 They're Gone
Nice looking "turkeys"! I never moved our bull(s) by myself until I got my own Fierce Dog. You described bull behavior perfectly! And I love it when Fierce Dog gives them a feel of his teeth on their heels.
That said, our current bull is a great one - he's huge, but he's pretty gentle and respectful. I still wouldn't move him without a dog. We weaned calves the other day, and Ember helped. She was willing to take Mr. Bull on too - I was so proud of her.
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Thanks, Kris... Fierce Dog had a Wonderful Time!
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oh, this could have turned out sooo differently! thank heaven you weren't hurt. those turkeys have sharp, uh, beaks!
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OMG, was able to picture this and am still laughing, but I do feel your pain!
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reinforced the comment that dogs are as good as a couple hands.....don't know as I would have been afoot when dealin' with "turkeys" tho.......ain't as quick as I used to be...............or ever was ,for that matter!
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Our bulls aren't usually too cranky... Just give 'em a minute longer to think about what you want them to do, they usually cooperate and would have most likely if I'd been smart enough to spot that open gate before they did... I was just watching them, not the fenceline!
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Wow - what Bull or cow would not want to eat that grass. LOL!! What a pretty place even with strays on it. Know it was a job getting them back. Couldn't do it without the dogs....
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You know what they say..."the grass is always greener!" Good story, good job Fierce Dog, Lucas. I'd say he earned an extra treat.
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MI-T-FINE Fierce Dog you have there!
Grass, shade of sky, Turkey's, FD and remembered sounds and smells of it all sure make me cranky and jealous about the hour I just spent driving 20 miles home w/ the window up and the stupid channel I had the radio on...
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Thanks, I Love my Fierce Dog. I take it you have more than just deer on your commute... (?) welcome to a slice of Wyoming then!
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