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Family fencing photos, November 26, 27, 2008

I wonder if Soapweed has planned this fence for a year and a half, but he couldn't think of an excuse to get the unsuspecting crew together. If you haven't got everyone wore out, send them down, as I have a little project in mind........................ :)
 
You guys are awesome! Folks who don't ranch have a hard time understanding why we work so hard (holidays included) and love it so much. It cause of times like that! Fence down, cattle may wander, repairs needed and family available! The day of the week or year doesn't matter much does it? To quote Larry-the-cable-guy, Git-r-dun! And ya have fun (as the smiles prove) working side by side. Happy Thanksgiving to all of Soapweeds crew! Ya'll are a special bunch!
 
per said:
I was just wondering with all the unique and wonderful inventions we have observed why you were not using some automated post installing unit that your welder/inventor son created for your pleasure?

When there is moisture in the ground (as there is this fall), it is probably easier to dig a hole by hand than it is to fool around with an auger device. One problem with using an auger is that the dirt comes up and out all around the hole. If the hole is dug by hand, the dirt is all on one side of the hole, so it is much easier to find enough to tamp in around the post. This is my story and I'm sticking to it. :wink:
 
Soapweed said:
per said:
I was just wondering with all the unique and wonderful inventions we have observed why you were not using some automated post installing unit that your welder/inventor son created for your pleasure?

When there is moisture in the ground (as there is this fall), it is probably easier to dig a hole by hand than it is to fool around with an auger device. One problem with using an auger is that the dirt comes up and out all around the hole. If the hole is dug by hand, the dirt is all on one side of the hole, so it is much easier to find enough to tamp in around the post. This is my story and I'm sticking to it. :wink:

Kosmo is weilding the diggers..............now you know the rest of the story :lol:

Actually, having dug in that sandy ground, it is as easy to dig them first time as clean them.
 
Actually, having dug in that sandy ground, it is as easy to dig them first time as clean them.

What would that be like to dig a post hole without having to bar-out rock the whole time? Sounds like heaven to me... I know my elbows would really appreciate a sandy soil, of course living next to a granite rock quarry, I can't expect that miracle to happen anytime soon :D .

Before I die, I want to see what it's like to dig an easy post hole, and to put up hay in a boulder-free, flat, open meadow... I'm really not asking for much am I? :lol: .

Nice pictures... I'm envious of all of your fencing help!!! :D
 
WyomingRancher said:
Actually, having dug in that sandy ground, it is as easy to dig them first time as clean them.

What would that be like to dig a post hole without having to bar-out rock the whole time? Sounds like heaven to me... I know my elbows would really appreciate a sandy soil, of course living next to a granite rock quarry, I can't expect that miracle to happen anytime soon :D .

Before I die, I want to see what it's like to dig an easy post hole, and to put up hay in a boulder-free, flat, open meadow... I'm really not asking for much am I? :lol: .

Nice pictures... I'm envious of all of your fencing help!!! :D

We just push them in with the front-end loader. You can do a half mile in about 2 hrs if you get after it. Of course, going down over the side hills and other inaccessable places requires the use of an 'Indian hammer'. Not my favorite hand tool.
 
Soapweed said:
211 replacement heifer calves were weaned a week ago today (Thursday). Something spooked them during Saturday night, and they tore up fence 'til heck wouldn't have it.

I guess everybody has that same problem with fresh-weaned calves. I've tried everything from running some yearlings with them to running some old dry cows with them and unless you're willing to put a LOT of something else with them, they still find something to spook at.

I had some last year break through six-wire fences in seven different places. I haven't even weaned this year and I'm already laying awake at night worrying about it. :lol:

Has anybody ever figured out a trick to cut down on it any?
 
Last year some calves took a run at the cement bunks. These are precast not poured in place but they weigh about 2500lbs each. They tipped about 5 over and a couple on each end were pulling on the cable pretty hard.
This year I bought some 30 foot portable wind break panels and put them in a V shape in front of the bucks so the calves would have to go around before hitting the bunks. Worked so far. If it works I do know some people like to lock up the cows and have the calves in the pasture.

We brought in fresh weaned calves for many years and quite often had a run. They were bought calves so no cows around for them to settle with.

What is worse is having to dump calves off a tipped over truck. :mad:

What about more lighting in the yards?
 
Texan said:
Soapweed said:
211 replacement heifer calves were weaned a week ago today (Thursday). Something spooked them during Saturday night, and they tore up fence 'til heck wouldn't have it.

I guess everybody has that same problem with fresh-weaned calves. I've tried everything from running some yearlings with them to running some old dry cows with them and unless you're willing to put a LOT of something else with them, they still find something to spook at.

Has anybody ever figured out a trick to cut down on it any?

My neighbor blares a radio for the first few days/nights and claims if a noise does spook them, they are less likely to all hear it and stampede.

I was asked for my opinion in a lawsuit where a rancher weaned his calves for 10 days, and turned them into a trap. Early one morning he got a call that his calves had gotten out onto the highway, a semi had hit some of them, and the passenger had been killed. Not good to say the least. I looked at pictures taken at the time of the accident, and the calves which hadn't escaped were balled up in the corner of the lot, real scoury. I assumed something had chased the others through the fence... not a case of neglectful fence upkeep as the prosecuting attorney was suggesting. This could happen to any of us since calves being chased aren't going to stop. Never did hear the outcome of the case.
 
Had a little bull calf that i forgot to grab give me and my buddy a 4 hour run for our money.Would just stay on the fence line and if you approached him he'd barrel through the fence and take off through the next pasture looking for mom.Got on to the BLM and in this 5 foot sage brush where you could'nt easily rope him back down around to the niehbors in with thier cows,finally roped him next to a old cedar perimeter fence,Had about twenty feet of rope when i dallied and the little sucker went through the fence again and tore out about fifty feet of fence,then my metal honda poped off right as we went to throw him and off he went for another night.Finally got the little weaned @@*%#*&@@ the next day.Went through the fence 13 times,i fixed lots of fence last week :evil: :cry:
 
Sandhusker said:
'Ol Soap once again has proven himself smarter than me. He goes fencing with young blondes, I've got.......Kevin......

Looks to me like you got that wrong- the young blondes go fencing- Soap goes picture taking...Even better yet... :wink:

I'm like the others- I wouldn't know what to do putting a post in soft ground- or digging a post hole that wasn't either in all rocks, gravel, or hard gumbo...

We stuck in about 40 steel posts the other day on a little chunk I want to fence this winter after the cows get the high grass ate down- and pushing them in with the loader sure makes it easier...
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
What about more lighting in the yards?
I've got one light around my pens and on one side of the traps where I start them for two or three days. With my luck, if I put up another light they'd start spooking at the shadows. :lol:

The year before last I just about narrowed it down to a skunk that started the whole deal. The morning after they broke out I found some fresh sign where a skunk had been digging and a couple of them had been sprayed pretty bad.

Last year I think it must have been dogs, because a handful of them made it through three fences and ran over a mile before they stopped.


WyomingRancher said:
My neighbor blares a radio for the first few days/nights and claims if a noise does spook them, they are less likely to all hear it and stampede.
I've been using a radio around the chute and pens for the last few years trying to make as much noise as I can. They always break at night when the music is on - NOT during the day when they gang around the radio and listen to Rush.
 
Texan said:
I've been using a radio around the chute and pens for the last few years trying to make as much noise as I can. They always break at night when the music is on - NOT during the day when they gang around the radio and listen to Rush.

Theres you guys' problem- all that rightwingnut fearmongering and innuendo has them jumping at shadows and chasing ghosts... :wink: :lol: :lol: :P
 
Oldtimer said:
Texan said:
I've been using a radio around the chute and pens for the last few years trying to make as much noise as I can. They always break at night when the music is on - NOT during the day when they gang around the radio and listen to Rush.

Theres you guys' problem- all that rightwingnut fearmongering and innuendo has them jumping at shadows and chasing ghosts... :wink: :lol: :lol: :P
I tried letting them listen to some of your liberal talk radio, but that didn't work too good. All they wanted to do was hang around the trough and wait on somebody to bring 'em something. :lol:
 
A couple of years ago we had some dogs put some cows thru the fence. Left alone they could have come the 10 miles home but they were scattered to the wind. About 4 days of riding to gather 30 some cows.
 
Texan said:
Oldtimer said:
Texan said:
I've been using a radio around the chute and pens for the last few years trying to make as much noise as I can. They always break at night when the music is on - NOT during the day when they gang around the radio and listen to Rush.

Theres you guys' problem- all that rightwingnut fearmongering and innuendo has them jumping at shadows and chasing ghosts... :wink: :lol: :lol: :P
I tried letting them listen to some of your liberal talk radio, but that didn't work too good. All they wanted to do was hang around the trough and wait on somebody to bring 'em something. :lol:

See- Like I keep telling you- extremism either way is bad...
 

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