For those who have let their livestock run loose

[blufford]

How do you get them to come home?

An excerpt fom the book, Hung, Strung and Potted, A History of Eating habits in Colonial America, by Sally Smith Booth, cpyrt 1971.

"Domesticated livestock help fill the gap by the depletion of large wild animal herds. Upkeep for domestic stock was minimal since the animals were simply turned loose in the woods to graze and to be watched over periodically by a volunteer farmer from the nearest community. In the evening herds were driven home to be either milked or sheltered. When volunteers were lacking, some volunteers constructed elaborate effigies of men near the grazing area in an attempt to scare away marauding panthers and wolves. The sole expense in raising domestic meat was for salt which was placed on the ground near the owners house, not only because it was needed in the animal's diet, but to make sure the stock remained in the farms general area."

[DocM]

One side of my property is dense woods, and isn't fenced. My livestock (horses, goats, sheep, cattle) have never yet figured out they can "get out" that way. And this is in 20 years... They know where the feeder is, so they don't stray far.

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

You get them used to eating at certain times! A little grain keeps most livestock happy to come to the barn or whatever. It doesn't even have to be much, just a regular thing. When you feed, rattle the can and use the same call.

Our goats are turned out in a 8 acre field with woods on half of it. They never fail to show up at the gate and walk us to the barn because they know they are getting fed. I would think it wouldn't be much different if there were no fences. They might wander farther, but they KNOW where dinner is

[veme]

I teach everything to come when called.
It is easy!

Pick a special "call" and every time you feed, call to your animals.
That way when they are out or get out, they will stop everything to come to you. My call is "Come on!". People are always amazed to see 75 sheep or 15 cows charging up a hill & into the barn.
Just keep clear or you might get trampled.
Works great for loading on a trailer too.

veme

[Alice In TX/MO]

I, too, have a cattle call. Used to impress the heck out of my high school students, as I am a small person, but I make lots of noise.

In southern Missouri, the neighbors in effect had free range horses. Those trashy folks wouldn't keep the fences up, and I didn't mind them eating my grass instead of their dirt and weeds. I did, however, object mildly to horse poo on my front porch. :baby04: As far as I know the horses never left the combined 60 acres of our place and his.

These are the same horses we bought and rehabilitated after said neighbors went broke.

[agmantoo]

Like Veme state above, I also train my cattle to come when I call them. It is a simple matter. As a grass fed producer I feed no grain but I do rotational grazing and when I move the cattle to fresh grass I call them. It makes no difference if they are already waiting to access the new grass I still call them. They associate the calling with the reward of good grass. Several years ago some kids cut the fence between the neighbor and myself. My cattle were in the pasture with the neighbors cattle. The neighbor asked could I identify my cattle and I did not have all of mine ear tagged at that time and 150 black Angus do look alike. I suggested he reopen the cut in the fence and that in a few minutes I would attempt to get my cattle home. I went on my side of the fence and about 300 feet from the cut and started calling the cattle. The neighbor later told me is was one of the darndest things he had ever seen. The cattle slowly started to separate and mine gradually grouped together and meandered off in the direction from which I was calling them. At that time I had an old cow that had foot problems and I knew that when she showed up where I was that my entire herd had returned. I sent 26 head of cattle to the sale today and I was able to call them from the back of the farm to the corral area, a distance of not less than 1/2 mile. I suggest everyone with cattle to train the animals to respond to calling. It is much easier to call them than to try to drive them should they get out.

[Bearfootfarm]

I beat on the bottom of a plastic five gallon bucket like a drum. The sheep and dogs all come running.

[heritagefarmer]

Originally Posted by veme

I teach everything to come when called.
It is easy!

Pick a special "call" and every time you feed, call to your animals.
That way when they are out or get out, they will stop everything to come to you. My call is "Come on!". People are always amazed to see 75 sheep or 15 cows charging up a hill & into the barn.
Just keep clear or you might get trampled.
Works great for loading on a trailer too.

veme

Our lot are so spoiled, except in high summer, when the attention theyr'e getting is fly spraying (which they hate!) they come running if we even show our face. If I just want to check them, I have to hide in the trees. As soon as one of them spies me, l'm busted.
We still have calls tho, for when they are far away. "yo coos!" and "yo sheeeeeep!" works. And of course, 'Chook Chook" will bring all 50 layers running out of the woods too!

[fantasymaker]

Car horns and old castiron dinner bells work great because of the long distances thet can be heard .

[ihedrick]

For my poultry, a simply "gobble gobble" or "quack quack" gets them running to where ever I am. The four legged variety are simply told to "go home" and they high tail it back to their pen/stall. And of course food or some treat is usually involved.

[Natureschild]

Animals are territorial. Also I dont think domestic animals have any sense of migrating. If where they live fullfils thier needs they will stay.

As a child we had free range rabbits and chickens. I used to love to go out in the mornings and at night and call "here chick chick chick" and the rabbits and chickens would come racing from the barns, the bushes, the forrest and the long grass.

I will never forget those images, and the amusement and joy I got from them.

I have since had free range goats and guinea pigs on two unfenced acres. None of my animals have strayed on the road. They were content to stick around.

Now I am hopefully buying about 10 acres, and I cant wait to get a few free range 'somethings' to re-create my memories for my daughter to have.

I would reccomend getting to know your animal and bonding before setting them loose. I think it might be helpful.

[Spinner]

My animals usually don't wander off so I don't have to get them to come home. I had some horses that went wandering a few years ago. I've always gave 3 short whistles when I feed so when I walked out and did the "feed whistle", they came running home.