by Jan Fielden
The other day when I was feeding Fedora, the calf we are raising since her Momma died, I saw Thorp and Stoneshire watching me. Thorp is a cube hound as is Stoneshire. Any time we are close to the barn/corral area they are certain we are going to give them cubes. Sometimes, when we are out in the pasture just driving, they are sure we are carrying cubes just for them. They will follow us everywhere until they finally decide we are not going to give them any cubes. They have more patience than anybody or anything I know.
Even as I continued to feed Fedora, they moved in each on different sides of me. I gave them both the universal, well, at least MY universal sign for “I have nothing for you”. This sign is a simple wave of my right hand to the left and then back to the right with fingers spread out while I say, “I have nothing for you”. Now this may seem strange for some people to believe but believe it works! It has never failed with any animal on the place. But I will say it is used mainly on calves I am feeding and bulls who want cubes. The cows don’t seem to want to pay attention.
So, I gave them the signal, and here comes Thorp walking around me to walk over to Stoneshire who turned and they both walked over to the feeder. They weren’t going to waste the chance to get something even if it was just salt and they had to get it themselves. The Red Oak Ranch rolls on each and every day!
