Jack- Babysitter

[jodief100]

I will jump round with the timeline. This one was last week....

Jack s right now out in the field about 1/4 mile down the road. He is with the does not due to kid until March and last years weanlings. I need him out in that farther field because the predators are more likely to go there due to the distance from the house. Snowey is in the barn with the babies. She is smaller and not as agressive.

The new babies had been shut in the barn but last weekend I let them out to enjoy the sun. So the mommas took them out to the barn field which can be seen from across the creek by Jack. He climbed 4' field fence topped with 3 strands of barbed wire to get out and be with HIS babies. He then spent the day going between the two fields. The creek was frozen so he went around and down the road, about a mile trip each time.

Come nightfall, he was not leaving HIS babies. I put a leash on him and tried to walk him out to the field. He sat down and wouldn't move. Hubby and I had to team lift him into the back of the truck. Hubby then laid down on him with his arms wrapped around his neck to keep him from jumping out of the truck.

He went back into his field and has stayed there. The babies are out in the field again today, lets see if he stays put........

 

[Southern by choice]

I say let Jack do what Jack wants to do.

Love Jack!

 

[jodief100]

Not as if I have much choice.... He is 130 lbs and can climb out of any fence I put him in. Jack does what he wants to do and there isn't anything I can do about it.

 

[animalmom]

More Jack! Must have more Jack stories! He is incredible!

Please and thank you.

 

[jodief100]

We use 4" square "goat fence" on our property, though a few places have the 6" square cattle fence from the previous owner. Needless to say, kids get their heads stuck on occasion. One day I was out back and I year a kid yelp, a quick short cry. Then a few seconds later another one. I head up to the barn to check it out, on the way I hear 2 more... quick, short cry then nothing.

A little one had his head stuck in the fence. Jack was trying to get him loose. Jack would pull gently on the back leg until the little guy yelped, then Jack would stop. He would try again a few seconds later. Jack never did get that baby loose but he sure tried hard!

He only did that the one time. Now when a little one is stuck, he runs around behind it and barks until someone comes to get it loose.

 

[jodief100]

I can’t tell this one without giving kudos to Snowey as well. The two of them probably saved my whole herd two winters back.


That was a mild winter. The coyote population had boomed over the summer and the mild weather meant there were few if any deaths. The coyotes were out in force and one evening we had 4 does kid within hours of each other. 3 of them kidded out in the field. The smell of blood was strong and the coyotes were hungry. I was getting all the does and new kids into the barn when Jack let out a bark and a cry. He ran towards the herd as Snowey headed to the fence line. We had 42” electronet, not the strongest barrier against a determined foe. The goats knew what that cry meant and headed to the barn at a run, Jack circling the herd to make sure no stragglers were left behind. Hubby and I scooped up the babies and Jack herded in their mommas. Snows was making a stand at the fence. I called her and called her but she wasn’t going anywhere. I saw the dark shapes coming out of the woods towards the fence. As soon as the goats were into the fenced alleyway on their way to the barn, Jack turned and headed back out to join Snows. Hubby and I got the kids and new mommas situated and we both tried to get Jack and Snows to come in, but they stood their ground. I counted at least six dark figures prowling that fence, there was probably more. There was howling and snarling and the occasional yelp of pain. Hubby and I could do nothing without risking Jack and Snows or ourselves. It was dark, there was no way to get a clean shot and getting close was too dangerous. We watched and waited for what seemed hours. The growling was intense, the snarls and snapping, terrifying. After what seemed like hours Jack and Snows came to our calls and headed in. We shut the door behind them. Now behind field fence with less ground to cover, they stalked the fence line. We could still hear the coyotes, howling and growling.


The next morning, I found my electronet ripped to shreds in two places. All goats were accounted for, safe and sound. We kept the goats locked in the barnyard while Jack and Snows took turns napping all day.

 

[jodief100]

Jack the Pied Piper of Goats.

The goats trust Jack. They follow him. When I need to move them from one field to another I put a leash on Jack and they follow behind.

Last spring I was at work and got a call from my neighbor. I don't talk to this neighbor much, but she is the closest to our place, about a half mile down the road and on the hill. She called to tell me the goats were out and across the main road. They had never gone that far before and never crossed the road. This is not the one laner that crosses our property, it is the state two laner with a lot of traffic. I hadn't let them out, they escaped! I was an hour away, my neighbor who called is an almost 90 year old woman. I called my other neighbor who goat-sits for us but he was busy taking his Paw Paw to the doctors. I was worried so I called my mother, who was visiting me. My mother had never been to the farm before (or since). She isn't really an animal person and had just had surgery on her foot so she couldn't walk the half mile down the road with a feed bucket to try and get them back. I took a chance. I asked her to drive out to the end of the road and call Jack. I really didn't think it would work. Jack won't come near anyone he doesn't know well and only listens to me and my hubby (sometimes). I told her to holler to Jack to "bring them home". She did, she waited and few minutes later, here comes Jack. With all the goats single file behind him. He went around the car, down our road and back to the barn. She drove slowly behind the line and opened the barn gate. He led them all in and there they were when I got home.

They haven't crossed the road since.

 

[Southern by choice]

I remember that one Jodie! Is this where he crossed the creek too?
Makes you wonder why Jack thought they needed to be somewhere else.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Good boy!

 

[LoneOakGoats]

LOVE the Jack stories!! I can picture this happening. Way to go Jack!.