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Original poster

anyone (else) afraid of farm animals??

40 replies

zubb · 02/10/2004 19:17

I try to be brave in front of the kids, but today as we were walking round a farm I hated the animals that were wandering free getting anywhere near us.
We had loads of ducks following us at one point, and I started to make ds1 walk really fast, but he wanted to look at the pigs that were in a fenced of area nearby, so I turned round and shouted 'go away'. FGS what was I thinking! As if they would understand.
There are donkeys that walk about as well and I always steer well clear of them. I can't even feed the goats & sheep.
And don't get me started on birds...

OP posts:
Skate · 02/10/2004 19:22

So why did you go to the farm!?

I'm with you though - we go to a National Trust park called Dunham, near us. There are ducks/geese there and I HATE THEM!! Friends say 'ooh lets take the kids to feed the ducks' but they scare me sh**less!! And I've got 3 kids so have to watch that they are nowhere near any of them - it's soo stressful!!

Original poster
zubb · 02/10/2004 19:27

normally I can keep away from them and let dh take the boys closer to have a look / feed / touch, but today I was on my own and stupidly thought I could manage a farm!
Swans are my worse fear after a nasty incident as a kid, and we have loads of swans where we live. I cringe when I see kids feeding them by hand, but am trying really hard not to pass on my fears.

OP posts:
nutcracker · 02/10/2004 20:44

Oooh yes i am. Well not sure if afraid is the right word, but i definatly hate going to farms as i hate being near the animals.

Well done you for taking the kids to the farm, i have never taken mine I leave it to the school trips and stuff like that.

Hate donkeys and horses especially, don't know why just do.

blossomhill · 02/10/2004 21:10

Zubb - I am petrified of farm animals. I freeze when they are wandering around. Turkeys are my major fear and horses scare the hell out of me. At one stage ds was picking up on my vibes so I no try really hard to make sure he doesn't know I am scared. We used to go all the time when they were younger but now go 2/3 times a year.
I think farms are brilliant places but wish I wasn't so scared. It won't stop me taking the children though!!!

marthamoo · 02/10/2004 21:37

I'm a city girl - I think cows are scary, horses are too big, and even chickens freak me out a bit.

tiptop · 02/10/2004 21:54

I'm the opposite! I grew up on a farm and did lots of farm work as a youngster (!) and I'm not afraid of any farm animals. I understand how dangerous some of them are and what might frighten them or make them attack, but I've never been scared, even when I have been kicked, bitten, etc. My tip would be to take a walking stick when you go to farms. If you feel threatened, hold it out in front of you or above you. If you think it'll look silly, take a big golf-type umbrella instead. Hth. (I absolutely hate little things like spiders, worms and stuff.)

Miaou · 02/10/2004 21:58

That's really good advice tiptop. The whole island where I live is a farm and the animals go where they please - this afternoon my hedge was trimmed by a herd of cows! So we have to get used to moving around the animals, particularly when they occupy the road (often)or congregate around my front gate. That said, we get a lot of visitors here who are not happy around the cows and horses, and I really can understand why - sometimes I find myself taking a deep breath before tackling them (the animals that is, not the visitors!!)

tiptop · 02/10/2004 22:08

Thanks, Miaou. After writing my post, I thought, "Oh, but I haven't told them about how I used to name the cows and calves. I had an Ethelred, a Winston, a Bathsheba, and a Gabriel. And goodness knows what else. I also had a cockerel (spelling?) called Charles Rex." Oh, those were the days. I named everything in sight! And I talked to everything, too!

The place where you live sounds lovely, Miaou!

Tickle · 02/10/2004 22:09

Like tiptop I have no probs but understand the fears! I used to be petrified of my sister's parakeet - but then again it DID hate me and bit my ear whenever I went to stay.

Miaou - sounds amazing - where do you live???

marthamoo · 02/10/2004 22:10

Oooh, a Hardy fan!

marthamoo · 02/10/2004 22:11

Miaou is a Mucker.

That means she lives on the Isle of Muck!

Miaou · 02/10/2004 22:17

I have a cockerel

It is called.......

Lunch.

tiptop · 02/10/2004 22:22

marthamoo - Yep, that's me! I love Thomas Hardy. My ds and dd are very lucky that I got some names out of my system well before they were born. The Isle of Muck, eh! I could hardly believe that the name was real. Like finding a village called Ramsbottom or something. I wonder what the Muck bit really means. Do you know, Miaou?

tiptop · 02/10/2004 22:23

Miaou -

roisin · 02/10/2004 22:24

I was brought up in a fairly rural area, and have never been nervous round animals. But 3 yrs ago I was out walking on my own, and had a really scary experience with a herd of cows. My heart is racing just to remember it. I was on a public footpath through a field, but they clearly didn't like it, and starting moving towards me. When I turned to face them and challenge them they stopped, but whenever I turned my back they started moving again, faster and faster. I eventually legged and made it to the style and hopped over.

Since then I have read several stories of people being injured or even killed by cows. So please advise me for future reference - what should I have done?

Tickle · 02/10/2004 22:24

My grandmother lived in Nether Wallop

JanH · 02/10/2004 22:25

But Ramsbottom exists, tiptop! (Town though, not village.)

There are people called ramsbottom round here. DH was at school with one - guess what her nickname was, poor lass?

Miaou · 02/10/2004 22:26

There are two schools of thought on the name, tiptop - one is that it comes from the Gaelic for Pig, and one that it comes from the Gaelic for Dolphin (Muick, IIRC). You can guess which one we islanders prefer!

Did you find it on the map? In between Skye and Mull...

We're having a meet-up next week if you're interested ....

tiptop · 02/10/2004 22:26

Charles Rex used to fight with the other cockerel, so every night, I'd have to go outside with a torch, find him and put him safe in a hen coop. For good measure, I'd give him a different hen every night for company! I kid you not!

Miaou · 02/10/2004 22:27

Roisin, TBH I just shout at them and wave my arms at them, but I can understand how scary it must have been.

Were you walking a dog at the time?

Miaou · 02/10/2004 22:29

Tiptop, you were very good to them then!

I have just got Lunch a mate, but she is shut in the henhouse just now to get her familiar with it - will let her out tomorrow or Monday and see if they hit it off....

Tickle · 02/10/2004 22:32

Roisin - I think running away is the dangerous bit. It is usually bullocks that are the boisterous curious ones. Dairy ladies are totally used to people cos of daily milking, and very gentle.

If you are faced with a herd of inquisitive bullocks I find it is best to stay facing them and move slowly backwards towards the gate. Just don't run. Talk to them in a confident voice - it will make you feel more confident! And if you are with the kids keep them RIGHT by your side. They will often chase a dog, so if you have one and it runs to you for protection, pick it up (unless it is a 40 kilo lab of course).

Is that useful?

tiptop · 02/10/2004 22:36

roisin - I think you did the right thing. Legging it at the beginning when there's a big distance between you and safety would have been too risky. Challenging them regularly gave them the chance to cool down a bit in between following you. IF I'd been in that position and there had been a stick or branch handy, I'd have done the old shouting, cursing, aggressive stance bit and they might have run off in the other direction. I think that each situation is different. You did well. They might have been heifers and a bit flighty. If you see them again, or if you see bulls or steers in a field, I'd avoid going that way if at all possible. Incidentally, what colour were they? ie were they dairy or beef animals? Oh, and if you have a dog with you and you're challenged, I'd say to let the dog go if it gets too risky.

roisin · 02/10/2004 22:37

Thanks Tickle and Miaou - this is helpful. Yes they were young bullocks, no I don't have a dog (and no desire to have one). I was really freaked by the experience, so much so that I would hesitate to go into a field of young bullocks in future - and I'm not sure I could actually do it (certainly not alone or with the kids), though I know that's pathetic. But if I do I will think of you both and speak confidently to them.

Miaou · 02/10/2004 22:39

Also if there are cows and calves, don't get between the mother and the calf if you can help it.