It goes without saying that all sheep will run out an open gate. For a sheep, there is nothing better than racing out to a fresh field or busting into the barn hoping to find an open bale of hay or feed bag. If they see an open gate...they're out it.
Only a few sheep will think to check a closed gate. An even fewer will try to figure out a way to unlatch a closed gate. Most sheep can figure out how to push open a "closed", but unlatched gate. Only a rare few can figure out how to pull an unlatched gate towards them to open it.
Murphy is a serial gate opener. He can spot an unlatched chain from probably 25' away and I think takes great pride in that. He can manipulate a push through gate with ease and is also adept at wedging his pointy head into a tiny crack at a stall door and pushing those open as well.
Woolliam was exceptionally good at using his foot to pull a gate towards him and B. Willard has reached master status with that as well. Willard is also notorious for using his foot to bang a latched gate long enough that I finally give up and open it for him.
Cheeto and Short Round would never think to check for an unlatched gate, but Krista...is another gate runner :-/. She figured out quickly that the yard was quite fun and never misses an opportunity to take everyone on a walk-about. I don't know if she taught Christopher to do the same or if it's genetic. He will walk away from the feed trough if he thinks he can go exploring.
4 comments:
If they could only figure out how to let themselves back in:)
Round 'em up, Possum!
And once they figure it out...........................they practice, practice, practice all the rest of their lives.
Amazon has a sign, probably can get it on other sites, that says: Live like someone left the gate open. I have it prominently posted where I an see it at least once a day.
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