Herc gets a lesson

@JudyEv (382259)

Rockingham, Australia

February 7, 2016 8:39pm CST

Many of you will remember Hercules, our pet sheep. He is a dear mostly but occasionally blots his copybook and proves he is human – sorry, ovine – like the rest of us – I mean like other sheep. He can be confined to a small paddock where his hay is or, by opening a gate, he can have the run of an extra two paddocks where there is a bit more grass. These two paddocks are fenced with plain wire which allows the kangaroos to come and go between the paddocks and the bush. Unfortunately Herc has discovered he can push between the wires and come to join us when we're doing something interesting like hitting a golf bowl up and down or fixing reticulation pipes. So we're had to reconnect the electric fence. This gave us some trouble as it hasn't been needed for ages. However Vince got it working yesterday, Herc put his nose on it this morning and dropped his age and his dignity as he took off bucking and shaking his head. We'll switch it off in a few days and he won't go near it again for ages. Poor Herc. But it was either that or mutton stew.

21 people like this

23 responses

@LadyDuck (502573)

• Italy

8 Feb 16

Poor Herc, I can imagine how surprised he was, I hope he learned the lesson.

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@LadyDuck (502573)

• Italy

8 Feb 16

@JudyEv It seems he remember, you are nice to think to the kangaroos, they would also be surprised.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

He got a boot from the fence some years ago but eventually forgot about it. He hasn't been back near the fence since he got the shock this morning. We'll turn it off now as the poor kangaroos will be getting zapped.

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@valmnz (17095)

• New Zealand

8 Feb 16

I'm sure if he knew the alternative was mutton stew he'd settle for the electric fence

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@valmnz (17095)

• New Zealand

9 Feb 16

@JudyEv poor darling

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

He won't come near the fence now. I'm almost sorry for him.

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@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

8 Feb 16

Oh my God, poor hercules! I read that sheep are the dumbest animal but with Herc learning a lesson here I think they are not all dumb.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

He got zapped by the fence some years ago but has just begun to get out again. He will be good now for a few years I think. :)

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

8 Feb 16

I have touched one of those farm electric fences - not dangerous but the charge certainly hurts - poor Herc lol!

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@TheHorse (238330)

• Walnut Creek, California

8 Feb 16

I have too! It definitely wakes you up.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

Nobody likes touching them. As you say, they're not dangerous but give a nasty shock just the same. It is a shame we had to zap him but he did have several chances to stay put!

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@DeborahDiane (40848)

• Laguna Woods, California

8 Feb 16

Oh, hilarious! Better the electric fence than mutton stew! Poor Herc.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

I think he would need several hours at least in a pressure cooker. He would be very tough!

@Elizaby (6902)

• Pensacola, Florida

8 Feb 16

Better z shock now than being killed

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

We wouldn't really have killed him. He'd be much too tough.

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@GardenGerty (169489)

• United States

15 May 17

He seems a bit of an ornery pet. I have heard people say sheep are stupid, but this does not sound like the action of a stupid animal.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 May 17

I don't think sheep are stupid really although they do tend to follow each other. Herc understands quite a few things I think.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

8 Feb 16

Oh no poor Herc I doubt he will be going near the fence again anytime soon.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

9 Feb 16

@JudyEv I think Herc has learned a lesson this time.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

I think he'll stay put for quite a while now. He still comes up to the gate but won't go near the fence.

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Patsie Hatley is Deceased

@Hatley (163772)

• Garden Grove, California

17 Jun 16

thats a lotr better than mutton stew fore sure

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 16

Yes, we thought so too Patsie! And I'm sure Herc would agree!

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

8 Feb 16

I remember Herc well, and I'm glad to hear that he's still around, even if he's being troublesome.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

We think he is about 12 years old judging by the dates on photos. That is old for a sheep. He is just starting to show his age although he was very sprightly when he first got zapped!

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@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

8 Feb 16

Awww, poor Herc. Hopefully he won't go near the fence again.

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@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Feb 16

@JudyEv That's good. He is a quick learner.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

He came up to the gate and said hello but hasn't gone anywhere near the fence.

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@PainsOnSlate (21845)

• Canada

9 Feb 16

Oh my, you made me laugh out loud again. I think I' m in love with Herc.

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@PainsOnSlate (21845)

• Canada

11 Feb 16

@JudyEv another laugh, good job.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Feb 16

We love him to bits too but letting him have free run of the place wasn't an option. Vince has been taking him extra bread (he even cuts up his carrots for him) to ease our guilt.

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@DianneN (254926)

• United States

8 Feb 16

Poor Herc. I hope he learned his lesson, as shocking as it was!

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

Haha. It's a bit sad we had to do this but he needs to stay in his paddocks. Some of the garden shrubs are poisonous and anyway, he'd want to come inside.

I think he fancies himself as a house sheep.

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@DianneN (254926)

• United States

9 Feb 16

@JudyEv He sounds so precious!!!!

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@Lucky15 (37391)

• Philippines

9 Feb 16

Herc, don't let them choose the stew

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

Haha. We wouldn't really eat him - besides, he'd be much too tough.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

@Lucky15 Will you please be quiet? We don't want him to know.

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@Lucky15 (37391)

• Philippines

9 Feb 16

@JudyEv ahahaha, Herc you heard that? they are just bluffing with the stew

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

8 Feb 16

He sure sounds like a very mischievous creature. Just hope that he does not pass down this gene to all his descendants.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 16

Mostly he is very good. And as he is the only sheep we have at the moment, his genes are safe!!

@PatZAnthony (14749)

• Charlotte, North Carolina

9 Feb 16

Poor thing!

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

It was a shame we had to resort to such tactics but it was necessary for his safely really. He got extra bread after - does that help? :)

@GreatMartin (23670)

• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

9 Feb 16

My favorite memory of sheep was watching them for the first time 'mow the lawn' in front of the International Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand! Being a big city boy It is hard for me to see my killing and eating a 'pet'! :O)

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

We would never really eat him. We never ate pets. We did have a pig once which was always destined for the pot but we didn't give him a name and tried not to get attached to him. But he stayed in the freezer a long time before we could bring ourselves to eat him. If we ever have a bushfire here, Herc will be coming in the laundry until the danger is past.

@Dragonairy1 (1722)

• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

9 Feb 16

Poor herc, but I'm sure he's learned his lesson.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Feb 16

He stands well back from the fence now :)

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@TheHorse (238330)

• Walnut Creek, California

8 Feb 16

We do the same thing with the horses. On for awhile, then off again.

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@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

We took two Clydesdales in a gypsy wagon affair once for 3 nights. Each evening we'd string electric tape - just one strand - between stakes. It was never 'live' but they never tried to get out.

@cintol (11261)

• United States

8 Feb 16

That must have been quite the shock for him when he touched that fence but those are things you need to do to train them where their space is.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382259)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 16

Unfortunately he can't have the run of the whole property. But he is fine again now.