In case anyone wants to check it out, here’s my recent podcast with Handpicked Nation: http://www.handpickednation.com/forrest-pritchard-gaining-ground/, This is an excellent, well-written article and I LOVE it. But there they stood, crowded around the gate, mooing incessantly for ‘greener grass’ just on the other side of the fence. Thank you for your fresh perspective . Where would I find water if I were a lamb? Imagine: allowing a cow think like a cow, instead of trying to make her think like a human. Great interview! I designed coops, fences and shelters based on my observations of how the animals naturally behaved. I mean, dumb as bricks…”, “I raised goats for a few years, and they’d always get their horns stuck in the fence. Why can’t they be patient?”. “Can’t they just eat what’s right in front of them? Turkeys and goats, rabbits and ducks. And crops too. Where would I sleep on a hot day if I were a pig? You know, they were the dumbest birds…”, “Everyone says sheep are stupid, but have you ever watched a cow drooling and slobbering? And when things don’t go right—when the pigs tip over the new feeder and ruin their grain, or the turkeys roost on top of their hutch instead of sheltering inside—it’s tempting to throw my hands in the air and shout “Come on… why are you guys so stupid? Turkeys are good for their meat that's it. In essence, I was telling cows to climb trees. As it turns out, the dumbest animal on the farm was me. News flash: Your animals are telling you not to kill them. (just read his blog) But there were no easy models to follow, no easy road maps and no classes and many people […]. I would have thought that some of the characters in there were exaggerated but your Chip and Ellen were spot on. I’m not a farmer, but I can see the wisdom in this approach. The most interesting thing is that they never poop on the trees. My greatest help on this subject was renaming their thinking ability from “dumb” to “simple”. Where would I sleep on a hot day if I were a pig? I’ve been down that road of “everything is stupid” daily… very good references to the philosophy side of the world too! Ha ha, thanks Andrew! Suffice to say, if it grazes or grunts, roosts or roots, chances are it’s spent time on our farm. Everyone’s heard the phrase “the grass is always greener on the other side,” right? Your experiences have given him good ideas. A vocal minority would have you believe that—when it comes to smarts—turkeys are the foulest fowl. They come down for it … Great post and so very true. So we have set up a dead end at a corner of a corral. But that doesn’t mean we can’t live a life of thoughtfulness and conscientiousness, and try to farm organically and sustainably with a balance of livestock and vegetation. View all articles by Forrest Pritchard ». Most of the animals mentioned live up to their potential. Ox. ... Studies have shown that these are dumbest birds on earth. In the past, I would have forced them to remain in the field an extra day or two, making them eat around their own manure, grazing the grass down to its roots. “What’s the matter with them?” I asked myself, just like I had done for years. 9 – Pandas. Answer. They’re so spoiled. Great article Forrest. Sheep. If you want the full story, Gaining Ground is available for sale on […]. Some folks think cows are the dumbest farm animal, while others insist it’s chickens. Cows. All it took was walking a mile in my cow’s shoes… I mean, err… hooves. Wiki User Answered . Don’t get me wrong though… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to keep goats from pooping on my car. This saves us from having to run ourselves to death and needlessly stressing the sheep. Over the years, I’ve heard every opinion under the sun. Oxen are nice animals. Who in their right mind would want to hang out here once the party was over? http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/Do-you-ever-ask-yourself-humanely-raised-for-what-New-Yorker-Cartoon-Prints_i9560763_.htm, […] is seriously hysterical – and also really inspirational. Care to get more specialized? By Forrest Pritchard / June 3, 2013 / 3 Comments. What a concept! Sometimes these issues are like religion and politics… impossible for anyone to ‘win’, but we can at least say “Hey, same team! […] they cooperatively move to their shelter for me when the rain is coming. 7 Dumbest Animals in the World That’ll Make You Stare in Disbelief. And that’s when it occurred to me. In the distance, I could see that there was still plenty of grass in their field. This is exactly the kind of observation that can turn a tedious chore into a satisfying job. As always I loved this. A+B at best. To put it in proper perspective, let’s delve into the obscure: guinea hens, peafowl, burros and even rainbow trout. The cows knew they were ready to move, even if I—the farmer—didn’t. Where would I find water if I were a lamb? Everyone in farming needs to be reminded of this from time to time. At last, the answer to the question that we’ve all been asked and we’ve all considered from time to time. All it took was walking a mile in my cow’s shoes… I mean, err… hooves. Why can’t they be patient?”. Flies were now buzzing over top of the copious cow patties. What are the dumbest animals in Animal Farm? A recent post What’s the Dumbest Farm Animal is sure to elicit a chuckle! Cows. What is the dumbest farm animal? 119 120 121. Observing the cattle and sheep on a wintery day in January. I gave the cattle a fresh block of pasture and left the ‘soiled’ grass behind, giving it time to turn the poop and urine into useful fertilizer in the future. Some folks think cows are the dumbest farm animal, while others insist it's chickens. Don’t let his sweet looks fool you. As you well know, finesse and timing are EVERYthing when it comes to properly handling sheep, and even the ‘simplest’ details can be the difference between stress and satisfaction. The pasture reminded me of a huge, all-night college party: replace the cow pies with beer cans, and you get the picture. What a concept! To put it in proper perspective, let’s delve into the obscure: guinea hens, peafowl, burros and even rainbow trout. That’s too complex….and that’s just the way they’ve been designed. Thanks Forrest! I notice sheep mostly tend to follow fence lines. At one time or another, I’ve tried my hand at raising nearly every type of farm animal. A vocal minority would have you believe that—when it … You have some truly hilarious stories…. Thanks for sharing. Listening to your podcast interview now. In the past, I would have forced them to remain in the field an extra day or two, making them eat around their own manure, grazing the grass down to its roots. Yes! The goat is obviously the best farm animal. Sometimes I see where Gardner God has “planted” something and this is my clue as to what would best grow in that spot. The manager often times does not so he might rank the highest on the “dumbest scale.”. What’s the Dumbest Farm Animal? I know we’re all going to use your tips to help smarten up that dumb animal too! As it turns out, the dumbest animal on the farm was me. Your father reminds me of my own in habits and personality. That’s about right!”. , Thanks James! Most importantly, if I’m ever going to be a great farmer, I need the wisdom to listen to what they’re saying. How would I act if I were a chicken out on pasture? The dumbest farm animal wasn’t a cow, a pig or a chicken.