Either Daniel or I usually feed the calves in the mornings, and Jenna often feeds them in the evenings and on weekends.
This is our newest heifer calf. She's finally weaned from a bottle to a bucket. (hooray!) Last night she practically climbed out through her hutch door after her milk...
The calf with the red bucket is the oldest one in the hutches. She's finished with her milk and is looking for something else to eat. She also gets calf starter (a feed made especially for young calves made of a combination of grains, minerals and molasses, which encourages them to try it. Who wouldn't like something sweet?!) and dry hay to munch on...
Murphy usually hangs out with me when I feed. She's looking a little sheepish here, because she just got scolded for jumping up on me like a puppy rather than the almost seven year old that she is...
This cute little guy was only here for part of a week before he went to market. He was so sweet...wagging his little tail as he drank from his bottle. Yesterday morning when I fed him, he sucked so hard that the nipple came right off the bottle. I'm sure it made a cat happy to clean up the mess...
And last but not least...
Peanut patiently waits on top of the lime bags for me to finish up and give her some leftover milk...
...and yes...the barn windows are all dusty again.
Already!
Does it bother you to see the tiny babies being hauled off? I couldn't do it... I mean, economically I know it has to be done... but I could not do it.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's hard to see them go. Especially the sweet ones!
Deletesuch a cute bunch! i know it's tough to sell the boys...
ReplyDeleteYour grass is still amazingly green. We're having a freezing rain and snow today and the roads are slippery...
ReplyDeleteI love those big ear tags. So easy to read. I've had three new calves within a week and I hate to see the little bulls go too. At first it was breaking my heart as I love them as pets but when I run out of place to put them, I'm glad to see them go and I think also fatigue sets in after a while of this daily routine for years.
There are always some that are just so sweet and patient and others are so noisy and impatient. The hardest thing for me to do is wean them off milk to plain water. They so love their milk don't they!
I always love seeing your farm post.
Hugs,
JB
Peanut looks kind of bossy :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the calf pictures. I have lots of nice memories of feeding time for calves, especially training them to drink from a bucket. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute in their little stalls! Learning to eat from buckets must be the equivalent of when your baby finally starts eating some solid food. What a relief!
ReplyDelete412 is adorable! Big eyes, floppy ears, and that wet, pink nose... so sweet!
ReplyDeleteYou guys sure stay busy around there. Thanks for giving us a peek at feeding time :)
Wishing you and yours a blessed, and very Merry Christmas!
~K.
I so enjoy seeing the animals and reading about your farm. :)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed my time in your part of the world. I said a big hello to you a few times. :) I might have passed right by your farm.
Your babies are so cute!
ReplyDelete