Like clockwork every morning, just after milking, the babies need to be fed.
So...I fill up my wagon with water buckets, milk buckets, and a couple of bottles and head for the hutches...
My helper is along for the walk...do you see her leading the way? She's hoping for some spilled milk, or a broken egg from the chickens for a snack.
The bottle hummies are waiting for me...
I want to show you the difference in the sizes of these calves. These two were born on the same day, about ten days ago. The one closest to you was born about a month early. At first we thought she was the first of a twin, but nope...just early. (I actually picked her up and carried her out of the meadow, she's that light!) She's quite bouncy and energetic, and can finish her bottle even faster than the bigger one. The bigger one probably weighs around 100 lbs, which is much more expected of a calf this age...
These two will be moved to the individual hutches soon, where I can more easily wean them to drink out of buckets. It's much easier to do that when they're in individual pens. Can you imagine why? Think...chewing (on me), head butting (me) and stealing each others' milk!
The little one has already been named. She will be called Rosanne...or more likely Rosie, for short. Her mother's name is Bethany (my niece's name), so I left my niece choose the name for her!
The calves are enjoying the spring...and so are we! How about you?
