Check-in Here if you are on lamb/kid watch...

[BeardedChick]

10:45 pm check - mild paranoia is setting in - she's laying down in a different place in the fresh straw. No water sac hanging out yet. Snow storm is just getting here.

Am EXTREMELY glad we set up the panels to keep her in.

 

[BeardedChick]

Pics to follow.

Our little black calf was born about 4 hours ago. Mom shoved it under the horse panel stall TWICE trying to get it up. I had to remove some of our farm gates to use as panels instead. That was a learning experience for me!

It wasn't eating, so our friend came over and we milked the cow and tube fed the calf the colostrum. Hopefully it will be strong enough to eat tonight, otherwise we'll tube feed her again in the morning.

 

[Cara]

Congratulations!!! We need pics now, not later

BTW Do you happen to know anyone that raises Jerseys?

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks! I'd actually have a glass of wine tonight to celebrate but I've gotta stay awake to feed the kids at 10!

There's a commercial small milk operation here that sometimes has jerseys. Are you looking for a calf or milking heifer?

I thought about breeding my cow to a Jersey bull for next year's calf...

 

[crazy cat lady]

I am waiting on my 4 female dairy goats to kid.

 

[Cara]

Awww what a cutie, and congratulations on her being a heifer! If only i'd found a calf-sized goat coat, i'd hook you up

I think we're after a calf. My husband has gone on goat milk strike since the weird taste episode. I think it's getting better, he still hates it. Calves are a lot more affordable than cows, and we could raise it on the goat milk if things don't look up!

 

[BeardedChick]

Cara, I sent you a PM.

Did you let your goat kid naturally or did you intervene? I got email from the breeder of our goats about her kidding practices, and am undecided about how to handle it.

I am HOPING to soon have cow's milk for the kids! Hooray!!!

 

[Cara]

I mostly let her do it herself, but intervened a little. She was trying to stand when the first kid was halfway out, and nearly squished her against the barn wall. I pulled her once her head was out. She almost dropped the second one on his head because she was standing up licking the first. He was really really goopy so I busted him out of the sac, and helped her dry them both off. I had to help the doeling find the teat at first, but other than that I left her to it.

I didn't take the kids away, it just isn't right to me. She wasn't offended that we did that, and Dizzy is a great 'first time' mother. I didn't worm her the day she kidded like she recommended either, or vaccinate her before she kidded. My husband and I thought that sounded like overkill, and we haven't had any problems.

 

[BeardedChick]

It sounds like we are similar in our beliefs about leaving as much as possible to nature. I'm leaving the kids on the doe, too. I will not pull them off at birth.

The good news for today is Valentine (my calf) was up and nursing well this morning, so no need to tube feed her. She is SO tiny and cute!!!! She trotted right over to me first thing to say hello. SIGH! I'm in

As luck would have it, DH had brought me home a new stainless steel milk bucket for Valentine's day yesterday.

How cool is that? Gotta get that milking stanchion built... Though I plan to let the calf have all the milk for a couple of weeks.

Hooray!

 

[BeardedChick]

Not that I'd take too many pictures...