Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Sounds like you're at the races with abbot and Costello

We have an oldie movie theme going on! I loved the young Frankenstein putting on the Ritz hahaha that Bob posted

 

[Ponypoor]

That's a big one!

I'll try for more regular sized ones after work

 

[bgmathteach]

Just that cows usually only have one calf, twins are fairly uncommon. Naturally mama cows are really only able to really care for and protect one baby, so will often pick the strongest and just leave the other to die. The farm recently got rid of their bull (who sired these calves) because they “didn’t like him, he was bad”. Black and scary, he would just look at you (usually for treats or scritches) and they thought it was “unnerving”. From 2017-2019 I primarily cared for the cattle. Family drama BS ensued and the “farm manager” aunt took over. Which is why I said we probably wouldn’t be seeing any “giant land chicken” pictures.

Now they have given care of the cattle over to my brother in law, a useless waste of skin/air. Last year there was a calf he was supposed to be caring for… making sure it got fed (it was blind and had no tail) and that didn’t really happen, though he sure talked a good game about how great and important he was. One Friday in fall, I spotted it down in the field with mama trying to protect it from ravens that were attempting to eat it alive because it was too weak to stand. Spent over an hour holding it up, getting it to drink from mom (Ruby and I were good friends…) while she licked its backend to stimulate elimination. I was crying, covered in manure, blood, and pus, and barely able to support this (still quite big) calf in the middle of a field in the rain. It had clearly been down for over a day. I broke down and called the “farm manager” (who doesn’t speak with me) and strongly implied that if she didn’t euthanize the poor thing the SPCA “might” be informed, and reminded her of the recent seizure of several hundred beef cattle nearby for far, far less.

TLDR:
So, twin cattle are generally rare, sometimes the mama will pick one and reject the other. Also if the twins are male and female, the female will always be infertile and is referred to as a free Martin. I don’t think my BIL, who didn’t even notice the stronger and larger twin is capable of monitoring them, and the smaller boy might not survive as I saw some indications of rejection. Hopefully he listened to what I said and isn’t going to just dissmiss my stupid Citiot observations and information. I might not have been raised on a farm (neither was he) but I at least have been reading up and informing myself on the animals I care or cared for.

Not that you need another thing on your plate...but have you thought of sneaking the male calf to your place and bottle feeding him (after a day or two of collostrum feeding from mamma) to be sure he does get fed and survives? He would make good steak in a year or so for the freezer...and would be easy at this point to elastrate.....and might be a bit of a deterrent for hawks this summer as he grows (if he isn't clumsy with the chickens)???????

Yes, I know, you need another thing to do like you need a hole in your head... I just hate to see him not make it because of BIL. I've seen lots of successful twin rearing when managed properly. (I worked for a number of years as a milkmaid part time on a dairy farm when I was in HS & College.)

 

[bgmathteach]

Apparently we now have ponySundays to go with Caturday, FBF, twofer Tuesdays, and mugshot Mondays… did I miss anything? Do we have a Wednesday and Thursday theme in mind?

I propose 'Thirsty Thursdays, @BY Bob . Pics of chickens (or others) taking drinks. I can't do videos, but I love watching chickens drink!!!

Only a thought Maybe too limiting?

 

[bgmathteach]

I think we need a Wild Wednesday, for those wild pics!

No, I tried a Whinny Wednesday, but Pony Sunday had already been agreed but not instituted.

 

[BY Bob]

Apparently we now have ponySundays to go with Caturday, FBF, twofer Tuesdays, and mugshot Mondays… did I miss anything? Do we have a Wednesday and Thursday theme in mind?

Wednesday is celebrated over on @Ribh thread. Thursday is currently free. No plans to fill it in.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh, right! I think I knew about Sundays after all.

Speaking of FBF….

View attachment 3021107

Marvelous.

 

[BY Bob]

Sounds like you're at the races with abbot and Costello

Comedy genius.

 

[BY Bob]

I propose 'Thirsty Thursdays, @BY Bob . Pics of chickens (or others) taking drinks. I can't do videos, but I love watching chickens drink!!!

Only a thought Maybe too limiting?

This could be fun. What does everyone think?

 

[Marie2020]

Ah! So a free Martin is a real thing. Sorry you and the calf had to go through that and that your BIL is a worthless SOB.

Plus even lower than drain faeces
I hope we get an update @Kris5902