***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Poco Pollo]

What a handsome crest, and I love the color

 

[NanaKat]

Well, spoke too soon on our cow that's due. When we checked the ponds earlier, she was coming back from the creek looking okay. Then, we had lunch and I worked on a quilt. Hubby decided he wanted to take the tractor down to clear some snow back from around the hay feeders and put out some new hay so they cows would have a cleaner surface for laying down...#612 had her calf and it was pretty cold. We brought back the car and loaded the calf in the back and brought it to the house to dry off and warm up. It eagerly took a warm bottle and although the front ankle and knee joints are still stiff, he does try to get up and down on his own. Roger is out moving hay and will pull an old truck out of the barn near where the cow is so we can put them together in that shelter.
Here is the bull calf with Roger using a hair dryer on the legs and our helper cleaning him up after his bottle. Calf probably weighs in at 85 - 90 pounds//Red weighs 84.





Resting after warming up til we get the pen finished in the old barn. At least it has electricity and I can hang a heat lamp outside one of the cattle panels.


.

 

[chickieboy]

nope nanaka deep southeastern okies didn t get anything but rain and cold weather the creek are run over ,low water bridges are over ,must taake long way to go to town work was shut down had a free day without pay slept until 9 o clock got my mega loyyt tickets and hoping to win!!! and hope everyone have a good day and a blessed one at that

 

[mjgigax]

Well, spoke too soon on our cow that's due. When we checked the ponds earlier, she was coming back from the creek looking okay. Then, we had lunch and I worked on a quilt. Hubby decided he wanted to take the tractor down to clear some snow back from around the hay feeders and put out some new hay so they cows would have a cleaner surface for laying down...#612 had her calf and it was pretty cold. We brought back the car and loaded the calf in the back and brought it to the house to dry off and warm up. It eagerly took a warm bottle and although the front ankle and knee joints are still stiff, he does try to get up and down on his own. Roger is out moving hay and will pull an old truck out of the barn near where the cow is so we can put them together in that shelter.
Here is the bull calf with Roger using a hair dryer on the legs and our helper cleaning him up after his bottle. Calf probably weighs in at 85 - 90 pounds//Red weighs 84.





Resting after warming up til we get the pen finished in the old barn. At least it has electricity and I can hang a heat lamp outside one of the cattle panels.


.

Baby cows are some of the cutest things in the world.
Red is such a good dog. I can't believe he was a stray. He must have been looking specifically for you two. It turned out to be a good deal for all.

 

[mjgigax]

Our dog, Louie, is part Husky. He loved playing is the snow today.

My chickens were not impressed with the snow. I put Udder Balm on my Blue Marans roo's comb tonight. I still worry about the cold even though all the folks up North say on the "How cold..." thread that their birds do fine without heat at -25!

Jack's ewes seem to be not ready to drop their lambs. They usually have them around New Year's.

 

[bardies]

Bardies...so glad to hear the calf was able to nurse quickly. mother's milk is so much better than the manufactured. I keep bags of dry colostrum in the freezer to help preserve it. Yes, a 12 hour window is best for calf survival. The normal temp is 106 and shivering is the way the calf warms itself. When we bring one in, dampened towels in the microwave help to warm up the legs since the body heat focuses on the core. Frostbite damages the ears and tail as well as the lower legs. the umbilical cord will thaw and drops off when dried and the freeze won't affect the process. Iodine in the umbilical cord helps with infection. Also, because chilled, watch the calf for signs of pneumonia.
Our calf that was stepped on and nearly frozen last spring was given Gallimycin in her tube feeding until she was strong enough to get up and nurse on her own...that was a two week process of us milking the mother and hand feeding the calf. Mom was a first timer and really wanted her baby. She cleaned it and kept it nurtured while we fed it for her. Sunshine is now 600 pounds at 7 months of age..stub-tailed and has one toe on her back foot. Her ankle on that foot doesn't bend like normal, but she is heathy and strong.
For young babies like your two day old...if mom is giving good milk and is keeping the calf near her, she will be the wind break. But a windbreak is helpful if you can't get her and the calf in to a barn of shed. We have had calves born in freezing weather that the mothers clean them quickly and the calves spring up minutes from birth. Within hours after feeding, they are trying to buck. It all has to do with calf vigor and mothers' experience.
We now pen up first time mothers so we can offer assistance or a warm dry enclosure until we see the mothers tending their calves. At 24 hours, a good bonded pair can go out to pasture.
We run 100 mother cows with calving in both Spring and Fall.
You are doing so many things correctly...sounds like you are doing a great job.

Thanks for the encouragement! I remember Sunshine's story. This morning when I went to check on the girls with the young calves, they were all in a gully area with great sunshine and good wind blockage. Funny you mentioning about the cow positioning herself as a wind block...I saw that with the new born bull calf. He is doing well and looking really good! I will keep an eye for signs of pneumonia.

 

[bardies]

Well, spoke too soon on our cow that's due. When we checked the ponds earlier, she was coming back from the creek looking okay. Then, we had lunch and I worked on a quilt. Hubby decided he wanted to take the tractor down to clear some snow back from around the hay feeders and put out some new hay so they cows would have a cleaner surface for laying down...#612 had her calf and it was pretty cold. We brought back the car and loaded the calf in the back and brought it to the house to dry off and warm up. It eagerly took a warm bottle and although the front ankle and knee joints are still stiff, he does try to get up and down on his own. Roger is out moving hay and will pull an old truck out of the barn near where the cow is so we can put them together in that shelter.
Here is the bull calf with Roger using a hair dryer on the legs and our helper cleaning him up after his bottle. Calf probably weighs in at 85 - 90 pounds//Red weighs 84.





Resting after warming up til we get the pen finished in the old barn. At least it has electricity and I can hang a heat lamp outside one of the cattle panels.

So glad you (Roger) found him in time! - funny how sometimes things just work out the right way? He's huge! Mine probably only weighed 60 lbs or so. I love the long hair on him. Keep us posted please.

 

[Ksane]

Nana, the picture of Red reminds me so much of my 1st Pyrenees, Quinn. He was so gentle and protective of all creatures. Dogs like Red and Quinn are few and far between. I wish I could find a dog like that to stay out back with my birds.
Coral, I recognize some of those capons in your picture. It makes me sad to see them but they look awesome. I'm going to be overrun with males from all these birds I hatched. I can't wait t learn how to caponize.

 

[NanaKat]

Charlieboy...sorry to hear about the creeks and road conditions.

Ksane...a good dog is hard to find...MaryJo is correct that Red was a stray..someone dumped him as a pup..he was skin and bones when we found each other. he is a great dog. Loves baby chicks too!

We decided to keep the calf inside because it got dark on Roger as he was putting out hay and clearing the barn. The calf is in a makeshift pen in the kitchen. I had to tube feed him at 8 pm to get the rest of the colostrum down. Will switch over to milk replacer for his next feeding at midnight...if he wants it. momma cows feed their calves thru the night. Will put him with mom in the morning. She refused to come in to the barn area when Roger tried to move her. She was staying near the spot where she had the calf. Will keep you posted on the progress.
10:30 pm and the calf has decided to "take care of business". Has not practiced enough getting up and down and the front legs are still very stiff. Roger woke..napping.. To help clean up...what is it about men and dirty diapers...not a mess this time at all...love paper towels . The calf has stood for an hour and a half and I've used a dog wire bristle brush to stimulate legs and joints. The calf was lifting his front legs bending a little at the knees and turning around in the pens. He refused a bottle so will wait till he stirs again thru the night.
4:55 am. Calf is up and bawling for his milk. Gave him two pints and he stood and wobbled around the pen for 45 minutes. Finally urinated on the camel cloths...love those absorbent sheets. He is still up moving around strengthening and loosening those joints .

 

[NanaKat]

Kass...hope you made it home safely.

Haven't been outside yet this morning...dogs aren't up yet.
Update on SIL. Joan is home and improving.