Surviving Minnesota!

[memphis]

Sunny & 65 here. Close to 70's this weekend. But cooling down next week.

 

[Rhetts]

I had a husband/wife couple that lives a couple miles down the road check out the cows today. They know a tad bit more than I do.

They have had 3 calves on their farm.

They haven't seen swelling like what the Herefords have but they don't know the Hereford breed. Could it be a breed thing or just these girls?? They did bump and feel the calf move but I forgot to ask for position. The wife thought the teats still looked wrinkly. Like they have some more filling to do but she said it could happen when baby comes too. So she feels that the cow is not in labor and it is unknown when she will be. But both feel the major swelling might be concerning. I guess I will try to find more on the Internet on it. But I am happy to know baby is still alive and mom should still be OK just waiting for labor to start.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I had a husband/wife couple that lives a couple miles down the road check out the cows today. They know a tad bit more than I do.

They have had 3 calves on their farm.

They haven't seen swelling like what the Herefords have but they don't know the Hereford breed. Could it be a breed thing or just these girls?? They did bump and feel the calf move but I forgot to ask for position. The wife thought the teats still looked wrinkly. Like they have some more filling to do but she said it could happen when baby comes too. So she feels that the cow is not in labor and it is unknown when she will be. But both feel the major swelling might be concerning. I guess I will try to find more on the Internet on it. But I am happy to know baby is still alive and mom should still be OK just waiting for labor to start.

Hoping for the best!!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Rhett This is all good news!


I am glad they could bump it. The butt area becomes concerning based on what they said. Interesting her saying the teats are wrinkly is interesting.

 

[SleepyOwl]

Quote: Thanks! It might be that, but I have a feeling it is a sensitivity. I can do anything else, push her around, put my arm around her neck, etc, but when I hold my hand on her nose, she reacts. She was pushing my daughter with her head the first day I got her, and that was definitely because my daughter has no confidence to be boss. We will work on that.

I plan on building a simple round pen this summer, could try lunging, but round pen is nicer.

 

[lvie]

Still in Richfield. Nothing weather wise happening yet. If it will be. Brook, their 12-year old yellow lab lets stinkies. Whew! Then eventually she will go out side and do the deed. But oh my! waiting is sometimes pretty smelly.

I am anxious to go home. I miss my birds. So silly. And my dogs. And my DH and home. I was excited to go home mid-week and catch many jobs up and see how everyone is doing. I have been working on a quilt top that has held my attention all afternoon. It is more difficult than I ever thought it would be.

I am anxious to get some chicks and have decided to separate the barred rock hen from the rest of the chickens. Maybe she will hatch some eggs. Gonna look at the how to-s on line tonight.

And I want a couple of beautiful turkey hens. I want the eggs and to do some turkey watching. Love having my mini - mini hobby acre.

 

[Rhetts]

Rhett This is all good news!


I am glad they could bump it. The butt area becomes concerning based on what they said. Interesting her saying the teats are wrinkly is interesting.

I am glad to hear you are pleased. That relieves me! What are your thoughts on the teats? To me they look huge and thick. Cow is walking to accommodate for the larger udder too. IDK Still haven't been able to find any pictures or videos of cows with major swelling like ours. But to be honest I can change just one word in the search and get different stuff so I am not sure what are the 'key words' I need should use.

I have a turkey question: I have 2 boys. One is the biggest bellybutton you could ever meet. The other one just follows along never instigates. Well, they were after the ducks yesterday. They have attacked the ducks repeatedly, today feathers and blood in the yard. Company cannot get out of the car with out being assaulted. Some people get it worse than others. They get chased to the house and then vice versa when leaving. Even chasing the car as they leave. So I think I will put the ring leader in the freezer. But I will let the other one live. Can one turkey be ok, will he be lonely? Will he act out? Don't tell DH but I want to get him a lady friend. Only thing is I don't want 15 from the hatchery. I guess I was wondering your thoughts on him being the only turkey. Will he adjust to not having the bellybutton all the time?

 

[duluthralphie]

The bellybuttonness comes from the season and him being the Top Tom.

That said, if he is chasing people he needs to either be a dinner guest or you need to break him of it. I pick up my top tom all the time, I hold him, I pet him, I cuddle him and do everything he does really like. It makes him understand I am in charge. When I see them in the yard and I am walking their direction, I make sure I walk towards HIM and make him move away from me. I do not chase him. I simply act like he is a subordinate.

Because of this, if a lower Tom makes a move towards me I can almost ignore it. The head Tom will take care of putting the lower one back in place, I think the top tom does not want to be moved down the rung any further than right below me.


As far as one Tom alone he will survive fine. He may be lonely and hook up with the ducks or geese. following them. BUT more than likely he will be your best friend. He will follow you everywhere and want to be wherever you are. I have a flock, but if we do not pay them enough attention they sit on the deck rail and look into the house to get our attention..

They really are just feathered dogs,

 

[Rhetts]

They do follow us all over the yard. They stand under the windows and look in all the time. In the summer (when snow isn't piled up in front of it) they will sit and stare through the patio window. There is no way I can pick him up. I will loose an arm or eye. He behaves this way all year through. My FIL had me escort him to his car the other day because the turkey was over the top aggressive even with me. I am gunning for the freezer at this point. More than one person (everyone who visits) tells me they always look around the yard to see where the turkeys are and if they can get out of the car without us running to the rescue. Sad in my opinion.

 

[duluthralphie]

They do follow us all over the yard. They stand under the windows and look in all the time. In the summer (when snow isn't piled up in front of it) they will sit and stare through the patio window. There is no way I can pick him up. I will loose an arm or eye. He behaves this way all year through. My FIL had me escort him to his car the other day because the turkey was over the top aggressive even with me. I am gunning for the freezer at this point. More than one person (everyone who visits) tells me they always look around the yard to see where the turkeys are and if they can get out of the car without us running to the rescue. Sad in my opinion.

Yep freezer time.