Lazy, Crazy and Cold

So, the surviving twin that R was trying to feed was kind of lazy and needed help for a few days.  We put the mother in the head gate a couple of times so that we were sure it was getting to eat.  The calf had trouble getting the teat in its mouth, but once we helped it it did just fine.  R was ultimately successful in getting a bottle down it, too, and it eventually figured it out.

The crazy cow that wanted to chase us calmed down a bit but not completely.  M thought we should bring the 4-wheeler when we tried to move her and her calf so we’d “have a place to run to”.  Comforting.  Turns out that her bark was much worse than her bite.  She didn’t make a move toward us, just bellered the whole way and was just a pain. We think her calf last year was killed by coyotes so she may be overly protective.  We don’t remember her being that way last year.

We had snow, wind and cold again on Thursday night—not good calving weather at all!  R checked the cow pasture around midnight and didn’t see anything.  When M got there just before daybreak he found one dead, frozen calf, another that was pretty cold and a newer one.  He got the live ones to the barn and put the coldest one in the warmer while he came home for breakfast and while we were feeding.  It seemed to be okay but with swollen ears and feet.

Later we brought in the one with the dead calf so she was close in case another calf needed a mama.  Little did we know that later that afternoon we’d have another set of twins.  That mother wanted nothing to do with two babies so one appeared abandoned.  She did not care at all when we loaded it into the sled and took it to the barn.  We put the cow in the head gate and let the calf nurse and we thought we were pretty lucky as all seemed to be going well.  However, this morning R said he had seen the cow kicking at and butting the calf on the cow cam.  We put the cow back in the head gate this morning and the calf had a good breakfast.  Hopefully, they bond well and soon.

The first mama with an adopted baby latched on really well and is fiercely protective of her “miracle” baby, determined not to lose another one, I suppose.

We’ve been getting our exercise walking out into the cow pasture and walking pairs back.  Yesterday we went to bring in a pair and saw a cow ready to calve.  It was still snowing and cold so M said he’d get the pair if I would try to get her to the barn.  We were going along just fine until she made a turn around a tree (the only tree) and I couldn’t get across the bog fast enough to cut her off.  Smart cows, that’s the second one that’s done that to me.  M was able to come at her from the other direction, and we finally got her in.  If they only knew we were trying to help!

Gotta love the 2-3” of snow that covers up the ruts and ice.  I was trying to peek through a fence to see how a cow was progressing and fell on a sheet of ice.  Tweaked my shoulder and smashed my face into another chunk of ice.  Didn’t leave a mark, but I feel the shoulder if I move just right—or wrong, I guess.

It warmed up considerably today so the snow is pretty much gone.  I hope we’re done with that and the warmer temps continue.  We let the pairs out into another small pasture so they are less confined.  The calves seemed to enjoy that, and we enjoyed watching them run and buck.  Spring is coming—it’s got to be!

Wake Me Up When It's All Over

Isn't that how the song goes?  We've all been a little short on sleep lately and we've only just begun the calving process.  It'll be a bit easier if the temps ever warm up.

Yesterday M wanted to go to a bull sale.  Bad thing was it was a couple hundred miles away and I had to go to work so R would have no backup.  The day started early, 5 am for M, so he could check the cows and head to the sale.  R was still up because he had a heifer who wouldn't get up or pay any attention to her new calf.  They dealt with her and put the calf in the warmer, and M headed to the sale.  He wasn't quite prepared for the price of bulls this year so although he got a bull it wasn't one of the ones he really wanted.  He's still on the hunt for another one so I see a few more sales in his future.  I'm hoping for immaculate conception.

R's day didn't get any better.  He had a heifer who ran around the corral with a calf halfway out and then found twins in the cow pasture.  One was dead and one was " half dead".  Another trip to the calf warmer and a couple of attempts to get the poor thing to eat.  When I got home from work we tried again to get it to eat and managed to get a little  into it.  We were pretty happy when we saw it up and around later and making attempts to nurse.  We think it's going to be fine.  R didn't want to mess up the schedule he's been on so did his usual checks.  That meant he was up for 40 hours-- but who's counting?

As we were heading into the cow pasture to feed this morning we noticed a cow ready to calve so thought we'd try to get her to the barn.  We got close and she let us know she wasn't having  any of that!  Okay, fine, we backed off.  As M was walking back to his tractor he was on his phone with his back to the cow,  but she wasn't done with him and came running up behind him.  I yelled to warn him, and he outran her as he calmly said into the phone "I have a cow after me, I'll talk to you later".   Made me laugh.  That cow was a bit crazy for awhile but seemed to settle down.  Hopefully she'll be in a better mood tomorrow when we try to tag the calf and move them.

R is getting lots of good experience this calving season.  I hope we don't burn him out too soon!

Babies, babies!

Things have been heating up in the calving barn, figuratively speaking since it is really cold again--3 degrees this morning.  Calving has been going well for the most part, but we have had a bit of excitement.  A few days ago, M found a new calf.  As he was moving it to a pen with straw the mother had another one!  Our first set of twins this year.  We have quite a few heifers that look like they have plenty of milk but not that one.  She seemed perfectly happy with two babies, but it would be hard for her to feed them both adequately.

As we were out feeding in the cow pasture I noticed a cow that was bagged up, thinking she was close to calving.  Then I realized that it was one that had calved prematurely and the calf didn't survive.  I asked M if he thought we could put one of the twins on her.  She laid by her dead calf for several days until we took it away and was very interested in every calf she passed on the way to the barn so we thought there was a chance she would be okay with a new baby.  M put her in the maternity pen and checked her milk.  She still had good milk and all her teats were good so we brought a twin in with her, and she was very interested.  The calf was bawling for it's real mother for a little while.  It was kind of sad, and M gave me a hard time that it was my idea to take him away.  Just seemed like the best solution for all involved.  It took most of the day but I finally got a text from R telling me to look on the cow cam, and the twin was sucking on it's new mama.  She is very protective of the little guy, and he seems to be adjusting well.  Success!

Last night the guys had to pull a calf--the first one of the season.  (We didn't have to use the puller at all last year--that's a record!).  It wasn't a hard pull, but the calf was a bit bigger than we'd like from a heifer.  I was happy (well, sort of happy) that I could watch it all from my couch.  R's girlfriend was right there helping him.  She doesn't have a problem jumping in and helping when needed, and that's so nice to see. 

I'm afraid M is going to ban me from watching the cow cam because I always think something is wrong.  Yesterday morning we watched one being born.  We could see the calf moving, but the heifer just laid there and didn't move an inch.  I was worried about that and kept telling M that she wasn't moving.  Turns out she was just a bit of a drama queen because she was fine when M got to her although he said she also liked to beller.  Another time we watched one the calf seemed to be in an unnatural position and was slow to move so I was sure something was wrong with it.  It was fine, just needed time. I find myself going through labor with them and wanting to help them push.  Once we go through it 200 more times, I should be over that (I hope).

With the cold weather, we've been running everything through the barn and have been having at least three in the barn at all times.  We kick a group out every day to make room for the next batch.  We had eight babies yesterday so it was a bit busy.  I think M made runs from here to the barn at least six times yesterday.

R was in a wedding last weekend so was busy with those activities and M did most of the checking.  Now we are in a routine where R does checks until about 4 am and then goes to bed.  M is there by 6 am and then comes back to have breakfast and get me, and we do the feeding.  During the day we all keep watch and someone checks the cow pasture before dark.  We've had four cows deliver so far, so that area will be having more action soon.

J and C are in farming mode, getting everything ready so that they can get into the field when the weather allows.  So, we're a bit busy, but a good busy.  I found time to watch baby Sawyer yesterday while K was working on their "summer house".    She's so happy and so busy!  Her mom says she's taken a few steps by herself, but she's pretty cautious yet.  She's figuring out stairs and went up and down and up and down and up and down our two steps while she was here.  I can't get enough of her, so it was a wonderful day!

Cow Cams

Yes, I've been MIA lately.  We headed south to Daytona Beach for a bit of fun on February 19 and spent four days at the speedway.  We made the decision (pricey decision) to stay near the track this time so we could walk back and forth and not have to pay for parking, etc.  Turns out it was a wise decision since there was rain on Friday and Sunday.  We were able to go back to our room and dry off and get dry clothes.  Not sure what we would have done during that 6+ hour rain delay during the 500.  We really love it there, and this year was more spectacular when our guy, Dale Jr., won!

We had a bit of Dale hangover on Monday--not alcohol related, just emotionally spent--so went to a movie and walked the beach.  Tuesday we went back to the Kennedy Space Center and spent most of our time at the Atlantis exhibit.  We also took a tour to launch pad 39 which was really cool.  Marty has always been obsessed with the space program, and we never have enough time at the center.  He had a chance to feel like an astronaut (not space cadet) when we did the launch experience.

When we planned the Daytona trip it was with the intention that we wouldn't go to the Vegas race like we usually do because it gets too close to calving time; however, we received a lot of pressure from family to go so we caved.  I was thinking we would have two weeks at home....wrong.  The RACES were two weeks apart but with travel time we were only home a week, and a busy, quick week it was!

We had a good time in Vegas with M's sister and husband, brother and wife, niece and several friends.  The race was exciting again for the Junior fans!  It was good to get home, and we probably won't get away again until fall.

R had been pushing us to get cow cameras so while we were gone a guy came and installed the cameras.  R made it worth his while by getting four other ranchers in the area on board also.  We have four cameras; two in the barn and two in the corral.  R installed the app on his phone and on my IPad.  We've been thinking about putting it on M's dad's Kindle so he can watch what's going on, but we're a little concerned that he'll push some wrong button and mess something up.  It would be fun for awhile because he'd be calling R every time a heifer twitches.

Today, R went to a chemical meeting put on by the local co-op.  M went late and wasn't planning to stay long but wanted me to check the cow cam periodically.  I was checking it and noticed some heifers lying down and was panning through the crowd when I saw that one was starting to calve.  I texted R at the meeting who checked the camera on his phone and told his dad, and he headed home.  I could see that she was making a little progress and just when M arrived to pick me up, she delivered.  We moved her into the barn where she won't be bothered, and we can watch with the camera to make sure the calf is nursing without getting her stirred up.  Handy little gadget.

We've had warm weather and water running and now a baby so it's really feeling like spring.

Spring Yet?

We (along with most of the country) are getting tired of the cold weather.  Seems like we've had below zero temps for weeks with lots of wind.  I've been fortunate that I haven't had to be out in it too much.  R is gone to Vegas for his friend's bachelor party so I did go help M the other day.  It was a sunny day with no wind and a balmy 3 degrees, and I still couldn't feel my feet.  You understand why I don't go out if I don't have to.....I don't think there are boots made that will keep my feet warm.

Of course, before it got cold we had to have temps into the 40s so now we have ice everywhere.  The poor cows look like they are tiptoeing around, and we've had one abort her calf.  They, too, are tired of the cold and wind.  On the bright side (?) we haven't had any snow to speak of in the past month.

The guys have been busy hauling grain.  The cold weather is not kind to them with trucks and auger motors that don't want to run.  Good days to work in the shop.  I've been holed up in my office doing book work to get ready for tax time.  I feel like I've been at it for months.

R ended up having to have his kidney stone surgically removed with a stent placed.   He's got interesting stories to tell about the whole ordeal, including removing the stent.  He said he experienced the worst pain he'd ever felt, and I felt so bad for him.  Still hard to be a mom and not be able to make it better.  While he was in Billings for that we had his girlfriend's little guy.  That was fun but exhausting.  I'm not used to having a little boy around anymore.  He turned 5 while he was with us so we had to make a birthday cake!  It's funny that he's into the Power Rangers just like R was at that age.

We had some fun yesterday when our granddaughter came to visit for the afternoon while her parents were working on their house.  J and K bought some lots in Richland which include a house so they are doing some work on it to make it a summer home.  It's an old house, but K is very enthusiastic to have another project and has jumped right in.  It'll be more comfortable for them than living in their camper.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Sawyer.  She's a busy girl and only stops moving when she's sleeping!  She's an accomplished crawler and pulls herself up on everything.  She'll soon be nine months old, and it's unbelievable how fast that time has gone!  I noticed that M was not leaving the house while she was here....grandpa is in love.

There should be a break in the weather this week........just in time for us to head south for a little vacation.

Retire? Not Likely

The other night M was on the internet looking at rentals in Arizona.  What?!  He must have been really tired....or tired of the weather.  Not sure, but I think it's a good sign that he's thinking about cutting back a little.  However, later that night R called to say his girlfriend was taking him to the ER with a possible kidney stone.  They stayed in town overnight so M had to do cow chores.  He was planning to move grain so that the other two trucks could keep hauling to the elevator.  That plan was shot down when J called and said he was throwing up and couldn't drive the truck.  So both boys were down for the count and M's planned changed yet again.  I guess M won't be retiring any time soon.

Since I started working just one day a week I don't see people as regularly so they think I've retired completely and are surprised when they do see me there.  The other day at work I left a note for the other tech about the days I'll be gone if she wants to trade days with me.  My boss saw it and thought I was retiring, too!  Yes, I have a little bit of travel planned this winter.

Speaking of which, I'd better get a move on.  My brother and I are on our way to Arizona!

A New Year of Cow Stuff

We usually try to Bang's vaccinate and brand our heifer calves during the holidays so that M's sister can get in on the fun, but the weather didn't really cooperate.  M called the vet clinic last week to let them know we needed to get it done so we could get on their schedule.  The vet picked yesterday which turned out to be a perfect day to do it.  We were wondering if he could predict the weather, but he assured us it was more good luck than good management.  It was a mostly sunny day with temps in the 30s and no wind.  A beautiful winter day in our world-- much better than the -30 with 30 mph winds we had over the weekend.

We decided to brand some before the vet got there to speed things up a little--R had 10, M's sister had a couple and I had two....until we remembered that we had another five we had on shares with our friend.  I managed to get my brand on those, too.  The remaining 26 got our new brand so now we have his, mine and ours.  We also had 30 of the neighbor's that we're feeding for the winter.  Those didn't have to be branded so went through pretty quickly.  They really are a nice set of heifer calves and bigger than last year.

It was nice to get out and get physical, but the fresh air and activity had us all ready for bed early!