Doctor’s orders
May 17, 2010
For me a chill pill (really) has been prescribed, for Della, west and wewaxation. Her due date was Saturday, I was going for Tuesday, so maybe tomorrow…wish us luck!
5-15-2010
Other happenings include new pigs, some garden work and watching chicks grow.
Thelma & Louise
Not so cute anymore, and I am now envisioning them in the roaster…
Our new Sex-Link rooster, Russell Crow is the little guy at the top of the picture. He’s easy to spot with barring on his wings and yellow legs, the pullets have black legs. Also you can see the difference in size between a Cornish rooster and hen. Everybody is just shy of 3 weeks.
And finally some gardening.
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Food Renegade
Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op
After that picture of Della’s udders my boobs hurt. Sorry but it looks so painful. I hope her calf is born soon!
Jean, just think her udder isn’t all the way filled out yet…hopefully all will go well
I can see why you might need a chill pill. With all you have going on right now and with the birth of Della’s calf. I love the little pigs, Thelma and Louise and the chickens are growing fast.
Our garden is shaping up. We had a pond dug, but we have not had any real rain for it to fill up. I am excited to have a pond and fish in a couple of years. One more little step for us to know our food source.
I look forward to Della’s pictures.
Finding Pam, I should send some rain to you – it rained for the entire month of April, and now here it is again. A pond sounds divine!
The pond is another way to become self sustaining Though we won’t have fish for a couple of years. Please send the rain. Thanks for the comment.
Hope you and Della are good.
Oh yeah- definitely looking more like dinner, at this stage. Love the rooster’s name!
The piglets, on the other hand are soooo cute- it’s hard to remember they’re soooo tasty. What breed are they? I noticed you gave them girl names….are they bacon or breeders?
Oh yeah- LUCK!!!
Paula, thanks
T & L are bacon, and they are supposed to be a Duroc cross. Our feedstore sells several batches each year with a waiting list – we got there early on the designated day and picked these two cuties – although like the chickens, they won’t stay cute for long. They immediately went to work rooting in the deep bedding. At this size they are still cougar bait, so the feeding shed is a little safer until they gain some size, or they could be starring in the movie: 3:10 to Puma… 
Oh I do agree, west and weewaxation are just what she needs. What a moment this is, waiting for the arrival.
Thelma and Louise! What a hoot! They’ll be characters to match the silver screen duo, I’m sure.
‘luck with the birthing, it’ll be soon i’m sure…
TD, I am shameful – I had the vet out today, he couldn’t confirm or deny twins, but he only felt two feet, so I felt a little better. I doubt Della was too thrilled though…
Thelma and Louise are having a hey day in the deep bedding pack – they burrow down and cover themselves for the night, and they were quick on the uptake on the self feeder and hog nipple. Now for some milk…
Good Luck Della! Yum…pig! Your garden looks so inviting. I’m looking forward to seeing it in another month
Prairie Mother, me too – we have barely had a long enough dry spell to work the soil. We’ve been eating greens from that one row for a while now, and I snuck a few things in before it rained Sunday, but I also have to remember I usually plant the bulk of my garden around Memorial Day. So it goes. Row crop farmers around here are really behind
So thrilling, I milked Rosie for the first time today, she didn’t mind as long as she had her nose in the grain. Evidently the calf has been nursing only on the front two quarters and she didn’t want us touching the back two, so while we did get some milk out we didn’t empty the rear quarters. So we did empty the front ones hoping the calf will look for more milk and work on the rear two. Will milk her again tomorrow am, and attempt to empty the back two successfully. I’m told she produces 6 gals a day. The calf is stinkin’ kyute!!
Rosie weighs about 1400 lbs and I really DO NOT want her stepping on me. So far she swishes her tail and swats me with it like I’m an annoying fly and she will lift her leg when she wants me off that rear quarter. She’s a big momma and her bouncing baby bull calf is the light of her life. Cows are so amazing!!!
Speaking of due dates, I was told Rosie was due like the 8th of April. So evidently, she was a month overdue if their dates were right. . . . Also my daughter is over a week overdue, is there something in the air???
Doris, congrats!
If it were me, I would separate that Rosie and her calf, so she is letting the milk down for you, and the calf at the same time. Her quarters need to be milked out evenly so you aren’t inviting mastitis, especially with a 6 gallon producer. Make that calf work the back and you work the front. Twice a day at least if your schedule allows it. Separating the calf won’t hurt it, nursing twice a day is better than momma getting sick and possibly not giving as much milk later due to illness or a damaged udder.
I had no idea Shorthorns got so big. She sounds beautiful
MOH, thanks for the suggestion, how do I make that work? as in how do I make the calf do anything?
Well we did get her milked out both Monday evening, and Tuesday morning. My daughter birthed her second baby at 8 pm yesterday, vbac, amazing experience, but now I have to catch up with the cow.
Dunno if it was just cause I was so tired yesterday (no sleep as my daughter was in labor), but I was (am) overwhelmed by her size and I ended up falling on my back (off the one legged stool I made, I didn’t get hurt at all) when she moved, my brother took over and milked her out for me. Appreciate any and all suggestions.
Thanks again,
Doris
Doris, that’s amazing your daughter did the vbac, congrats! I bet that is a relief
As for the calf, you can make it do anything you want it to, by controlling when it drinks. I usually have a collar on them in a few hours so I can at least catch and guide them to where I want. My cow gives too much milk to leave the calf on her all the time and just take what I want. But I understand not everyone’s schedule is the same. If I have a successful calving with Della I’ll post about what I do, ironically since I started the blog, I have the worst luck with my dairy project. No sense in writing about it, when I don’t have a calf…
That’s interesting about the ACV, I would have to drench her with it, to get her to come near it, she won’t touch the stuff. Maybe because she is getting sulfur in her minerals?
oops, I don’t think it’s the sulfur that prevents the prolapse, but the potassium. A tiny bit of rac vinegar in water actually sweetens it, so you could offer her a 5 gallon bucket of water and put, oh I dunno, you could start with maybe 1/4 cup and work up to adding an entire cup if she actually will drink it that way. I’d much rather try to prevent the prolapse, than try to fix it later. Iwill also add dolomite to the water and if my goats have a choice they will always choose the vinegar or dolomite water over the other every time.
Doris, I’ll try it, but she is turned off the vinegar for some reason – and it is raw, with the mother. She won’t drink the city water either, although can’t say as I blame her… Do your animals have access to minerals besides in their water? Our’s seem to turn up their noses at anything added to the water.
Isn’t it hard to wait!?! We have three of them hanging fire right now and deciding who stays in the barnyard under observation and who goes to pasture is driving us nuts. Hope all goes well with you and Della!
TC, waiting is terrible, especially since of her old age and last calving, I am even more worried. I’m seeing a tiny bit of prolapse, when she lays down, just no room left at the inn. I am lucky I can put her in a small pasture and she can go to water and to a loafing shed. Otherwise she would be off in the back corner, and they are predicting cold, stormy weather for a week.
Hope your girls do alright and have easy deliveries!
Pat Coleby says raw apple cider vinegar will prevent prolapse. something about the sulfur in it?
Doris
Thelma and Louise are adorable. Pigs are so cute at that age!
The good side of letting the tractors help out in my orchard is that they tore the ground up so bad that the idea pigs – used lightly – could do worse is an absolute joke! And just as I’m thinking that…. there’s Thelma and Louise, looking adorable. Maybe next year. I’ll see.
Hayden, they are cute and so inquisitive, the most dog like of farm animals, I think. Luckily they aren’t so cute at bacon time
Pigs!!! I’ve always wanted pigs. Hubby says no because once I name them, I won’t be able to eat them! Please (!) document their antics for us! Bacon sounds really good right now, must be breakfast time.
Mermaid, if we had more than two I probably wouldn’t name them, but by the time they get big enough to butcher – it doesn’t really matter what they are named…
Waiting on expectant mothers is trying – we have one ewe left to go. I’ve been getting up at 2am to check as she is a first-time-mom. Love the piglets – we also got two Duroc cross gilts. They weren’t even weaned when we got them but took right off on Molly milk – now they will have to wait a couple of months for more until she calves. Good luck with Della – hopefully it has happened or will today!
MarciaWY, I was hoping she would be settled in on a schedule before the beef cows started calving…time will tell.
Good luck with your ewe!
Those have to be the cutest pigs I’ve ever seen! and the names are perfect!!!
Susy, they are dolls and so full of personality!
I was ordered some R&R too (self imposed)! But had to check in. I’m wishing Della the very best and hope that her calving goes well for you and her. Did she find that clover or did you?
Did you see??? She said “yes”…well, she nodded her head and kissed him the other night and what a DIL she’s going to make. I’ve left her in charge of all the critters for the week and am catching my breath in the WV mountains.
She’s passed the test…she handled Jose in heat! Big fat and sassy Josie! I’ll have my plate full when I get home, but at least I’ve gotten a second breath.
Best wishes Miss Della!
Diane, I did see! Congrats! Cows in heat are a true test for sure
I found the clover – the clump had a few 4′s and many 5′s. According to Juliette de Bairacli Levy picking the 5 leaf or higher number is bad luck. Don’t know if that is true or not but it makes a good story
Get some rest and enjoy your time off – summer will be here before you know it!
Wow! Its time already! Pregnancies always seem to go faster when they aren’t your own…or your milk cow’s!:) I am wishing you luck and anxiously awaiting pictures of that cute little heifer calf and her content and freshened momma! By the way…my kids all run around the house singing “Alejandro,” glad we aren’t the only homeschoolers with those tendencies!:)
Tami, I can’t believe it either – I bought Della a new scrubby for her milk bucket to spur things on
as if…
I’m torn between Alejandro and Paparazzi most times – the dogs don’t care – they think I am singing to them no matter what I say. Drives the kid crazy
Are those piglets cute or what!! Fingers crossed for Della!
Allison, Cute!! and thanks on behalf of Della
Hurray for chill pills. Um, can you share them? hehe Best wishes to Della. This time next week, this will all be behind you both. Love the little chicks. I’m such a chicken nut, I think they still look darling. And those piglets … they can come to Aunt Paula’s, too. My garden beds are non-existent at this point. I plan on getting down and dirty (literally) at the end of this month. Is your daughter’s schooling winding down? We have not quite 3 weeks left. Of course he could finish much sooner … we’ll see how motivated he gets.
Paula, umm sure, Della had to share them with me – they are from her homeopathic farm kit. Works so good I am not even hardly glancing out in the pasture! Well, at least not every 5 minutes!
Hey maybe the pigs could help you with the garden beds
School will be over on the 11th – she is only done with digital photography! Her last assignment was a blog with photos…she really struggled with that one! Good luck to C with his studies!!
http://columbiagorgefarmphotography.blogspot.com/
Thanks for sharing the kids site! She’s done well and it reminds me of watching my DD develop her skills as well. Great job!
All the best for Miss Della…hopefully she’s calved by the time I write this. Chicks are NOT cute at all at that stage
Nope not yet – I told her you said she would just get it done and I would find the calf on morning rounds – she is not listening to me right now!
Holding our breaths over here. OK, those pigs are too darn cute! Sending quick and easy contraction vibes to sweet Della, for your sake as well as hers
I must agree that the chicks have grown out of the cute stage. I love the pigs and their names. I’ll still be rooting for Della and you to have a successful birth.
I found a massive 4-leaf clover the other da – a 5 leaf clover, now that would be sweet!
You found a 4-leaf-clover wonderful! Speaks well for Della and her calf! Your garden is looking good and so are chickens and pigs. Maybe by the time you read this the new baby is here and doing fine. Also, you and the mom are doing well!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
How exciting! I can see why you would have a hard time staying calm. ; ) All these new creatures… your are blessed indeed. Praying everything goes smoothly. God’s Peace, Melissa
oh nice 4 leaf clover
I wanted to ask you about chickens — and table scraps.
Is it true they shouldn’t have citrus fruit?
Pamela, I have no idea if the citrus would hurt them, but sometimes they get orange peels or other citrus peels in our house scraps, and they don’t touch it at all or if they do find any pulp they don’t touch the peels.
Cool photos, loved all of them! There is just something so cute about baby farm animals. I hope everything is Ok with Della.