Time to Feed the Cows

Does anyone remember that old Dunkin' Donuts commercial where the baker would wake up in the morning at some insane hour and say, "Time to make the donuts" in a really drowsy voice? Then he'd stumble through the process and we'd all be really grateful for his sacrifice and want to run out and buy at least a dozen. (Oh, was that only me?)

This picture of Nathan reminds me of that. We found him on the couch one morning like this. He'd gotten up on Monday (I know it's Monday because he's got church socks on) and fallen asleep in his coat. The boys were pretty good about getting up to feed the calves every morning. Daniel was more dedicated than Nathan, but Nathan was pretty good. Some feedings were very cold!


I made sure I got out to take pictures of the boys during one of the last feedings before the cows were weaned off milk. I had a great idea to compare the size of the calves from when we got them to when we weaned them.

Here's Daniel feeding his cow in April. The trees were still bare and the corral/pasture barely had any grass.

Here he is at the end of May. Same cow. Grass in the pasture. Daniel's even wearing the same sweatshirt. Can you see how much the calf has grown? I can't either. So much for my awesome comparison. I guess we'll have to wait until the end of summer for a really impressive "then and now". And honestly, when you have a cow approaching you with 6 inches of tongue hanging out for a bottle nipple, it's best to have him be as small as possible!

Right here is where I would post the video I have of this white calf coming to me for some milk (which I didn't have). I've been trying to get it to load all afternoon. Maybe soon. It's highly entertaining. cough, cough

New respect for the cows of the world

I went out to help feed the calves tonight. Chad had to go chop wood and Leah's calf hasn't been eating very well. So Leah stayed in with Sarah and I went out to make sure Spots was a good boy. (I went out and fed him at lunch and he didn't seem very interested then.)

As we all walked out with four bottles, the 3 other calves came running up to the gate and stuck out their heads. Their pink tongues were reaching for their dinners long before we got to them. I found Leah's calf behind the shelter.

While I anticipated a bit of a fight to eat (similar to what happens IN the house every night), Spots came right up to me and got down to business. I guess his tummy ache is gone. And then started another fight. Those little cows can really suck on a bottle!

As my fingers started cramping from gripping the bottle so hard, I began to develop a sense of sympathy and respect for the momma cows. I nursed 6 babies. But it wasn't the workout I got tonight! And the head butting that the calves do to the mommas? Rebekah caught one right in the face last night and went to bed with a fat lip. I got one in the chest this afternoon...and that well is dry!

So I had to take a moment to tip my hat to the momma cows of the world. They are tough girls!

Rose, Spots, Calvin and Grain (?)

OK...here are the pictures from the kids' first time feeding the calves. We went out after dinner last night and braved some wind and cooler temps. I don't think the kids even noticed the weather.

New calves have always seemed so tiny to me as I've driven past them on the road. There is not so much about these fellas that makes them seem tiny when you're standing next to them! They are huge! But when they stumble and end up in a heap on the ground, it's a reminder that they are still babies. (One of these calves still has his umbilical cord.)

Here, we have Rebekah and Spots. Spots is Leah's cow.


After Leah fed Spots, Spots was very interested in Leah!

Yes, we have a black and white dog. And, yes, it got confusing out there with all of them running around!

Nathan had fun feeding his calf. Ironically, Nathan has the biggest one. And it not shy about getting something to eat. Nathan insists that his name is Calvin. I think Brutus is much more fitting.

Leah seems to think that the calves are really big kittens. She can't cuddle them enough! Here is Leah draped over Calvin and Rebekah is loving her calf...Rose.

Daniel's calf seems pretty sweet to me...if that's possible. Daniel keeps saying that the calf's name is Grain. Grain? Why not Rock? Or Wood? Chad and I may keep calling it L. Tom Perry. We can't stop laughing over that one.

And if these pictures make it seem easy to feed a calf, you may find these videos entertaining! I had to do two videos because a calf started chasing me while I was making the first one. (I was still in my skirt from church and was vainly trying to stay clean!)

The boys went out at 6:30 this morning to feed all four calves by themselves. I don't know how easy it was for them, but they came in with empty bottles, so it must have been some sort of a success!

We'll be bottle feeding for the next two months. Come on by if you'd like to have the experience. We're hoping to get some lambs in the next couple of weeks. That will be more bottles!

Good Grief

It's been a while since I've posted anything. I am having a hard time keeping up with life. Or maybe life is having a hard time slowing down enough to not lose me entirely!

One little story before I rush off for another life experience (making dinner)...

We got four Holstein bull (means we have to take care of that unpleasant task) calves yesterday. (They are only days old and will give us plenty to do.) The kids each claimed one and started giving them names. We were discussing the names at the table during lunch. Leah named hers Spots. Rebekah is calling hers Rose. (We once had a cow named Rose that died unexpectedly.) I'm still not clear on what name Nathan chose for his. The funniest moment was when Daniel said, "I'm naming my calf L. Tom Perry."

We laughed at that so hard that I had to wipe tears out of my eyes. Even Sarah laughed, though she didn't understand it. I think Daniel was joking, but the name may stick! Do you think Elder Perry would be offended?