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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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 Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 2:09:49 PM
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| Mike - YES!! there literally were tears in texas but i was a little embarrassed to say that earlier. but i should know y'all would understand, even if i have never met miss sally o'mally yet... |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 2:34:19 PM
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| Hi Janet, Annabelle is doing good. She will be 11 months on the 27th. Just working on the farm and being busy. It is 94 degrees here. I stay inside when its that hot. I put a fan in Annabelle's stall. She and the rest of the animals do have a lot of shade from the trees. My turkey hatched three baby chicken chicks. Not sure about that one. Gretel is sitting on her goose eggs. Garden is doing great. I even have some peaches on my tree I planted last year. I am a little worried about Annabelle. She came into heat twice. MaryJane was kind enough to answer questions I had. But the second heat she did it again two weeks after. I hope its because she is just starting out and hopefully will straighten out. Have you heard of that before? |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 2:40:52 PM
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| A matter of fact, Nellie would come in quicker than 21 days when she was a young heifer and I just accounted it to being young and cycles/hormones just not quite there yet. I never had her checked out. I was new at all of this so some things that might have raised an eyebrow with a cow knowledgable person, it didn't alarm me. Since she's had a calf it's almost 21 days to the day. I wouldn't be alarmed. I would just keep written record of her heats and see how she does. Sure good to hear from you. Glad the garden is doing so well and peaches,(I'm jealous). Everything sounds heavenly there. Someday will you post another photo of Annabelle. I just love seeing how all the heifers/cows/bull/calves are doing. I know it's a busy time for everybody, but I'm a bovine addict. Take good care. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Mike
1667 Posts
Mike
Argyle
WI
United States of America
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 3:22:15 PM
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Victoria, not unusual to cycle sooner. Like Janet says, the first calf 'usually' stabilizes the normal 21 day period
Ginger eating for two, her bag looks tight. I was just out watching her and she's holding her tail out a bit, looks like a bowl full of jelly! I was watching for kicks but didn't see any. 'Soon'(tm). |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 3:25:32 PM
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| Oh cool Mike. Maybe have a calf by morning??? |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 3:27:02 PM
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| Thanks Mike and Janet, I am keeping a calendar on her cycles. I guess I am new at this... Mike sounds like a baby today!! |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 5:02:31 PM
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Speaking of our new Elsa, I feel like I tinker with this and tinker with that regarding cattle genetics (total fun) but I have my days when Christmas morning feels like it'll never arrive.
I was positive that a match between Sir Charles and Sally O'Mally would give me polled (and A2A2) and confident she/he would inherit an adorable white forehead patch (endlessly endearing--Sir Anthony's patch was a perfect white heart) but what I didn't expect was Tinkerbell ears. Sally O'Mally arrived here from her hardscrabble existence in Kansas with a note that said the tips of her ears were missing because of frostbite. Hmmmm. As it turns out, little Elsa inherited her "frostbite" genetics. Still cute as pixie dust in my book.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 5:12:34 PM
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Mike,
Sally O'Mally keeps her tail up, back arched, and backs up everywhere just before she calves. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 5:22:47 PM
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| I think her little ears are darling. That's about the cutest little face. I couldn't believe that story. What are the odds she would have little ears like her mamma. And Sally O'Mally's different from because of frostbite. Wow. Life is mysterious. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 5:35:56 PM
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I'm tempted to think it wasn't frostbite after all. Although I did read a fascinating article in Scientific American (I think I've mentioned it here before) that a human's experiences can sometimes embed in DNA. You have a fear of ?????? because an ancestor experienced ???????
As part of Elsa's humanizing training today, I've gone down to where she is, tied Sally O'Mally up (otherwise she objects), and rubbed and touched and scratched Elsa all over her body, talking to her the whole time. After one long session (in the beginning she nearly passed out from fear), I untied her mother, and baby followed ME as I walked off. Very cool. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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Mike
1667 Posts
Mike
Argyle
WI
United States of America
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 5:45:57 PM
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Well, we have long ropes of mucus coming out. Put down a bale of fresh alfalfa and the whole crew is eating and bedding on it. Ginger Snap lost her comfy spot when she got up to eat some more. She's due.
Valerie is planting in the garden a few feet from the girls so will be the first to know.
She penned up some more moms-to-be in the Mulefoot housing area too. Put the last of last years' grass hay bales in the area to bed them down. Just simply FILL a Porta-Hut with hay and stand back. The moms make their nest and that's that. Food, water, hay, no room mates, what could be neater for them. |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 5:59:56 PM
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| Excited for all the activity taking place, new litters, new calf. This just never gets old. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 6:07:00 PM
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Loving it all MJ! the tinkerbell ears are adorable, she's so pretty. lover boy and i are enjoying every word and photo. we don't mind if every calf she ever has has the ears. and that forehead mark is heart stopping!
it is so fascinating to hear about the humanizing training, etc. hugs to Miss Sally O'Mally for me as she sure earned it. and it so nice to know we'll be getting a cow that has successfully, and easily, calved several times before - you hear horror stories of that from new cow owners who were told one thing and then experience another with regard to fertility, calving, live births, etc.
one month from today i invade y'all  not that anyone is counting |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 6:57:38 PM
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| I'm counting (did you see my arm waving?). Tell me what snacky things a working milkmaid like you needs for fuel while you're here. It's always easiest if I have a guest bar ready. Yogurt? Chips/salsa? Anything your big heart desires besides Sally O'Mally's milk and cream. Oh, and we're going to break out some super-aged Manchego while you're here. Coffee? Tea? Coconut water? Iced tea? |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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Mike
1667 Posts
Mike
Argyle
WI
United States of America
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Posted - Jun 15 2015 : 7:14:54 PM
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Well, everyone went back up on the hill for the night. That's where the two bulls were born, it's a warm night and no rain in sight. Dragon flies and fireflies, a beautiful sunset and cows.... The fresh hay smell is overpowering. Will check during the night for heifer. She's not big enough for twins.
Say Maryjane, what does you vet say now about extra body parts in there? ;) |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 06:07:12 AM
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this future milkmaid has simple snacking desires. i do love coffee and unsweet tea, and of course tons of milk and cream, but other than that tend to be a yogurt, fresh fruit, granola, dried fruit, boiled egg type of gal. anything fresh and from the farm is always great, so veggies/fruit/bread/cheese/butter - all good. nothing i don't eat except meat/poultry from the regular store, and i try to keep 90% of what i eat non processed and "real food". but when i am away from home i eat what is given, no complaints from this farm girl!
just don't get the idea i am some slim wiry little thing. despite my good eating i tend to eat too much of all of it and thus have too many pounds i am carrying around! |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 06:16:27 AM
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| Actually, I'm glad to hear about the extra umpf. Sally O'Mally is a big girl who's very sure of herself and someone waif-like might be intimidated. You do know we're going to saddle her up while you're here, right? |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 4:15:02 PM
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| lover boy has taken to stalking HJO since yesterday to see Elsa and Sally O'Mally photos ... as our home offices are adjacent to one another he saw this post first and was laughing out loud and telling me I was going to ride sally in idaho ;> |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 4:39:09 PM
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| Sally O'Mally sounds like a sweetheart and a dream. A girl who knows her mind and isn't afraid to show it, but also is very compliant and gives lots of milk. :) |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 6:00:58 PM
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| no, but i told him. i won't be sharing that specific post as if you look up in the thread i share the secret of not letting hubbies driving you crazy by sitting there and saying "i love you i love you i love you" over and over in your head... we've been married 15 years, but he doesn't need to know all the secrets that make me the worlds most patient and wonderful wife ;> |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Jun 17 2015 : 3:52:55 PM
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| Congrats! New calf, WooHoo! |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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Monday and raining!
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