I have been taught that when dropping from twice a day milking to once a day milking it is important to change the routine completely in the afternoon. No calling to the cow. No talking to the cow. No rattling about in the milking parlour. No singing. Definitely no singing. Do not go anywhere near the udder of the cow, even to administer medications. Leave the milking door shut. She must not drop her milk at all. She must not even think about being milked. 
So far, so good. In the morning she is milked as usual. Then in the evening I walk the long way around to her gate and let her into the field. Her milk production has dropped considerably. The wound is still dry. 
We are on the right track. No getting cocky though and still touching wood. 
There are definitely at least two roosters in with the baby layers. (Allison thought there were four! ). I have decided that as soon as I can identify who is crowing in there, I will add them to the meat chicken ark. They may as well go in the freezer straight away.
The skunks are back. The traps are out. I am hoping I can trap them, wrap them and relocate them before they find a way in to my meat chicks. Pasture raised chickens are very vulnerable. They have to be on the pasture. So all the dogs are out at night, they are challenging the skunks, barking like crazy, running them off but the smell is so bad out there that last night I had to close the french doors in the bedroom. I am ordering more Skunk Off for dogs.
This is the only thing I have found so far that gets the stink out of a dogs coat. And yes I have tried tomato juice, and dawn, and waiting, and the eye of a newt, and milk and cottage cheese with garlic but believe me Skunk Off is the best. And no, they have not paid me to say that. And no, we do not have skunks in New Zealand. But the dogs have to do their job. So stinky pooches it is.
I guess I should be grateful we do not have bears. 
Sheila’s favourite thing after her walk is Water ! She has given up the drink … until the weekend anyway!
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
58 responses to “Once a day milking”
Right now skunks have young ones. If you relocate an adult, the young will be wandering around. Even if you relocate them they will usually find their way back. One year we trapped 7 of them and of course dispatched them. They love tuna and peanut butter in a trap. Be glad you don’t have racoons or (gasp) porcupines. A mouthful of quills is a terrible thing for a dog…….and they never seem to learn not to bite them. Sheila always looked to me like a party animal. So glad Daisy is doing well…..perhaps she is weary of lugging her udder around and producing so much milk. Not the same as having a calf sip all thru the day, is it?
Laughed out loud when you said you’d like to know who’s crowing in that crowd. Gotta catch ’em at it, I guess, but you did say their tail feathers and combs are eventual giveaways. I had no idea how much thought goes into milking from two to one time a day. I feel bad for Daisy; with that very very painful teat, even though it is healing.
Good that Daisy was so cooperative. One milking each day should free up a little of your time, though I’m sure you’ll find something to fill it soon enough. Funny that your skunks are on the prowl. Ours have started, too. I close all windows before bed save the one with an exhaust fan in it. Before I let Max out into the yard for his “last call”. I make all kinds of noise on the back porch hoping st scare any of them away. Of course, it’s not such a great idea if one is next to the porch. That happened a couple years ago and both of us almost got sprayed. Luckily, Max listened to me and stayed on the porch while the skunk backed away, snarling. Whew!
I am reading in surprised ‘horror’! Now I believe you live right in the middle of Chicago – skunks in a large urban area? Oh phew!!!!!! Thank God I only have to put up with snakes and spiders 🙂 !!
Eha, in the states we have skunks, opossum, raccoon, coyote, and fox who visit, and some do live in the city! As our population grows, and we encroach on their environment, they have learned to live among us in the suburbs and cities too! There are also some areas that are visited by wild cats and bears, though I believe that these are just passing through when you see them in your yard. Still, this can be alarming to anyone when coming face to face with them!
The creatures are quite adaptable to the changes and encroaching we have thrust upon them. As humans we are less accepting. 😐
I have my fingers crossed that it is only two roosters. It wasn’t just the crowing that had me suspicious– it was the stand-offs between the suspects. Very rooster-y to me. Then again, I only have hens although I believe one we rehomed was a rooster trapped in a hen’s body. Anyway, I haven’t seen too many roosters in action.
My parents used this recipe to remove skunk odor from their dogs. They received the recipe from their veterinarian.
For spray in the eyes, flush with water as soon as possible.
Note: This mixture is unstable and must be mixed fresh every time.
1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1 teaspoon liquid soap or dish detergent
Mix these together and rub down the spray victim thoroughly.
Let sit for five minutes then rinse off with tap water. Repeat if necessary.
So, it really is ‘A rooster one day, a feather duster then next’ eh? 🙂
I LOVE feather dusters, Gosh, what an idea!.. c
Oh just grab the rooster by the feet and turn him upside down and use him like a feather duster that way. Works in the animated cartoons! Ha ha
Poor stinky pups – just doing their jobs 😦 And I’d relocate those skunks regardless of what the law says – we’re not going to rat on you!
What care you are taking with Daisy. A pity about the skunks, but you know what to do and what works now. I’m out of town so can’t visit so much. Having a much needed retreat.
I just can’t imagine it…..the only skunk that comes to my mind is Pepe le Pu ( is that right?), My God, you have some trials…makes a plague of frogs seem quite pleasant:)
Hope Daisy will heal well and looking forward to pictures of her in her new bra.
As to your skunk problem:
1. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/solutions_remove.cfm
2. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/solutions_permit.cfm
3. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/permit_mammals.cfm#furbearer-rural
4. http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/GettingStarted.aspx
5. http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/HuntTrapDigest.pdf
6. http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Pages/Feedback.aspx
7. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-04-18/news/ct-met-0410-skunks-20100417_1_skunk-population-winters-rabies [“Residents tempted to get a trap and try to remove a skunk themselves should note that they will need a state nuisance wildlife control permit to remove one from their property.
And state law prohibits releasing trapped skunks into the wild because they are the primary carriers of rabies in this region, said Bob Bluett of the Department of Natural Resources.”]
You can also contact your local Extension agent.
1. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/index.cfm
2. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/findoffice.cfm
Hope this helps a bit.
All the best.
No doubt the only reason you don’t have bears is that the skunks are unbearable?
I love skunks in theory and at a distance. On our farm, they would roost under the house. Then, the dogs would scare them. Then, we would get made fun of at school for our stickiness. Poor Boo and Ton. I remember how miserable our dogs were.
Skunks again! If it’s not one thing, it’s something else, Miss C. However, I am pretty sure they have met their match when they moved to your farm.