I have decided not to try and milk Elsie again. She got progressively worse each time I tried and both of us ended up scraped and sore. (Me flinging myself totally across the room to miss a right cut to my jaw). I could not even get the cups near her yesterday. She kicked out every time I approached. Injuries can happen both for the cow (who was throwing herself about) and I – plus it is dangerous for the calf as well. On a normal day her ears are back all the time and you can see the whites of her eyes every time she whips her head around. Trying to milk her sent her over the edge. And when I tried to undo her tether in the milking shed she reared her head back and literally head-butted my hand. Deliberately. This was not a knee jerk kick. That behaviour is no good.
I am sure a more experienced dairy woman could handle her but I can’t.
Best for me to quit while I am ahead. I have a wee heifer and a Mama to feed her. That works. 
She is such a good mother though. Standing watch as baby sleeps and gently backing over to the calf when she stands up. Standing dead still when baby is drinking. She is deeply nervous and protective of her calf. But that is not her only problem – she does not like people – that is the main problem.
Sometimes the plan changes – it is important to recognise the change and turn with it. Tacking in a different direction to catch the wind. I am not getting into a battle of wills with this cow.
So yesterday she and her calf spent the day in the dim back room of the barn. The Cadet and I peeked at her every now and then. She had food and water and peace. Baby was drinking on and off and doing a lot of Day Two sleeping.
I am sure that Lady A will be much easier to milk. She is a totally different kind of cow. She loves to be patted and scratched, very calm, I can even hand feed her. So I have a feeling that she may be a better bet. Though I should not speak too soon. (Touching wood, dancing on one leg in a circle to the West). And she is not ready to calve yet, her udder is still quite small. Let’s hope at the very least she gives birth as easily as Elsie the Wild.
The chicks are all doing well. Such a good hatch rate. Only one egg not hatching. They sleep in under and around their Mama Table heater. They are so much quieter than chicks under lights.
The Cadet and The Chick.
Well I had better get going. Yesterday quite wore me out. I could go back to bed you know! But off to work we go. Me and my dogs.
The La Manchas – kidding around!
Good morning. We have some pretty wild squally storms galloping through. I will get out my big oil-skin raincoat and go out early and check the pigs in their huts – the kunes might want to come into the barn in all this lightning – I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
88 responses to “Elsie The Wild”
Totally agree. Avoid situations that could lead to news headlines. Hopefully the other cow will be willing! I need to learn how to make grass-fed butter! ( when the time is right ).
Butter is easy – plus i culture it! even better.. c
really? I thought butter was a lot of work?!
no, just find an old fashioned butter churn, pour in cream, put the kids onturning the handle.. wash, done in no time.. c
I’m on it!!
It’s a good idea to handle Elsie’s little heifer as much as possible as early as possible. The idea is to imprint her on people (much like chicks imprint on mom the first couple of days). I remember working with foals quite a lot in their first week, including rubbing all over, blanket/light weight on their back, picking up & fiddling with feet, and rubbing a running clipper all over the body – basically anything they’d be expected to encounter later in life. At least with foals, it made life MUCH easier to handle when it came time for weaning & training, even if they spent the rest of the first year out in a field without human interaction, if they got the imprint training in the first week. Same idea should work with calves 🙂
And the idea suggested yesterday of grafting a second calf to Elsie sounded good to me. Using something to “scent mark” the current heifer could also be used on a second calf to help the process along. Even rubbing a towel all over her calf then all over #2 would help. I’m thinking that if Lady A’s calf can nurse on Elsie, that would give you all of her milk for your use.
And I am pretty sure we now know why Elsie was a nurse cow, not a milker!
I will try it, for sure, depends how long it takes for Lady to calve.. and yes.. already working with the calf she is such a sweetie at the moment.. c
I did the imprinting with the two foals I raised, fortunately they had cooperative mamas. They both turned into sweet natured, trusting, in-your-pocket types. I’ve read it works with pups too so why not calves?
Makes a difference with kittens, too. Consider feral kittens – mom keeps them hidden with no human interaction early, and they stay very leery of humans (at best). If you can find and handle the kittens at 2 to 3 months old, and they are much more trusting of people. And I’ve seen the difference in puppies with our rescue group. The puppy mill surrenders, unless they are very young (generally 3 months or younger), have a very hard time interacting with other dogs, let alone people. I’m not saying trust and training can’t happen, it just takes lots of time and even more patience.
BTW, the imprint/socialization window does vary by species, and generally is earlier & shorter in “precocious” species. The earlier the offspring can open its eyes, walk/run, and find food, the sooner you need to work with them. In puppies & kittens, the window is a bit later and longer (several weeks, instead of several days).
Behavior is such an interesting topic 🙂
now that is interesting. since this calf is already running about the field I am already hard at work to connect with her.. very good info .. thank you
You are a wise woman to change your plan before someone gets hurt. It’s not worth injury to either of you.
Easy for me to say, while safely across the sea, but you need to listen to your body, Celi. It is asking for rest. If you become ill, who will look after everything for you? Elsie looks like she is giving Camera House the evil eye! Lovely photos of the cadet with the chicks.
Yesterday, out of the blue, Chloe said, “Where does Celi live again?” I told her and she said, “Oh, well, people ship kittens and puppies all over the world don’t they?” I gave that a contemplation and said, “Well…yes…but what does that have to do with the price of fish?” And she said, “For the piglet!”
Oh brother! 😀
and yes .. you can ship a piglet! .. though I would LOVE you both to do a road trip, when they are little the kune just sit on your knee.. too sweet for words, just book into hotels that take dogs and carry her in in a dog crate! Tell them she is a dog and what do you mean she looks like a pig – How Rude! Ha ha ah .. you have no excuses left! c
Ha ha ha, the girl I got Roosevelt my potbelly from had to give him up because she moved to an upper duplex in Milwaukee. She said she contemplated telling everyone he was a dog with a glandular problem!
I look at Percy now and cannot believe he sat on my lap in the car for 3-1/2 hours, drooling on my shirt. He’d surely squash me now!
Same with Tima. she is a weighty girl! But will still try to get into my lap!
There is nothing wrong with a healthy respect for the ways of nature, wise choice to leave the Momma alone to do her thing> 😀 Take care of yourself, not a good time of year to get sick!
Gives a very clear definition to the U.K. phrase, “What a cow!” lol
As I was reading your episode for today, Elizabeth’s thought of the “former life” of Elsie The Wild came to mind, wondering what has possessed her to be so aggressive toward someone so obviously compassionate. I had never thought of cows as being nasty, except the males — who I guess are not ‘cows’ at all, but ‘bulls’. It really does sound as though she doesn’t like people, poor thing.
I agree, your photos for today are especially great. The Cadet and Chick are precious ones 🙂
Have a great day! Mame
Have a care-full day, C. It’s easier to get hurt when you are exhausted. Supportive hugs from here.
I’m so sorry. How terribly frustrating for you. Too bad you can’t have the ‘salesman farmer’ buy her back when her calf is weaned. I so dislike folks that are just trying to rid themselves of problem animals, without telling the whole truth. I was hoping Lady A could show Elsie that humans are not the devil. Maybe it doesn’t work that way with cattle? I’m glad that you are basically in one piece, save for your hand, from your attempts at milking her.
The man who sold her to me never tried to milk her, she was only ever a nurse cow.. his have fields and bulls, there is seldom any human intervention she is not aggressive when there is food, that is Lady so it would be natural for him to think she was gentle. And honestly if i blame someone else for this problem I lose my own power to fix it. It will be OK. Gentling the calf is most important now.. c
You are wise to back away from Elsie the Wild and be safe. Growing up on a dairy farm, I remember seeing cows flail at my father. But the biggest concern was always the bull.
You can always get what you want I guess. The calf is lovely and you have another chance.
Take a minimum work day and a nice long nap. If anybody can convince Elsie the Wild to let her milk it will be you.
Dear Celi, I’m not so sure that a ‘more experienced dairywoman’ could handle crazy Elsie any better, at all. You have given it your best shot and, in your wisdom, know when to cut your losses. One of my favorite quotations is close to what you’ve said above: The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails.
You’ll soon be milking Lady Astor, followed by the lovely goats and will have so much milk, cream, yogurt, ice cream, soap and butter you can start a dairy business!
All the best!
I said to john, “These goats are looking better and better all the time!” But I do love butter you see, so i must have a cow.. c
Oh my goodness. I’m fascinated by al l the advice and comments. I too was wondering what might have happened in Elsie’s past to make her dislike humans so much. Mind you, I see a lot of human behavior that would set me off as well, these days. Oh well. We shall watch as the story unfolds. You hang in there, and follow those marvelous instincts of yours.
You know, prey animals are born skeptics. When I was a horse-sick girl hanging out at the barn any chance I could get, I learned that lesson. Skepticism and a quick flight or fight response keeps these large animals going over the centuries. The wonder isn’t that Elsie isn’t up for this milking nonsense, in a way, it is that so many domesticated cows will put up with it. 🙂 I do worry about her on your small farm, though, you know? Large dangerous animal not inclined to like you is a different creature than a large dangerous animal inclined to sit on your couch and have a cuppa with you (I’m looking at you, Poppy). Take good care, Celi.