What is the definition of a herd of cows anyway? How many does one need to have a herd? Because yesterday Lady Astor gave birth to a lovely tiny, tiny heifer. She also has no belt at all, just a tiny bit of white on her side and her belly. But she is so delicate and so small, she weighs as much as a small goat. Her mother is not protective at all. In fact she showed such a huge lack of interest that I had to dry the baby off myself. Lady A was much more interested in catching up on her dinner. Spraying her calf with dry alfalfa. 
Which I then had to clean off. Meet Naomi. Naomi was named straight away. She is very sweet almost mystical.
After about Four hours the baby was still not standing well and had not had a drink so I carried her across to her mother and leaned her on my leg, guiding her head into her mothers udder and literally popping the teat into her mouth. She had a good drink while her mother ate again. Lady lifted her leg up and down a few times but let the baby feed. 
After that I felt comfortable enough to go to bed myself. I have decided that I will bottle feed Naomi myself. We have bonded. And every time I go near Potter her mother barks her danger, danger bark and tries to get rid of me. Getting close enough to this cow to train her to feed a precious tiny calf seems like a mad idea at this point.
Lady A on the other hand does not mind me sitting with her calf and did not even mind when Aunty Del reached over the divide trying to see who had arrived.
Soon I will go out and milk Lady Astor. There will be some resistance but I really don’t expect it to be as bad as Elsie. The calf will come into the milking shed too. So it will be a bit chaotic. But it is the best way to train the cow to let her milk down for me.
Yesterday I opened up the calf creep (a small pen off the big cow pen designed just for calves) and Potter has immediately decided that this is her perfect sleeping space. No big cows can fit through the door – it is the calf safe space, and a celi safe space, with deep straw bedding, no enormous cow pats and later this is where the calves will find their grain. I was able to go in there with Potter a number of times yesterday and play with her and speak to her. It works very well.
Good morning. Life just got very interesting. Two new heifers. Goodness. No beef. So I will be buying two beef calves this summer, probably weanlings. I will start to call around tomorrow. My job is to feed the families remember. This is not a petting zoo though there is lots of petting. I grow food the old fashioned way.
Join Us, the page above, is making for some great reading. I love this page and wander through often to remind myself of the power of the Fellowship. (That is you by the way, whether you are a reader or a reader who comments, you are a member of the Fellowship of the Farmy). So if you are new to the Kitchens Garden don’t forget to pop in and introduce yourself.
Which reminds me. I have to do some work on The Cast page. But not ’til after the milking and the chores and visiting the Old Codger who is back from wintering in California.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
85 responses to “The Herd welcomes Naomi”
Welcome, Naomi! The latest addition to (or toward?) the wee farmy herd! Wonderful!
Welcome Naomi! Welcome to the herd! Welcome to the farmy! The fellowship will enjoy watching you and Potter grow!
Oh brought a lump to my throat, what a sweet little baby heifer. How strange that they can be so different. I will look at cows with a completely different slant from now on. So like us, some take to parenthood and some regrettably do not. Take care milking lady Astor. x
I just popped in for a sec and Lady A stood perfectly to be milked. She swanned straight into the milking shed and was in no way bothered by the milking or the machine. She was there for the food and I made sure there was plenty. Such a good cow.. so far .. c
That is really good news! x
Excellent!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
We can heave a small sigh of relief…
It’s starting to seem like cows who like to be around people, aren’t such good Mommies and vice versa. Hmmm. That poor wee thing covered in hay sort of breaks my heart. But that one black eye peering out of the mess has its hold on something big and deep and universal. Mystical as you say. She’s dear. I love the names you’ve chosen as well. Potter and Naomi. Such nice names. Do the cows like to be around each other? How does Aunty Del react to all the newcomers and they to her? Do they have cow conversations? And do you know what they’re saying? That sounds like a daft question, but I’m sort of serious.
Aunty says hullo to everyone whilst keeping a weather eye on their mothers. In a few days she will go across to be Lady A’s companion and the calves and Elsie the Wild will hang out together. It is good to have Del to keep the milk cow company.. good training for her.. c
How fantastic! Lady Astor may not be the world’s best mum, but I hope her laid back attitude will help the milking. With that name she expects a nanny for Naomi 😉
That explains it! Thanks for the chuckle.
It appears she found one too! c
What a precious wee little heifer. Welcome to the family darling Naomi. Happy milking C.
🙂 Mandy xo
Welcome to Naomi. Beautiful. These calves have wonderful faces. In fact they all do. I love Aunty Del! Your busyness is increasing. Two new babies. Girls are good though? Even if you have to buy a couple of boys? Or does the economics not work… Cow mums are just as different as us human mums! I do hope Lady A is happy with you milking her. And well done with the strategy with Potter, and the calves’ safe place. Think like a cow..!
Yes I will buy two steers. Beef cows. And raise them in the fields. As much as economics I want to eat good clean food raised on sunshine grass. It is healthier for everyone.. c
Welcome to the family, Naomi! She is lovely.
Naomi….what a beautiful little heifer. Lady A was so big, I thought there might be twins. Another successful birth. Sad that she is so ambivalent about mothering, but good for you that you are allowed so close. Is Naomi peering up at Aunty Del in that picture? Good, good luck with the milking. Good to hear about the Old Codger. I was wondering about him the other day and how he was doing. Pet Naomi and Potter for me. They are gorgeous new additions to the farmy.
In a way she is a perfect Milk cow, she is not agitated very much about her baby being tucked out of sight in a warm corner.. and it is cold and windy today!
Welcome Naomi 🙂 A perfect playmate for Potter. It almost seems like Lady Astor is going out of her way to make up for Elsies’ rudeness the other day. I really hope milking Lady A is a happier experience than last time. Good Luck miss c with your two new babies. Laura
The milking was easy. She stood perfectly then I took a bottle of hot milk to Naomi and she slowly drunk the whole thing without very much encouragement at all. So it was a very successful morning.. I am pleased.. though not finished with the chores yet, I had to come in for my jacket!.. c
Great News …. onward. Keep warm. Laura
Double cheer for successful milking!
Congratulations!!
Well she does look like a tiny little thing. Lady Astor is such a lovely gentle cow, and Aunt Del so sweet peeking to see.
Welcome Naomi!
My Naomi is going to be excited to hear that you have a new calf named Naomi.
Too bad momma isn’t interested in being a momma, but little Naomi is in good hands. Although it certainly sounds like Lady A is going to be the one to milk out of the herd. And yes, I would say you have a herd.
I have always loved that name – I hope your Naomi does not mind sharing it with a beautiful little calf.. c
I just showed her the pictures and she doesn’t mind. She does think it would be fun if Naomi could give Naomi a bottle though 🙂
That would be the shot of the week. The Naomi Naomi show! ..c
Indeed, life just got interesting. Hope the milking goes well.
Oh…and please give our best to the old codger. I have missed him.
The name Naomi means Beautiful and Pleasant. She is Beautiful already, and we have great hopes for Pleasant! Welcome, Beautiful little girl, to the Farmy Family!
She really is a gentle wee thing – And so small .. and fast asleep.. c