The little calves are here and they are a lively group. Mostly.
A few are quieter but all are drinking well. I fed them their electrolyte when they arrived last night then later milk with electrolyte mixed in. I have a little bull calf and a wee heifer. The heifers were very cheap. Much cheaper than the bull calves.
My friend bought three heifers two of which are freemartins.
I prefer to feed young animals a little often – erring on the side of well hydrated at the beginning, so last night was pretty busy especially as I have to get in the truck and drive around to the Big Barn every time iI feed them. But they are fine there, it is warm and cosy and they are far away from my piglets.
No sign of scours or anything scary so far. I would say most of them are four or five days old. I will keep up this regime for a week or so before taking them back to three times a day feeds. I think they are Holsteins which are very similar to Friesians. Though I think Freisians are a bit bonier.
There will be pictures tomorrow – they arrived in the dying light of the day, yesterday evening. And feeding all that lot left me very little time for pictures.
Amanda had a 100% hatch rate with her eggs. And they are very pretty. She is thrilled to bits. 
The meat chickens are in their chicken caravan and as it was a warm night I am sure they settled well into their new living quarters.
Early start for me today. So no dawdling. 
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
40 responses to “Babies in The Barn”
I love the way your kind of farming works – hosting, bartering, sharing, lots of respect and love for the four-legged and feathered 🙂
The picture of the cat with its tongue out…priceless!
Bartering is great, it’s nice to be able to do it. The calves are lucky they landed in your care.
Have a fun day
Robin🐥
Bartering: best thing in the world when fairly done. No taxes, no forms to fill in, just an agreement twixt sensible people. Oh it works fine here in the country. Oft not spelled out but one knows when one owes and to ‘belong’ one ‘pays up’ and enjoys. Love the sweet femininity of the nail polish on a farmy: the Cadet?
So much excitement and newness! The wee chick in the header looks the tiniest bit grumpy – perhaps just woken up and wondering why the disruption. I chuckled when I saw it. Can’t wait to see the new arrivals. Try to get at least some rest between the feedings, good think you’ve got Amanda and the Cadet to help.
Chris S in Canada
You certainly have a full house – or farmy – right now. Ah, summer (wishing you mild and not scorching weather)
Freemartins, I learned something new on the farmy again today! You weren’t kidding when you said they’d be young. I didn’t realize THAT young! Those little chicks are cute! Good job, Amanda!