Yesterday we worked hard at getting Poppy’s farrowing quarters ready just in case. Though I seriously think she will be going to her third date which is May 17.
And while we were working hard in the barn I kept getting glimpses of Lady Astor. Her behaviour was different yesterday. She was swishing her tail a lot, moving to and fro, lying down, getting back up. Moving away from the herd. But her tail was not up and her udder is not ready. Though other areas of her body are.
She seems perfectly happy. I led her inside the barn last night and as I fastened the gate back she stood next to me with her head positioned at exactly the right angle for my hand to drift across and give her a scratch on the crown of her head. Even leaning her head onto my hip at one point. As I shut the big doors and filled her water she followed behind me like a really enormous dog. Pausing when I paused. Moving forward as I moved, always putting her head and throat right where I might stroke her.
She was cuddly and content. Then as I was leaving her focus shifted from me back into herself and walking backwards she backed her vast behind into a corner and pushed. She has ten days before her due date but something is brewing with her. Maybe her baby is shifting down into position and making her uncomfortable.
I looked back to when Naomi was born and from the way I was talking/writing I had no indication that she was ready to calve at all. Considering that I did not have a date for her to calve last year that is not too surprising. But she did calve very quickly after Elsie. And Naomi was so small. One wonders. She is all in one piece this morning so hopefully she will hold on for another week.
We will see. It is fun to speculate. I am ready when she is.
The rain that was forecast held off last night, there is a possibility for a little this afternoon but it is much cooler this morning. Good weather for working in the gardens.
Lots of love,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
34 responses to “Lady Astor”
You are going to have your work cut out for you soon with all the babies 😉
Yes! And all my good pasture is across the creek. I don’t mind if Poppy holds off. c
She’ll want her daughters to do the hard work this year 😉
I hope Lady Astor holds out a bit longer. It must be a stressful time for you.
I am looking forward to the milk though – it kicks the kitchen up a gear! c
I hope all goes well. I know when I was close to my due date, I swished my tail a lot, too.
If all goes well is my mantra. Lady Astor is an older Mum so this is help he chances of having a simple birth. But things happen and it is always nerve wracking.. c
Sounds like you might be welcoming another baby soon soon. Hope all goes well for both of you. Laura
I think her udder needs a week so hopefully not too soon.. c
You live in such lovely harmony and symbiosis. I love the way animals will place themselves for affection, as good as a question. Our rabbit, as wild as she is, if I sit on the floor with my hands by my sides, will come and scotch under my hand. Impossible to disregard such a request, isn’t it? They expand our consciences. Wouldn’t live without some other living creature in the house. Wouldn’t feel complete.
” . . . such lovely harmony and symbiosis. I love the way animals will place themselves for affection” — Good summary of what I look for here and am seldom disappointed. (Another memorable blog entry, Miss C ! I’m still smiling. )
She’s letting you know the best way she can that things are shifting, changing and perhaps the pressure of tiny hooves inside is not so very comfortable. I think she knows you’re head of the herd, and she’s asking for a little consideration… Fingers crossed.
I read once that horses are born with “angel slippers” to make birthing less painful for the mom. I wonder if cows have them too.
I’d never heard of ‘angel slippers’. I’m so glad you mentioned it because I just learned something. The technical term seems to be ‘deciduous hoof capsule’. Here’s a link showing what it looks like (STRANGE!) and some info. – such as that the ‘angel slippers’ are rubbery and wear down very quickly so the foal can walk properly. http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/foal-hoof
Angel slippers or not… I just keep thinking of the vision of wee Tziki’s hooves when she was first born and thinking, ‘better Alex than me!’ Imagine those, and four of them too, moving around and shifting inside… phew! Poor Lady A.
Almost certainly. Nature’s very clever. I didn’t quite imagine a hoof poking through, but can you imagine the knobbly knees shifting around inside? Ouch!
The affection that oozes out of every one of your posts is the most wonderful feature of this blog, and the Fellowship adds more in the comments. Bon courage to Lady Astor.
love,
ViV xox
I don’t know if cows are like goats in this regard, but it’s quite common to see a pregnant doe position herself with her hindquarters or her shoulders at a higher level, on a rock for instance, and just stand that way for a while to help the kids shift.
I think a ramp would work too, but my goats seem to choose rocks. I’ve got a lot of big rocks.
I predict that you will have a calf over the weekend if not sooner….. Is everything GREEN there? I’m looking out right now and all this rain in Texas has turned the whole world GREEN!!!!! All Shades of green and I love it.
It’s nice that the level of trust and affection is there between you and the animals. I’m sure she will progress as nature intended, but any pregnancy can get uncomfortable. Hope all goes well.
I hope all goes well 😀
Yes, the anticipation is nerve wracking. Anything can happen and lets hope it goes well. It’s interesting that she wants to be loved on a little as she comes to her time. We are finally getting some cooler days here in the PNW too so I can work outside comfortably. I’ll send it your way. Summer heat in April is not good.
As a fellow PNW-erner I will heartily second the happiness that this heat wave is over. April and 89 degrees is pretty ridiculous and each year I find it harder to tolerate. Makes me very lethargic and grumpy to be sure 🙂
Anyone who has been hugely pregnant, human or otherwise, can understand and empathize with Lady A at this point. As someone who has been a doula for many human mom’s over the years, Lady A seems to be nesting and your support is just what she needs 🙂
You are going to be very busy soon with all your babies!
Linda
oh gosh- fingers crossed for all to go well- it’s always a miracle to me.