All born yesterday. Poppy’s labour lasted all night and was not without its problems but she has nine lovely live and very active piglets and they are feeding almost non stop. The piglets are still on lock down so the only image of them I have is from the monitor.
But here is Lady Astor with her baby. Born yesterday at lunchtime. I saw her looking uncomfortable – moved all the other cows out of the field she was in, she lay down as I walked away and within about 30 minutes we had a little bull calf.
It was a beautiful comparitively warm day so they hung out in the field, baby got up soon after birth and was drinking shortly after that, while I dealt with the milking set up. I had everything ready just not all put together.
Then I walked the baby all the way to the barn with Mama close behind.
It all went quite well considering my deep sleep deprivation. Adrenalin goes a long way.
Later I milked Lady – her udder is so big and swollen and engorged, it was no fun for her. But it was getting impossible for the calf to latch on and very painful for the cow.
Here is that rather gruesome sci fi image of Poppy and her crowd of babies.
I milked again this morning at five am in a massive dark thunder and lightening storm. The weather was very, very loud and the rain was coming down in sheets.
To alert the sows to my arrival (the sows and their babies, and Lady and her calf are in the barn where the milking room is), I put the soft milking music on, the phone tucked into my pocket, so they could hear me coming and going and moving about. With the milking music and the rain and the pump chugging away and Lady mooing to her calf: the sows joined in with their feeding chorus, grunting for their piglets to come out for a drink, and the piglets began to squeal and it became very noisy in the barn at one point.
It is 7.58 now. I am cleaned up and back up to the house. The workers are outside doing chores. I am having my second coffee. The ground is waterlogged. We had way too much rain last night and more coming this evening. It is going to be a soggy day. I am thinking of loading everyone up into the truck and off we go to get feed and supplies. Best use of a rainy day.
Merciful heavens yesterday was crazy. It all happened at once but we have all forty feet on the ground. And soon we will have milk!
Have a lovely day.
celi
Weather says more rain.
The Kitchen's Garden 
56 responses to “NINE PIGLETS AND A BULL CALF”
Great news! I was worrying with no post yesterday. Hope everyone continues to do well. Send some rain west – we can always use it in CA.
What a time you have had! Congratulations on all the arrivals. I knew something big had to be up!
Blimey I bet you are knackered but happy! Hopefully you will get a good nights sleep tonight. Have a great day.
“Blimey!” That sounds like the voice of a true Brit!
Ha ha I am! 😀
Fantastic – I was just looking at Instagram to see if there was any news. Good job it was dry for Lady Astor’s birthing 🙂
I was just this moment saying to the Husband that we hadn’t heard from you, and that I bet Lady A and Poppy delivered at the same time, keeping you frantically busy. And suddenly, there was your post, with confirmation that that’s exactly what had happened. So glad to hear everyone’s safe and well – except perhaps you, who needs about a week of sleep… Welcome to the new Farmy Littlies, both Bobby and Plonkers.
Glorious day on the farm!!! That bull calf is beautiful!!!!
I know there is relief & joy mixed in. What a Day to Remember at the Farmy. I am happy for you all.
Congrats to Poppy and Lady Astor – just in time for celebration of Mother’s Day!!! Hope Mama Astor’s udder can get a bit more comfy for her beautiful little boy!! And Mama Poppy ~ a busy mama for a bit!! glad all has gone fairly well ~ except for all this rain!! We’ve been out West ~ touring thru CA and the Southwest National Parks some of the time I was able to read along here ~ but often without connection in the parks ~ Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Zion and Bryce. Some beautiful landscape we have in the USA. 3 New Zealanders and 8 Aussies were on the tour with us!! So much fun with them!!!
Never rains unless it pours! Old english saying when everything happens at one time..including the weather by the sound of it. Glad all went well and that Poppy and her brood are fine as well as Lady Astor and her new son
Wonderful news! Congratulations to all!
Well, Lady Astor wasn’t growing a cat in there — and the vet lost the bet! Glad all are here and healthy and 40 on the ground! Rainy days on the farm meant a trip to town for errands or fun, especially during hay season. Hope you get a nap here and there Celi
Blessings on the new boy calf and the milk that comes from it! and congrats on the new litter of piglets,, now I know why despite checking a few times yesterday why no post.. all for the best reason’s indeed.. Enjoy that second cup of coffee dear Miss C you certainly deserve it.. And feed run on this rain soaked day sounds good.. while the flood waters are still rising and thousands locally are out of their homes. Here on my little farm we have had two days of sun-cloud and snow.. lol
I am still blinking a bit.. but hail, sleet and snow over the past 24 hours.. Ah weather.. it is certainly something we do not control and we roll with it as best we can. I am just grateful that both my hubbies work place (closed for two days now to workers for the buildings) and also anyone that needs to cross the river bridges to get to work on the Quebec side have been ordered to stay home.. so Jason has been working from home and it would appear that he will most likely be home on weds as well.
I am so happy. So so happy.
You already have such sweet pictures of Lady A and Bobby R. What were Alex and Aunty Anna doing ,,,, ducking the flieing shoe here 🙂 🙂 Laura
Milk, Cream, Cheese, Yogurt, Ice Cream, Fresh Butter – the endless possibilities of fresh milk. YEA! When I last checked in you didn’t think there would be a calf at all! And good Poppy!
Yes – I have been away at sea…. it was fabulous to let myself un-tether and float (literally and figuratively)…… But now I am back and refreshed…. Happy Tuesday!