BAWLING

WEANING is one of the most poignant days on the farm. The babies are healthy and growing up, they are old enough to live on their own without their mother, things are going according to plan,  but OH the MISERY  – there is no coming of age celebration from the cows, there are just nights full of bawling from the calves.  

 

The calves had to be locked in the barn for the night to stop them from gathering at the fence and crying their eyes out while trying to climb over it.

When weaning any animals we shift the Mama and leave the babies where they are familiar.  That way the babies are less likely to lose weight through the transition time.  Not having to deal with too many shocks at once.

So today we will load Aunty Del up into the trailer and take her to the other side where she can get some good feeds.

She could do with some feeding up. These two calves have been well fed by her. They are lovely shiny babies.  Incidentally, the one making the most noise is not Del’s own calf but Inky the daughter of Aunty Anna.

Today will be a noisy day.

I saw no signs of the mink yesterday, we will see what this morning brings but I saw no disruptions on my night walks either. I am always grateful when I see Mr Flowers and Pania where they should be in the morning. Peafowl can live for years in the right conditions though I am not sure our cold winters are the right conditions for a big bird whose ancestors hail from India or Burma.  Though like everything they adapt. We all adapt.

I can hear Aunty Del yelling from up here at the house. I will feed her early, that will quieten her until I get her on the trailer.

I hope you have a lovely day.

celi

Let’s go back in time and see what it was like in past years. I wish I had started recording the weather years ago.  We will have to look at the pictures and guess. Some years we definitely had more grass than we have this year.

2017

2016 

2015

2014

2013

2012

WEATHER:

Tuesday 03/20 0% / 0 in
A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 39F/4C. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph.

Tuesday Night 03/20 0% / 0 in
Overcast. Low 27F/-2C. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Sun
6:56 am 7:05 pm

Moon
Waxing Crescent, 9% visible 8:55 am 10:35 pm