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.
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
37 Comments on “BAWLING”
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thekitchensgarden 
This just occurred to me. I hear people today say “Stop crying.” When I was growing up, I remember being told from time to time, “Stop bawling.” I suspect now that our relatively more agrarian life led to that kind of connection between a bawling calf and a bawling child. Changes in circumstance; changes in language.
I agree! So many of our sayings are farm related – we should make a list of them one day!
“Big Butter and Egg Man”! 🙂
best of luck to all on their independence day )
best of luck to my ears – they are making a racket!!
What stunning plumage. Weaning is necessary, but oh my – it always tore my heart out! Cute calf snoots make it better
I know! I am always on the edge of giving in – but these two are way big enough – they have had a great start.
Bawling babies. You will have a noisy day.
And yes i am!!
Poor babies – but we all must grow up someday…..
Mr Flowers has such a beautiful swath of tail! How does he FLY!?!?!?!? I wonder how much that tail weighs compared to his total weight? Lovely bird.
Very good question. When he sits there his tail hangs down into my walkway and often I brush my hands through his feathers as I pass – he grunts in protest but seldom moves – as long as I do not linger.
The crying of any baby cuts to a mother’s heart… An excellent idea to take Aunty Del away from all that for a bit of a rest. Or, as they’d have said 20 years ago here: a cup of tea, a Bex and a lie-down. Mr Flowers’ tail is like a technicolour waterfall….
Yes having the other farm across the way is such a bonus for weaning. Mr Flowers tail is very long this year! In fact they get longer every year i think
Am laughing whilst remembering your quote! May I add a pertinent word; ‘A cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie-down’ !!! A ‘Bex’ was like an Advil or similar and it seems part of the working-class Australian woman’s daily ‘diet’: a Lordie, how many died from ‘shot’ kidneys’. . . .thanks for the memory . . .
😉
On our farmy it’s the mama goats that bawl for a full day when their babies go to a new home. It is super hard to listen to, but thankfully it usually only last a day!
I hope things settle down today – especially after I take Aunty across the way –
Poor baby and being a responsible farmer is not easy. Just came from your ‘Cast’ post…your animals are happy souls and you are definitely an excellent farmer, Celi.
Angie
Welcome to the Lounge Angie! And thank you for your kind words. I am pretty lucky leading this life.
We had another layer of snow yesterday, but it’s all melted now. The temperature’s spiked at 7C, and it feels tropical out there. Weather is a fascination for me. I have a brilliant weather station that tells me all sorts of useless information, and I ooooh and aaaah over it every morning as I sip at my first coffee. And a very good morning to you, c.
Do tell me the name of your weather station – I also am quite addicted. I even have a Wind app
Oregon Scientific, plus a weather app called Yr that’s the Norwegian government weather service used by a lot of pilots. And of course the UK Met Office weather app. (rolling eyes) I like weather.
I have this one http://store.oregonscientific.com/uk/all-in-one-smart-connected-professional-weather-station.html
Thank You misky!
Ha poor babies, but as you say has to be done! My two daughters are starting to fret over weaning their babies. When shall we? how do we? No good asking me I can’t remember! I just say relax it will fall into place. Hopefully !😂
I agree – I just fed them until I didn’t – I used to do that one night time feed until the next baby was almost due!!
There is a farm across the way from us and last spring we heard such bawling we thought something was wrong……nope just a calf being weaned!
One calf I had last year cried until he lost his voice- it was so pathetic!
Did you ever discover why Mr Flowers has white feathers?
He is a cross between an India and an albino.
The crying must be sooo sad, I hope they forget quickly, poor little cows.
They are already settling down – they will make a nice wee herd these little ones.Along with Lonely and Aunties latest bobby.
Difficult days but I expect Aunty Del will be relieved! What a stunning rainbow of colours in Mr Flowers’ plumage.
Isn’t he beautiful!
Oh, The bawling! I can almost hear it out here!
That straight-on photograph of Aunty Del is outstanding. Lots of feelings emerge out of the dark. Good work!
Hullo Albert!!! And thank you