Post by Lannie on Mar 25, 2011 12:02:07 GMT -5
I'm only admitting this to you guys because I'm SURE I'm not the only one this has ever happened to (or ever will). Please set down your drinks.
Rich and I spent the day shopping yesterday and we were totally pooped out when we got home. We got the car unloaded and the groceries put away, then went out to do chores. It was dark by then. As I've mentioned before, I have lights in the cow barn, but they're up high and underneath a cow, it's still pretty dark.
I brought Cricket in and got her busy with her pellets, then washed her up and put the milker on her. I think because her udder is still so high, I always have trouble getting the first inflation on. I have to stretch up too far and it unkinks the hose and makes scary vacuum cleaner noises, so what I've been doing is lifting the bucket slightly with one hand and putting the first inflation on with the other hand. This means I have to eyeball it, not having a 3rd hand to guide the teat into the inflation.
So I'd leaned as far over as I could and could sort of see that off hind teat and aimed the inflation at it. Sssssuck! It was on, and she kicked. Well, this is all still relatively new to her so I overlooked it. That inflation was hanging on good, so that freed up my other hand and I got the other three on with no problem. Suck, swoosh, suck, swoosh, the milk flowed into the bucket.
(You already know what happened, don't you?)
I reached back to see how her back quarters were doing and the near one felt almost done, but the off one was still hard as a bowling ball! I was thinking, "WTH?" when my hand brushed a soft dangling thing. It actually took my brain a couple of split seconds to realize it was a teat! OMG, WHERE IS THE INFLATION STUCK ON? Obviously, on the front of her rear quarter! No stinkin' WONDER she kicked!
So I yanked that puppy off - THWAAAACKKK! - she kicked again!!! I was so busy apologizing to her I didn't realize that the other quarters were done until they all started squealing and sucking air, so I got the pump shut off and the other inflations off, then I had to start it up again and put that one on to milk the back quarter out. I did manage to get it on the teat that time, and Cricket was so grateful, she didn't even flinch!
I tried to see if I'd bruised her, but it was too dark under there and I didn't have a flashlight, but this morning I didn't see any marks, so it must not have been too bad, but GEEEEEEZ... I need to be more careful where I stick those things, no matter HOW tired I am!
~Lannie
Rich and I spent the day shopping yesterday and we were totally pooped out when we got home. We got the car unloaded and the groceries put away, then went out to do chores. It was dark by then. As I've mentioned before, I have lights in the cow barn, but they're up high and underneath a cow, it's still pretty dark.
I brought Cricket in and got her busy with her pellets, then washed her up and put the milker on her. I think because her udder is still so high, I always have trouble getting the first inflation on. I have to stretch up too far and it unkinks the hose and makes scary vacuum cleaner noises, so what I've been doing is lifting the bucket slightly with one hand and putting the first inflation on with the other hand. This means I have to eyeball it, not having a 3rd hand to guide the teat into the inflation.
So I'd leaned as far over as I could and could sort of see that off hind teat and aimed the inflation at it. Sssssuck! It was on, and she kicked. Well, this is all still relatively new to her so I overlooked it. That inflation was hanging on good, so that freed up my other hand and I got the other three on with no problem. Suck, swoosh, suck, swoosh, the milk flowed into the bucket.
(You already know what happened, don't you?)
I reached back to see how her back quarters were doing and the near one felt almost done, but the off one was still hard as a bowling ball! I was thinking, "WTH?" when my hand brushed a soft dangling thing. It actually took my brain a couple of split seconds to realize it was a teat! OMG, WHERE IS THE INFLATION STUCK ON? Obviously, on the front of her rear quarter! No stinkin' WONDER she kicked!
So I yanked that puppy off - THWAAAACKKK! - she kicked again!!! I was so busy apologizing to her I didn't realize that the other quarters were done until they all started squealing and sucking air, so I got the pump shut off and the other inflations off, then I had to start it up again and put that one on to milk the back quarter out. I did manage to get it on the teat that time, and Cricket was so grateful, she didn't even flinch!
I tried to see if I'd bruised her, but it was too dark under there and I didn't have a flashlight, but this morning I didn't see any marks, so it must not have been too bad, but GEEEEEEZ... I need to be more careful where I stick those things, no matter HOW tired I am!
~Lannie