Post by simplynaturalfarm on May 5, 2011 14:22:16 GMT -5
OKay, after some major frustration with cows and calves, I decided that Freddy is getting a weaning ring today. It went in like apiece of cake, but on the walk from house to barn I lost the screw that tightens it. I didn't think it would fall out of his nose, but maybe it needs to be tighter so he can't flip it up - it flips everywhere quite easily. How tight do you do it??
SO, I let him out and put the spikes up. Mom could care less how much he jabs her - she would bleed and still let him nurse . . . He was more frustrated by the fact he couldn't get anything and learned in about 5 minutes with a patient cow who refused to kick at him despite those spikes, that he could tip his head sideways and nurse from the side. So I grabbed him, put the weaning ring on so that the spikes are towards him and after a short period of time he found if he wiggles his head back and forth, a teat will slip through the holes in the weaning ring and he can nurse. Do you want to see frustration - look at my face!!!!!
SO, can I put in about 40 of them and if I have enough layers that will force him to stop??? Do I need the screw to tighten it. . . though he has figured out how to nurse from the side and through the holes, so maybe that woudl do diddly.
I was so irritated I went online and ordered those "quiet wean" flaps. I had to order 25 of them so if anybody wants to try one for $2.50 plus cost of shipping, hollar LOL.
So besides separation and me having to feed and water separately, what can I do? He has teats and milk on his brain and he was so irritated initially he walked over to the other two and tried nursing on them - Tildy (due to freshen any day) usually swats her tail at him, but he managed a lick before I swatted him away and her teats were wrinkled last night instead of bulging and I fear he is sneaking treats, thus the reason for the weaning device. But maybe I am going to have to simply lock him up or pasture him elsewhere?
I have another one in some bag so I am contemplating putting two in so he can't simply pull a teat through the holes.
Talk about a good mother - nurse through pain of being bunted with spikes, through discomfort, through irritation (mine LOL). But not quite what I wanted - I wanted to see a vicious kick when he bunted her and I am sure she simply got a good scrape from the spikes.
Heather
SO, I let him out and put the spikes up. Mom could care less how much he jabs her - she would bleed and still let him nurse . . . He was more frustrated by the fact he couldn't get anything and learned in about 5 minutes with a patient cow who refused to kick at him despite those spikes, that he could tip his head sideways and nurse from the side. So I grabbed him, put the weaning ring on so that the spikes are towards him and after a short period of time he found if he wiggles his head back and forth, a teat will slip through the holes in the weaning ring and he can nurse. Do you want to see frustration - look at my face!!!!!
SO, can I put in about 40 of them and if I have enough layers that will force him to stop??? Do I need the screw to tighten it. . . though he has figured out how to nurse from the side and through the holes, so maybe that woudl do diddly.
I was so irritated I went online and ordered those "quiet wean" flaps. I had to order 25 of them so if anybody wants to try one for $2.50 plus cost of shipping, hollar LOL.
So besides separation and me having to feed and water separately, what can I do? He has teats and milk on his brain and he was so irritated initially he walked over to the other two and tried nursing on them - Tildy (due to freshen any day) usually swats her tail at him, but he managed a lick before I swatted him away and her teats were wrinkled last night instead of bulging and I fear he is sneaking treats, thus the reason for the weaning device. But maybe I am going to have to simply lock him up or pasture him elsewhere?
I have another one in some bag so I am contemplating putting two in so he can't simply pull a teat through the holes.
Talk about a good mother - nurse through pain of being bunted with spikes, through discomfort, through irritation (mine LOL). But not quite what I wanted - I wanted to see a vicious kick when he bunted her and I am sure she simply got a good scrape from the spikes.
Heather