Post by robynsa on May 14, 2014 11:10:55 GMT -5
After all of the drama with Rosie's bulldog calf, and determining that, as Heidi is Rosie's mother and must therefore be a chondro carrier, which she wasn't supposed to be, we've been on tenderhooks about this calving for more than a month.
Heidi developed one heck of a waddle yesterday but was still acting herself. Last night she was still grazing avidly when I went to check on her but this morning she waddled out of their night paddock in slow-mo and had no interest in eating. She just walked, then lay down, then walked a bit, then lay down some more, and at 12h11 she presented with a water sack. I literally stalked her all day, and when she started contractions and I saw hoof, I was excited, because with the bulldog calf the legs were too short for them to come out first. Then I saw a tongue, and the tongue moved in and out of a mouth, and I knew that we had something that was alive. I still didn't know what it was, or if it was viable.
At 12h56, little red was out, moo'ing and complaining about how DARE Heidi toss him from that warmth into the wilderness, in autumn!
He was on his feet in about 15 minutes, and commenced his search for the milk bar. He sucked on just about everything he could reach, except her teats, and then he toddled after the wrong red cow and Heidi had a nervous breakdown, and after an hour or so I saw him nursing really strongly, little tail like a windmill.
We haven't named him yet but it will likely be something meaty. He is really strong and very vocal, and he was already trying to hop and jump about half an hour after he was out.
High 5 to Heidi for being a clever girl and a super momma as always. They are currently tucked up in a nice deep straw bed in the barn and the little guy is snoozing and flicking his ears and looking really good.
Heidi developed one heck of a waddle yesterday but was still acting herself. Last night she was still grazing avidly when I went to check on her but this morning she waddled out of their night paddock in slow-mo and had no interest in eating. She just walked, then lay down, then walked a bit, then lay down some more, and at 12h11 she presented with a water sack. I literally stalked her all day, and when she started contractions and I saw hoof, I was excited, because with the bulldog calf the legs were too short for them to come out first. Then I saw a tongue, and the tongue moved in and out of a mouth, and I knew that we had something that was alive. I still didn't know what it was, or if it was viable.
At 12h56, little red was out, moo'ing and complaining about how DARE Heidi toss him from that warmth into the wilderness, in autumn!
He was on his feet in about 15 minutes, and commenced his search for the milk bar. He sucked on just about everything he could reach, except her teats, and then he toddled after the wrong red cow and Heidi had a nervous breakdown, and after an hour or so I saw him nursing really strongly, little tail like a windmill.
We haven't named him yet but it will likely be something meaty. He is really strong and very vocal, and he was already trying to hop and jump about half an hour after he was out.
High 5 to Heidi for being a clever girl and a super momma as always. They are currently tucked up in a nice deep straw bed in the barn and the little guy is snoozing and flicking his ears and looking really good.