Post by Tamara on Oct 7, 2015 19:45:53 GMT -5
Hi everyone! Long time no see. I've been really busy lately, including going interstate on a 6 week internship. That was exciting, and the first time I've been away from home (and my cows) for so long!
Here is a rundown of stuff that is happening:
MacLeod got lice Don't know how long he's had them. I'm treating him with sulfur, which worked great on my donkey. It probably explains why Tallulah seemed to be rubbing the hair off her neck so I dusted all 3 of them just in case.
Tallulah still has those coin-sized marks on her neck although they are better now than they were. I started putting coconut oil and cayenne pepper on and that seems to have almost healed them. They are mostly just scars now. A horse neck rug did not work - even attached to her halter it just slid up her neck and into a crumpled mess.
(notice the pale spotty patches behind her jaw where she has rubbed the hair down, presumably because of lice, although I've looked closely and can't see any)
Also, it's official - I've listed Ginger for sale. You may or may not recall the situation where she started nursing again all of a sudden, despite being weaned for ages. Weaning rings did not work as she ripped them out, and it took 3 iterations of weaning halters before I found one that stayed on:
She wore this while I was interning and for several weeks before that, so probably 8 or more weeks of absolutely no drinking. And she was also separated into a different paddock as well, since the halter and separation alone did not work, she needed both. Plus various attempts before that that extend back to MAY.
So at the start of September, when I returned from the internship, I took the halter off. All seemed good for a couple of days, so I put her back in with Tallulah. Hallelujah! Milk the next morning! Ginger didn't drink it. And she continued not drinking it.... Until Tallulah came into heat. What with the hormones making her all submissive and whatnot, Ginger took the opportunity to steal a drink. Ugh HOWEVER I thought it would be okay, when the next day things went back to normal and Tallulah kicked Ginger off. But Ginger pushed her luck again the next time Tallulah came in heat, and this time Tallulah let her keep nursing for 3-4 days. Well, Ginger has pushed it too far. She's separated and I put her up for sale this morning.
Also, the friend that I had lined up with a dexter bull to breed Tallulah disappeared. So there goes that convenient plan With Tallulah only producing a bit over a litre a day and Ginger having drunk all of it the last few days, we have no milk left. I haven't tracked down another appropriate bull yet so I'll probably have to AI her.
Here is a rundown of stuff that is happening:
MacLeod got lice Don't know how long he's had them. I'm treating him with sulfur, which worked great on my donkey. It probably explains why Tallulah seemed to be rubbing the hair off her neck so I dusted all 3 of them just in case.
Tallulah still has those coin-sized marks on her neck although they are better now than they were. I started putting coconut oil and cayenne pepper on and that seems to have almost healed them. They are mostly just scars now. A horse neck rug did not work - even attached to her halter it just slid up her neck and into a crumpled mess.
(notice the pale spotty patches behind her jaw where she has rubbed the hair down, presumably because of lice, although I've looked closely and can't see any)
Also, it's official - I've listed Ginger for sale. You may or may not recall the situation where she started nursing again all of a sudden, despite being weaned for ages. Weaning rings did not work as she ripped them out, and it took 3 iterations of weaning halters before I found one that stayed on:
She wore this while I was interning and for several weeks before that, so probably 8 or more weeks of absolutely no drinking. And she was also separated into a different paddock as well, since the halter and separation alone did not work, she needed both. Plus various attempts before that that extend back to MAY.
So at the start of September, when I returned from the internship, I took the halter off. All seemed good for a couple of days, so I put her back in with Tallulah. Hallelujah! Milk the next morning! Ginger didn't drink it. And she continued not drinking it.... Until Tallulah came into heat. What with the hormones making her all submissive and whatnot, Ginger took the opportunity to steal a drink. Ugh HOWEVER I thought it would be okay, when the next day things went back to normal and Tallulah kicked Ginger off. But Ginger pushed her luck again the next time Tallulah came in heat, and this time Tallulah let her keep nursing for 3-4 days. Well, Ginger has pushed it too far. She's separated and I put her up for sale this morning.
Also, the friend that I had lined up with a dexter bull to breed Tallulah disappeared. So there goes that convenient plan With Tallulah only producing a bit over a litre a day and Ginger having drunk all of it the last few days, we have no milk left. I haven't tracked down another appropriate bull yet so I'll probably have to AI her.