Post by Applelonia on Apr 29, 2016 14:09:17 GMT -5
Daffodil is still mooing and bellowing and carrying on. She was separated from Applelonia April 5th....we are going on 24 days now.....
She and Apple are right next to each other. A shared stall wall. If Apple is in her line of sight she is okay. If Apple goes outside Daffodil has a melt down. Trying to push the Dutch stall door open or trying to climb up it or trying to climb over the shared stall wall. I've apologized to our closest neighbors...she carries on for hours. I've been splitting their time up outside. Apple is out half the day and then Daffodil is out. The pastures are divided with electric five wire high-tensil cattle fencing but I fear it won't keep calf away from momma if they are out at the same time. She is beside herself to get back to momma cow. When calf is outside she spends her time running back and forth mooing and mooing and mooing....as Apple rests in her stall chewing cud....
How much longer before calf is "normal"? Does it usually take them months to get over momma cow?
In a couple of weeks they should be out on pasture. I'm thinking of putting Daffodil and Dazzle together...rather a scary thought...but they might get along well....Had thought of getting a weaning ring for calf and putting her in with Apple but I'm not sure if she will ever get over her attachment to Apple if I put them back together and I don't want to risk her nursing from Apple. The other option....we have about half an acre in front right next to my garden and areas along the driveway (basically lawn - a variety of grasses, clover) that I could let Apple on for a while this spring for grazing. About an acre total. The electric bull fence runs along to driveway so now the whole area is fenced from the barn to the front lawn/garden area. My husband is a little concerned about what the neighbors might think....won't bother me! Figure it would be good for the soil and less to mow. Would it help calf unattach if Apple was removed completely from her view? Or would taking Apple away to graze just make calf worse?
Daffodil has been rather crabby and bossy since being weaning. Yesterday she tried to get out her stall door when I opened it and when I asked her to back up she proceeded forward, I whacked her on her shoulder (with my stick I always carry under my arm when working with the cows) and she then decided to use her head on me. Not something I will allow - one solid, firm, well placed whack across her nose as I bellowed BACK and she got the point. She has gotten pushy in the last three weeks. Is it normal for calves to get bossy like this when being weaned?
And as I first suspected, Applelonia has not cared once that her calf has been removed. One other occasion when calf tried to get out of her stall and I told her back, Apple stuck her head out through her hay eating hole and stretched her neck out and put her horns on Daffodil's forehead and pushed her back into her stall. She really doesn't want her back....ever....
My idea of having a small little herd grazing all together doesn't seem to promising at this point......
She and Apple are right next to each other. A shared stall wall. If Apple is in her line of sight she is okay. If Apple goes outside Daffodil has a melt down. Trying to push the Dutch stall door open or trying to climb up it or trying to climb over the shared stall wall. I've apologized to our closest neighbors...she carries on for hours. I've been splitting their time up outside. Apple is out half the day and then Daffodil is out. The pastures are divided with electric five wire high-tensil cattle fencing but I fear it won't keep calf away from momma if they are out at the same time. She is beside herself to get back to momma cow. When calf is outside she spends her time running back and forth mooing and mooing and mooing....as Apple rests in her stall chewing cud....
How much longer before calf is "normal"? Does it usually take them months to get over momma cow?
In a couple of weeks they should be out on pasture. I'm thinking of putting Daffodil and Dazzle together...rather a scary thought...but they might get along well....Had thought of getting a weaning ring for calf and putting her in with Apple but I'm not sure if she will ever get over her attachment to Apple if I put them back together and I don't want to risk her nursing from Apple. The other option....we have about half an acre in front right next to my garden and areas along the driveway (basically lawn - a variety of grasses, clover) that I could let Apple on for a while this spring for grazing. About an acre total. The electric bull fence runs along to driveway so now the whole area is fenced from the barn to the front lawn/garden area. My husband is a little concerned about what the neighbors might think....won't bother me! Figure it would be good for the soil and less to mow. Would it help calf unattach if Apple was removed completely from her view? Or would taking Apple away to graze just make calf worse?
Daffodil has been rather crabby and bossy since being weaning. Yesterday she tried to get out her stall door when I opened it and when I asked her to back up she proceeded forward, I whacked her on her shoulder (with my stick I always carry under my arm when working with the cows) and she then decided to use her head on me. Not something I will allow - one solid, firm, well placed whack across her nose as I bellowed BACK and she got the point. She has gotten pushy in the last three weeks. Is it normal for calves to get bossy like this when being weaned?
And as I first suspected, Applelonia has not cared once that her calf has been removed. One other occasion when calf tried to get out of her stall and I told her back, Apple stuck her head out through her hay eating hole and stretched her neck out and put her horns on Daffodil's forehead and pushed her back into her stall. She really doesn't want her back....ever....
My idea of having a small little herd grazing all together doesn't seem to promising at this point......