Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2005 9:24:40 GMT -5
As most of you know Betty is still to much of a wild child for me to milk (THIS time, she'd better watch out next time LOL....by then we will either have gotten really use to each other OR I'll just get a lot more forceful with her in the stanchion department) ....... well, it seems Betty is working out a milk share program of her own. Binny is so small, her milk consumption isn't very much. Betty is after all half jersey and has a pretty big/full bag. I noticed today that she was awfully lopsided when I let her and Binny out of the stall. (Binny really likes the left side and almost always drinks from it) As usual I went ahead and turned all the girls out together (AFTER I'd fed Hattie her bottle and some grain) well, about an hour after I let them out I saw Betty go over to where Hattie was grazing, walk up close (with her right/full side in Hattie's face, even lifted that leg to offer her udder) Hattie being 6 weeks old, sniffed and said SURE !! She nursed a bit (actually very gentle ... I don't let her butt and knock me badly while I hold her bottle) once the pressure was relieved, Betty walked off. Hattie tried to follow wanting more and Betty knocked her away. Should I seperate them? is this okay? (Binny is in ALONE with Betty from around 5pm until 7 am or so. That's 14 or so hours that Binny has mommy all to herself. I can also put Hattie back up for a while around lunch time if I HAVE to. If these were your girls, would you allow this to continue? All seem more then happy with the situation. I hate to break it up if it's not hurting anyone. The jersey *girls* just love the baby, they take turns kissing on her/babysitting her while Betty grazes near by. They are all going to live out their lives together as a herd and I'd like to allow them to bond as much as possible (Binny just seems to have been the perfect addition to bringing them closer to herdlike behavior) Betty has been very interested and attached to Hattie since I brought her home (at 3 days old) She even bellowed and called for her when she was in labor. So...... share some of that cow wisdom.... I need it ;D.
susie and her herd
susie and her herd