Post by tbarugh on Nov 20, 2009 16:47:56 GMT -5
Hi everyone. I joined this website even before I got the girls. Have read every thread in the Tree of Knowledge and elsewhere. I need some advice.
Two months ago, I got Cupcake (4 years old) with her calf Chester (6 months old) and a heifer (Roger 15 months old). The cow (Cupcake) was allegedly milked by machine. I thought "No problem". Wrong!
I get the cows home and work with them for about a month getting them comfortable in their new environment. Didn't need to milk Cupcake right away because she still had her calf. Plus the fact that she just wasn't friendly. She would take treats from my hand but any attempt to pet her is met with a snort. Cupcake is not aggressive, you can walk up to her and around her, just don't try to pet her.
The heifer (Roger) is lovely with a really sweet disposition. She's almost 2 years old and will let me touch her all over. She has been bred so I guess she's not a heifer anymore.
My DH built the stanchion. I have it set up. I can get Cupcake in it to eat twice a day but as soon as I move away from her head she backs out. I have not locked her into the stanchion yet I have just been getting her used to going to the stanchion. I tried to just hook the chain behind her and I had crazy cow. Never even got it closed all the way. Like I said before, she is not aggressive, I think it's a case of nerves. She is extremely alert to everything in her environment.
I need some advice. Am I being too nice? Should I just close the board on her neck and let her play rodeo by herself? Her next calf is due in late January and she is going to need to be milked.
Help!
Two months ago, I got Cupcake (4 years old) with her calf Chester (6 months old) and a heifer (Roger 15 months old). The cow (Cupcake) was allegedly milked by machine. I thought "No problem". Wrong!
I get the cows home and work with them for about a month getting them comfortable in their new environment. Didn't need to milk Cupcake right away because she still had her calf. Plus the fact that she just wasn't friendly. She would take treats from my hand but any attempt to pet her is met with a snort. Cupcake is not aggressive, you can walk up to her and around her, just don't try to pet her.
The heifer (Roger) is lovely with a really sweet disposition. She's almost 2 years old and will let me touch her all over. She has been bred so I guess she's not a heifer anymore.
My DH built the stanchion. I have it set up. I can get Cupcake in it to eat twice a day but as soon as I move away from her head she backs out. I have not locked her into the stanchion yet I have just been getting her used to going to the stanchion. I tried to just hook the chain behind her and I had crazy cow. Never even got it closed all the way. Like I said before, she is not aggressive, I think it's a case of nerves. She is extremely alert to everything in her environment.
I need some advice. Am I being too nice? Should I just close the board on her neck and let her play rodeo by herself? Her next calf is due in late January and she is going to need to be milked.
Help!