Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2010 11:54:28 GMT -5
OH MY WORD
another installment in my newbie experience, I guess.'
Okay...tell me this is Charlotte being in heat....Charlotte is going to return to normal...Charlotte hasn't been taken over by demons overnight.
I have my two nephews here today (school is out now and they are spending time with me having a lovely time doing farm chores) they were so excited this morning to watch me milk. I sauntered out to the barn with the milking machine explaining the whole process to their eager little selves. We got Charlotte into the stanchion and I noticed - in my distracted state of being- that she seemed a little irritated (i thought perhaps flies?) her tail was swishing violently back and forth.... I washed her udder...she hoists a leg....I pause for a minute thinking she's sore...no...nothing new...continue on...she isn't really eating her grain...just eye balling me...tail swishing even more violently....no problem to me...no lightbulbs are flashing in my dim little brain. I turn on the machine...hook her up and the nephews are totally entralled with the milk coming out....lovely time....then.....then.... the tail goes up...she arches her back and pee is pouring out....the milking machine is dangling and sputtering....the nephews are staring in horrified fascination as we scramble out of the way...me trying to hold on to the cups....okay...deep breath....she stops peeing and we get it going again...but now she arching her back, kicking and slithering about the stanchion like a belly dancer while I am trying to put the cups back on that fell off....then wham...she kicks and catches my wrist and the whole machine tips over . By this time the nephews are hovered over against the wall, clutching each other with their mouths agape and I am ready to CRY or swear. I pulled everything off and just stood there wondering what is WRONG with my sweet , docile cow. I notice a little bit of clear stuff on her >>&*** and she is still wriggling around like a worm, stamping and arching her back.....and I think.....heat?? really? could it be?? am I the dumbest blockhead around? or.....did the flies really and truly drive her insane? I've never experienced heat in a cow, she is a little past 3 months calving....is this probably it? so I should mark it on the calendar and see if it happens again in a few weeks (oh Lord help me)....or since I have missed things before and suffered terrible remorse...could it be something else to look for?
Until then....I am wiped out, done for the day and need to reassure the poor little boys that it really IS great having animals....cows in particlar....actually, I need to reassure MYSELF.
Sue
another installment in my newbie experience, I guess.'
Okay...tell me this is Charlotte being in heat....Charlotte is going to return to normal...Charlotte hasn't been taken over by demons overnight.
I have my two nephews here today (school is out now and they are spending time with me having a lovely time doing farm chores) they were so excited this morning to watch me milk. I sauntered out to the barn with the milking machine explaining the whole process to their eager little selves. We got Charlotte into the stanchion and I noticed - in my distracted state of being- that she seemed a little irritated (i thought perhaps flies?) her tail was swishing violently back and forth.... I washed her udder...she hoists a leg....I pause for a minute thinking she's sore...no...nothing new...continue on...she isn't really eating her grain...just eye balling me...tail swishing even more violently....no problem to me...no lightbulbs are flashing in my dim little brain. I turn on the machine...hook her up and the nephews are totally entralled with the milk coming out....lovely time....then.....then.... the tail goes up...she arches her back and pee is pouring out....the milking machine is dangling and sputtering....the nephews are staring in horrified fascination as we scramble out of the way...me trying to hold on to the cups....okay...deep breath....she stops peeing and we get it going again...but now she arching her back, kicking and slithering about the stanchion like a belly dancer while I am trying to put the cups back on that fell off....then wham...she kicks and catches my wrist and the whole machine tips over . By this time the nephews are hovered over against the wall, clutching each other with their mouths agape and I am ready to CRY or swear. I pulled everything off and just stood there wondering what is WRONG with my sweet , docile cow. I notice a little bit of clear stuff on her >>&*** and she is still wriggling around like a worm, stamping and arching her back.....and I think.....heat?? really? could it be?? am I the dumbest blockhead around? or.....did the flies really and truly drive her insane? I've never experienced heat in a cow, she is a little past 3 months calving....is this probably it? so I should mark it on the calendar and see if it happens again in a few weeks (oh Lord help me)....or since I have missed things before and suffered terrible remorse...could it be something else to look for?
Until then....I am wiped out, done for the day and need to reassure the poor little boys that it really IS great having animals....cows in particlar....actually, I need to reassure MYSELF.
Sue