Post by bridgetmi on Aug 15, 2017 8:30:15 GMT -5
So I am sure all the experienced folks on here are going to laugh and shake their heads, but on the off chance that it might help another timid newbie, I thought I would write this out...
So my pretty Jersey Gal was raised running with steers. She was barely socialized - all she viewed humans as good for was providing apples. She was not halter broke. She did have a healthy respect for electric fences. She was also very pregnant for the first time.
Day One, on her arrival, it took 3 men, a gate, a plywood sheet, a rope, a halter, and 3 women offering moral support and advice to get her on and off the trailer, and into her stall. She was not tied down at that point, just locked into the stable. Started watching youtube videos of how easy it was to train a heifer to lead.
Day Two - remained in the stable. Would not let herself be approached, touched, etc. Kept watching youtubes.
Day Three - 14(?) - Let her out onto newly fenced pasture. She grazed, began to approach for apples, but was very leery of humans. I tried a rope to her halter, tied her into her stable, etc but due to her pregnancy and edema I ended up giving up on halter breaking. I had already taken a couple of nice jogs at the end of her rope as she tore across the field, severely strained some muscles from the jerking of her head, etc. Began copiously nail biting and agonizing over how was I going to milk her when I couldn't even get her to follow me or respond to treats.
Day 15 - Calf was born.
Day 16 - She let me pet and handle her calf, but no contact with her. Began watching youtube videos of brave women attempting to milk crazy cows, involving all sorts of gates, ropes, shackles, etc. Nail biting increased.
Day 17 - tried to get Mama into her stable. Ended up heading her off on each end of the stable, until she smartened up and beelined past me. Experienced the bitter, bitter knowledge that a cow is far smarter than I am. Started drafting my For Sale ad.
Day 18 - Farmer friends came over. After chasing Jersey Gal around a bit, we switched gears, and I carried the calf into the stall. Mama balked, then when baby would not listen to her and come back out (which is comforting to know that even calves don't listen to their parents), she walked into the stable. Managed to tie her halter via rope to a horse hitching ring I had installed, than over the rafters as back up. Mama danced, but once baby stood next to her, she stopped. And we milked her (by hand). Just.Like.That. No kicking, no tail attitude, she just stood there patiently while we milked. I gave her lots of apples, pets, brushing, etc afterwards, but once I untied her she didn't let the door hit her on her way out.
Day 19: Loaded up my Irish determinedness, my German stubbornness, and my American Get'er done, along with pails, soapy water, glass jars, apples, and high hopes, headed down to the pasture. I was able to herd baby boy into the stable (only getting kicked once by the little punk), and after futilely calling him out, Mama went back in. And she stood exactly where she had yesterday. I hooked on her rope, tied it off, loved her up, and milked her. I milked into a pint jar, and dumped it into a half gallon jar with a lid on it, so as to keep the milk clean. She did swat with her tail, but there were some biting flies, so I'll take that with a grain of salt. She also at one point pooped and peed, but I was able to get back, wait, and then resume. She shifted her feet once, but moved them with a firm push, and she was actually moving so baby could get closer.
Day 20: Planning to milk her again, typing this out now, I feel like a kid who just mastered the high dive. I am sure I am going to run into many future roadblocks, etc, but honestly, for the first time, I am starting to think this might work out.
I hope this doesn't sound braggy, or like a stuck up know it all. When I was browsing through articles, youtube, etc I had mentally formed a lot of obstacles based on other people's experiences. I never dreamed that Jersey Gal would permit me to milk her, but she did. And she was polite about it. So my hope is that maybe, if there is another newbie out there looking for a ray of sunshine, maybe this will help. It isn't always a milking rodeo, and in my case I had dear friends, a strong brother, many prayers to Our Lord, and a sweet Jersey Gal to make it happen, but I also had my own fears, trepidations, and insecurities holding me back. Don't be like me
Anyways, putting my soap box away, as I have pigs to feed.
So my pretty Jersey Gal was raised running with steers. She was barely socialized - all she viewed humans as good for was providing apples. She was not halter broke. She did have a healthy respect for electric fences. She was also very pregnant for the first time.
Day One, on her arrival, it took 3 men, a gate, a plywood sheet, a rope, a halter, and 3 women offering moral support and advice to get her on and off the trailer, and into her stall. She was not tied down at that point, just locked into the stable. Started watching youtube videos of how easy it was to train a heifer to lead.
Day Two - remained in the stable. Would not let herself be approached, touched, etc. Kept watching youtubes.
Day Three - 14(?) - Let her out onto newly fenced pasture. She grazed, began to approach for apples, but was very leery of humans. I tried a rope to her halter, tied her into her stable, etc but due to her pregnancy and edema I ended up giving up on halter breaking. I had already taken a couple of nice jogs at the end of her rope as she tore across the field, severely strained some muscles from the jerking of her head, etc. Began copiously nail biting and agonizing over how was I going to milk her when I couldn't even get her to follow me or respond to treats.
Day 15 - Calf was born.
Day 16 - She let me pet and handle her calf, but no contact with her. Began watching youtube videos of brave women attempting to milk crazy cows, involving all sorts of gates, ropes, shackles, etc. Nail biting increased.
Day 17 - tried to get Mama into her stable. Ended up heading her off on each end of the stable, until she smartened up and beelined past me. Experienced the bitter, bitter knowledge that a cow is far smarter than I am. Started drafting my For Sale ad.
Day 18 - Farmer friends came over. After chasing Jersey Gal around a bit, we switched gears, and I carried the calf into the stall. Mama balked, then when baby would not listen to her and come back out (which is comforting to know that even calves don't listen to their parents), she walked into the stable. Managed to tie her halter via rope to a horse hitching ring I had installed, than over the rafters as back up. Mama danced, but once baby stood next to her, she stopped. And we milked her (by hand). Just.Like.That. No kicking, no tail attitude, she just stood there patiently while we milked. I gave her lots of apples, pets, brushing, etc afterwards, but once I untied her she didn't let the door hit her on her way out.
Day 19: Loaded up my Irish determinedness, my German stubbornness, and my American Get'er done, along with pails, soapy water, glass jars, apples, and high hopes, headed down to the pasture. I was able to herd baby boy into the stable (only getting kicked once by the little punk), and after futilely calling him out, Mama went back in. And she stood exactly where she had yesterday. I hooked on her rope, tied it off, loved her up, and milked her. I milked into a pint jar, and dumped it into a half gallon jar with a lid on it, so as to keep the milk clean. She did swat with her tail, but there were some biting flies, so I'll take that with a grain of salt. She also at one point pooped and peed, but I was able to get back, wait, and then resume. She shifted her feet once, but moved them with a firm push, and she was actually moving so baby could get closer.
Day 20: Planning to milk her again, typing this out now, I feel like a kid who just mastered the high dive. I am sure I am going to run into many future roadblocks, etc, but honestly, for the first time, I am starting to think this might work out.
I hope this doesn't sound braggy, or like a stuck up know it all. When I was browsing through articles, youtube, etc I had mentally formed a lot of obstacles based on other people's experiences. I never dreamed that Jersey Gal would permit me to milk her, but she did. And she was polite about it. So my hope is that maybe, if there is another newbie out there looking for a ray of sunshine, maybe this will help. It isn't always a milking rodeo, and in my case I had dear friends, a strong brother, many prayers to Our Lord, and a sweet Jersey Gal to make it happen, but I also had my own fears, trepidations, and insecurities holding me back. Don't be like me
Anyways, putting my soap box away, as I have pigs to feed.