Good Morning!--Chat thread

[amysflock]

Hi, all,

The afternoon is winding down, turned partly sunny after showers this a.m. (not enough to water the garden, though).

I bought weaning rings today, one for each calf, and two new nylon rope halters. DH doesn't want us to start halter breaking T-Bone until he stops limping so he doesn't hurt himself further, which is probably a good idea. We're looking for two used stock panels to fashion into a V-chute, too, so we're ready to have a vet come out (I won't call until that's done). I'm still on the look-out for used cattle panels that would be cheaper than buying new on sale at the feed store. Gotta love Craig's List!

Bought a tatooer, too, plus our herd letters and the letter we need to designate the year. Registration certificates are completed...we just need to tatoo and send them in. Boy, the calves are NOT going to like us!

 

[wynedot55]

youll find everything you need in time.

 

[wynedot55]

well its time to get the day going.the chickens an goats are eating me out of house an home.guess i need to go get some feed.

 

[amysflock]

Good morning!

It's been raining (drizzling) here steady...yay! The grass and gardens need it, although our big ornamental plum tree in the front looks droopy and pathetic. That rain must weigh a lot!

DH agreed that we can buy two new cattle panels (on sale at the feed store!) and make a V-chute in one of the barn stalls for cattle handling. That's a relief...he gets to going with his wild ideas and then nothing gets done. We'll do this tomorrow.

Only thing is, he's working 10s next week so likely won't be home to help me with a vet visit. Can I do this by myself??? We're going to try and put a rope halter on Annabel she can drag around (early halter training), and can halter Bridgit no problem. T-Bone, if he's not walking right by then can be roped and haltered, although I don't want him to drag a lead around with his gimpy leg. We have everyone locked in the paddock/barn area right now with their haylage, partly to keep T-Bone from moving around too much but also to give our pathetic grass a break. I could do a vet visit for just Bridgit by myself (vet to check for ovarian cysts), I think, but we'd been thinking of saving some $$ and getting the calves their shots (and the adults, too, if needed), plus calves tatooed, etc. I don't know if I can handle all 4 by myself. :|

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Are they trained well enough that you could hook them up somewhere the morning of the visit before the vet gets there? That way you won't have to catch them. It's what we do with the small heifers when bangs vaccinating. Then you could move them into the chute and have their vet work done.

 

[amysflock]

The cows are, but the calves haven't been halter trained at all yet. I can get Annabel with grain no problem, and if T-Bone isn't moving well, he should be easy to catch, but I don't know about tying them up (I'd think they'd both do the first-time-halter-tying-freak-out dance).

Suggestions??

 

[Thewife]

Good morning everybody!

I'm supposed to be calling Hubby back to tell him his buddy did not get drawn for any permits!(neither did we)
But I figured I'd stop by and say hi, before I pass on the bad news!

Amy, when is the vet coming out?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Try hooking them this weekend and see how it goes. Some fight and others do well. Maybe if you can do short periods of time this weekend they will be fine.

 

[wynedot55]

yall are making this old body hurt at the thought of halter breaking calves.

 

[amysflock]

We'll try that for sure...I want to get the weaning rings in them, too, while we're at it, so that process can be started.

thewife, I don't have the appointment made just yet, but will call this afternoon. I'm hoping for early in the week (Monday, Tuesday) so the bull can still be hauled over before the weekend. Although DH reminded me we're committed to a weekend camping trip next weekend with his family (birthdays and Father's Day)...maybe I should see if I can postpone the bull a week so we don't have to leave him unattended?

I had to tell DH he wasn't drawn for special permits, too. Bummer for him...but that means (possibly) a shorter hunting season for me! My uncle got a doe tag for the Packwood area, though, so I'm sure DH will be wanting to "help" him track since he grew up in that area.