The signs and dehorning

We had been waiting for all "the signs" to be right to dehorn Weir and it looked like Friday was the day. The signs are something I want to try and explain if I can. Older people believe in performing many farming tasks according to the signs. Raymond's Calendar is an "old timey" calendar that list the signs during each month. According to the signs Friday was a day that blood would be in the knee and foot. Since dehorning is such a bloody procedure, blood being lower in the body meant less bleeding and a quicker recovery. After Friday I am a believer in the signs.
This county is full of wonderful people and we had three of them offer to come and do the dehorning for us. Weir was so brave and trotted right through the path of temporary fencing that took him behind the barn. Finally we got to use the head gate and it was not a day too soon. His horns were really getting big and it would have been so much easier for him if we had done it sooner. The clippers look like pruning clippers for a small tree limb but they have a circular end with a blade. The horn goes through circle, the handles are pulled apart and the blade cuts the horn away from the cow's head. Weir just stood there with his head in the head gate and never made a sound. Once the horns were gone an antiseptic spray was applied which we continued to do for a few days afterwards. Blood spurted everywhere but soon the blood flow slowed and he was released from the gate. He seemed a little dazed but immediately started to eat grass. The cows in the adjoining pasture  observed the entire process and came over to "talk to him" and that was so interesting to watch.  There was a lot of mooing and stomping at the ground by one of the Dexter steers and then they moved on. Wished I could have know what was said, I tend to think it was just a few words of encouragement from a fellow cow that had been through the same thing. Weir trotted right back over to the pasture with Jerry who was so happy to have his buddy back with him. Now Weir looks like he has a purple mohawk (because of the spray) but seems absolutely back to his old self.
Honestly, dehorning is very unpleasant to watch but for a middle aged woman trying to find her way in the world of cattle farming, I was right there with Weir, I watched it, I rinsed the blood off of the barn and I spray medicine on his head. I am learning that if animals are involved there are going to be yucky moments and you must be respectful of the situation and move on.

Babies Babies Everywhere!

It's been a busy time at Chilly Water Farm.  Last week my daughter was finally able to find two Nubian kids and for me it was certainly "love at first sight". The first two are brother and sister, three week old twins named Hannah and Hanes. A few days after getting them, she was able to buy one more. His name is Macon and he is four weeks old. Since he was a single birth he is much larger and already has horns about two inches long. He was taken from his mother just before we got him, so he is going to require a little taming and he was not so sure about the bottle at first. All three now love the bottle and fight to see who can drink the most. The Nubian breed is known for being very sweet and gentle, good for milking and meat.  If you have never been around baby goats you have missed a treat, their eyes almost look human and they love to be cuddled.  I can not imagine eating these cute little things but someone will I am sure. I keep telling myself they are not pets.
Today brought another new baby to the farm. Rose is now the mama of a beautiful, little, black calf. Since we have not touch it, we can only speculate about the sex but from a distance it certainly does appear to be a girl. The birth was just amazing! First there was one little hoof popping out and then you could see the tongue and face. I photographed the entire process and still can not believe how smoothly everything went.  She entered this world at 9 am and was walking around by 9:15. Rose is an excellent mother and it looks like Boyer is going to be a great playmate. He was right there in the way watching but Rose never appeared to be bother by his presence. We are so lucky to have two healthy calves and cross our fingers for Kelly's baby due in April. There is something about having new babies on the farm that makes it seem like spring. I hope I am not being too hopeful but with the time changing this weekend let's just pretend it is here.