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Andrea0509
155 Posts
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 Posted - Dec 28 2015 : 07:05:37 AM
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| Cindy, thanks for keeping us updated on your progress with Sally. It's so great that you've turned a corner with her. I learn such a great deal from reading experiences like yours! Sally sounds like such a sweet loving girl and you do a wonderful job with her in every aspect. I'm nowhere near that point with Percy but I'm hopeful that with lots of patience, and lots of dedication, we'll get there! |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Dec 28 2015 : 1:24:49 PM
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| thanks andrea! i can't tell you how much i learn on here every day. |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - Dec 29 2015 : 6:39:42 PM
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I think there is always some aspect of mystery when it comes to cows, Cindy. Do you think some of Sally's affection for people comes from not needing to be the head cow of the girls at MaryJane's farm anymore? She doesn't have to be the one in charge now, and maybe she can bond with people more as a result. Just a thought.
I learned today that Elli is impacted more by things than I think she will be. We recently put an electric fence around a large portion of pasture to keep our other cows in more effectively. The area by the stanchion and surrounding pen isn't included in the electric area and since there isn't any pasture due to snow we've been leaving Elli in the pen so she can have access to shelter and no competition for food. For the past few months we have had an Angus bottle calf in the corner of Elli's pen. Today we let the calf out into the pasture to be with the other cows since she's completely weaned and eating hay and grain well. Remember that Elli has never nursed this calf and to the best of my knowledge never really paid attention to her once she got used to her being here. When the calf when out to the pasture, Elli called her back and acted quite concerned about her. Now she seems lonely.
We also had to make some changes to Elli's infrastructure. Her metal water tank was icing over to the point we couldn't keep up with it, so we switched her water to the plastic one that she had been using as a hay feeder and added a heater. Then because of the new fencing the kelp/salt feeder that hung on the fence needed to be on the other side so she could reach it. I was literally tightening it down on the fence and Elli had her head under my arm checking it out. I think she was telling me that she appreciated getting it back. :) It's the little things. |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Dec 31 2015 : 6:03:08 PM
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Indeed it is the little things. Yesterday the girls (and Sweet William and Finnegan) were rascally cows. It was cold (8 degrees I think), when the sun burst through the morning fog so I got the idea to open up two of their pasture areas to see if they wanted to play (fields of deep snow right now). Oh my. The kids (Ester Lily and the two boys) headed down first, leaping into mid-air it seems. Eliza Belle was right behind them (and not at all graceful like the kids but she went for it, you know, dancing like no one was watching). Miss Daisy did her usual high-heeled, short-step rendition onto the dance floor and leaped as best she could (her recently milked udder was all over the place). Lacy Lou followed up the rear. Fanci stood inside her shelter and watched. By the time they were done running and leaping, they were panting like puppies. One by one as they came up after a half hour of play, I brushed each one as I continued to muck here and there, s-l-o-w-l-y. The day was too perfect to hurry onto something else. Eventually, I tossed a fresh straw bale over the rail so I could walk around and spread it out with a pitchfork in the area where they sleep. That's when Lacy Lou made her move. She pushed it, charged it, and leaped onto it. I got to wondering how long she'd play with it. Eventually she pushed it pretty far out into the field through the deep snow before she tired of it. Like my husband says, "I've never met a cow yet who didn't love a straw bale."
Lovin' the new Sweet Sally putting her head on Cindy's shoulder. And Elli with her head tucked beneath Keeley's arm. It's the little things. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Dec 31 2015 : 6:52:28 PM
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keeley, yes it is the little things. as i have been monitoring the new "affectionate" stage we have entered i started to wonder if she was jealous about me visiting elsa first in the morning.
before, sally was indifferent to me and just wanted to get to the milking parlor - so i spent a few minutes extra with elsa just hugging and petting her before fetching sally to the parlor. but lately i was met by sally after being with elsa and she was upset and shaking her head at me.
so with the new affection i started stopping by sally first and spending a few extra minutes with her doing the same loving time, then on to elsa, and then back to pet sally and take her to the parlor. she has responded very well. she now comes right to me to be scratched each morning, knowing that she isn't being fetched to the parlor quite yet.
and now, after leaving the parlor she stops outside in the corral and wants to be loved on for a few minutes. she won't budge otherwise. and then on our walk to the pasture she stops and we have a few more love sessions. i am trying to balance getting closer and being affectionate versus her being able to demand anything any time she wants.... but right now she isn't being difficult about any of it so i am just going with what feels right. she's a great cow.
keeley thanks for sharing your experiences, it is just wonderful. and the vision mary jane paints of the snow frolicking cows is absolutely lovely. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Dec 31 2015 : 7:45:26 PM
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| Well said, MaryJane and Cindy, and everyone else. These descriptions help tremendously for the rest of us. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 03 2016 : 06:27:51 AM
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| I could talk all day about my cows. Why just last night ... |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 03 2016 : 3:56:08 PM
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ha ha ha mary jane! all day long i have been talking to you in my head about sally, and have been thinking about posting the past few days...
the past 4-5 days has been tremendously moving. for a couple of days i kept holding my breath certain that sally must be sick or something to be so affectionate. but she poops, she pees, she eats, she hops, she milks... she's everything a healthy cow should be. but...
she wants 10 minutes of total affection each morning now. and the going to her before elsa just pushed this bonding further. and 10 minutes post milking. and 10 minutes when we reach the pasture before i leave. and then a few more minutes before heading back to barn at night. i have even, in just 3 days, got her to let me take off and on her harness DAILY. she just stands there. remind nick what a chore it was to get that on her before.
my one sadness i had about sally since i brought her here was that she was with the harness 24/7 except for maybe one day per week - because due to lack of fencing and her safety we have to walk her between barn and pasture each day, and she was not cooperative about putting the harness back on. i was able to quickly train elsa to wait for harness on/off so she literally only wears it twice a day for 5-10 minutes as we make the trip. well, now with the new found love sally is also willing to let me take the harness off/on twice daily - so she too now only wears it during the trip to/from barn/pasture.
miss sally o'mally is now gentle and patient. a bit sassy at times, but the hard edge of independence is gone and she's an affectionate gal that loves to be around people. i keep waiting for the bubble to burst, but she's just really changed in the last 30 days and i just keep pushing the envelope and she keeps responding. its wonderful. and i am just so pleased we are bonding now, we still have four months before baby is due so the trust can continue to build. i know to still never put my back to them, as that just reinforces the habit for me so when their heat occurs, but she's just a pleasure to be around.
this is what i knew having cows could be like. they are like big dogs in so many ways. MOO! |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 05 2016 : 06:03:46 AM
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| I'm anxious to know how Sally is in, say, a month from now, 'cause your relationship with Sally keeps getting better and more involved every day. Very inspirational and educational. The halter thing isn't a problem when a heifer gets training for that early on. To turn it around after the fact takes effort and as you're demonstrating, lots of love, care, and thought. Keep us updated. The details you're sharing are helpful and encouraging to all. We need to change how cows are regarded and you're doing just that. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 05 2016 : 09:29:39 AM
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Cindy, I'm thinking that a book about your experience with Sally might be in order! Maybe a short one with little daily snippets of detailed experiences, what you did and how did Sally respond. And vice versa, how you responded to what Sally did.
A book with MaryJane? How you planned for your cow, training with MJ, ups and downs ... neighbors comments on your beautiful cows, the pastor's blessing on your cows (still want some notes on that!), etc.
A great way to reach more people to do what MJ mentions above, "Changing how cows are regarded." |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 05 2016 : 5:07:14 PM
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thanks for the encouraging words gals. and we now have two days of lover boy even easily getting the halter on sally while she was in the open pasture, he isn't having as close a bonding with her as i am but she is sweeter with him ... i am trying to get him to spend more time with her scratching and loving and such but he isn't into the total bonding that i am. that's ok, she's "my" cow ;> she has a good relationship with him and she trusts him as he mucks and feeds for her daily, so if that is all they both need together then i can take all the rest.
mary jane, i don't know if i ever told you my uncle myron had cows. he was a ww2 vet, a medic on the front lines, and when he came home from the war and married my aunt betty jo he was a cabinet maker by trade and they had a little farm and he had his cows. and they were vegetarian, almost vegan, so his cows were merely for his enjoyment and he sold cows/calfs annually to others. he had this type of relationship with his cows, he LOVED those cows and his life was all about those cows. i can't tell you how many times a week i think of my uncle myron and aunt betty jo and attempt to channel them for their guidance on our farm. god i wish they were still alive, i loved them so much when they were here but didn't have the farm then... there are so many things i could use their good advice on, i'd love to hear their stories of when they started out. at least i have y'all here on hjo.
charlene, i asked the pastor at christmas for a copy of his sermon notes and he said he would email them to me in the next week or so. cute comments on the cow narrative idea. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 05 2016 : 5:54:08 PM
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What an uncle and aunt!!!! And vegetarian/vegan. The cows were clearly pets. I would say you're channeling Uncle Myron big time. Seems like you should name some calves after them. I mean, what's not to love about Betty Jo?
Here's a cute story that's been putting a smile on my face all day long not to mention Nick and I have been speaking Spanish in front of our girls and Jasper when we talk about them.
I do magazine/blog giveaways. Right now I have several ongoing. One of them is my Milk Cow Kitchen book in which I asked readers to leave a comment that's pet related. One woman posted (straight-faced I'm sure) that she brought home a darling Chihuahua from the animal shelter but their relationship was a struggle until she found out the dog had come from a Hispanic-speaking only household. Her doggie is slowly learning English and is starting to understand her better and their relationship is greatly improved. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 05 2016 : 6:13:01 PM
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thats hilarious! buts its so true, isn't it... "use your words" just like megan says. but you have to find a language you can both speak in.
until i could communicate with my pugs they were interested, but not bonded. same thing i am finding out with sally.
i hope she gets the book. adios amigas! |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 06 2016 : 09:00:49 AM
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| Thanks, Cindy. I'll be looking forward to seeing a copy of your pastor's notes. I hung my friend's blessing with photo collage down in my barn. I love seeing it every time I walk in. It has photos of all my critters here. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jan 06 2016 : 11:47:56 AM
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| Bilingual chihuahua. Amazing. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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