We lived through the bad storm! How do the cows and calves endure such cold nights? Brian wares layers of clothing and then a jump suit overall. Yesterday and today nothing will run so it’s Brian walking with totes and wash bucket up to the barn. I get to sit by the fire and type this short blog until he comes in.
Showing posts with label Cows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cows. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Milking Helpers/ Midwest Ranch / Kansas Small Farm
Last Saturday night all the children came to celebrate their dad’s birthday. Brian Jr., Tom, Julie, Cheryl, Sam and Greg all came to eat and relax awhile.
BRIAN & GREGG ON GUITAR
When it came time to milk the cows Brian and Tom, Brian Jr. and Julie went with Dad to help. The only one who has milked before was Tom. Everyone took turns milking and they did really well. Maybe someday they can take over so Dad and I can get away for awhile.
BIRTHDAY BOY (BRIAN)
TOM
BRIAN JR
JULIE
BRIAN JR & BIRTHDAY BOY
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Becky the Pain! Becky the Boss! Remember Becky? Well, she almost was meat. / Midwest Farm Life / Kansas small ranch / Natural products
Recently, when Becky was with the other cows, she was acting like a bull and bothers the cows all day, day in, day out for weeks. This was hurting her utter and milk production and the other cows as well. This might be because four other cows were due to have calves. Maybe she was a little jealous. She doesn’t eat much and won’t let the other cows eat to. We thought of selling her and then thought she might have to be sent to the butchers!!!!
Becky, the Jersey Cow, was our first cow and has given us the best milk and butter for 5 years. She is my favorite cow and her picture is on my soap labels "Carolyn's Natural Soap" and it’s her rich milk that makes my soap so special. We did not know what to do.
This last month, we were blessed with four new heifers, I will write about them later. Brian said he’ll give Becky another chance and put her in the calves pen. Wow, what a differences! Becky now is at peace. She will let Brian milk out in the open and her milk is as sweet as ever. We’ll have to keep her separate from the others to enjoy her gifts to our farm and family. I think she wants to be the boss, but Gurney, our Guernsey cow, wanted to be the boss among the cow herd. Now, Becky is the boss among the calf herd. HaHa
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Tuesday, January 4, 2011
FOUR NEW CALVES TO JOIN US / Kansas Farm Life / Midwest Simple Farming / Cows
Four new calves born all ready! Trisha, a black Jersey had her calf on the 7th of November. This was her first time to calf and gave birth without a hitch. We named the heifer calf, CoCo as she is chocolate brown.
Mae, another black Jersey had her calf on the 23rd of December. We thought her calf wouldn’t be born until the end of January as our bull was not yet a year old if he bred her in March, but to our surprise that is exactly what he did. This heifer calf we named Grayleen because of her color.
June now had her calf on the 31st of December, New Years Eve. June started her labor in the late afternoon so Brian and I got her to the barn as it was very cold. The calf came that evening, another heifer. We call her Nevey, New Years Eve baby.
I now feed 4 calves who fight for their bottles and suck my coat and hands. It’s quite a challenge to care for these beauties. The 4th is a Jersey bull calf we’ll raise to replace Moonlight someday. We call this bull calf Stanley.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
NEW CALVES AT THE RANCH / Kansas Farm Life / Midwest Small Farming / Natural Ranch Products
New calves at the ranch. Stanley is a Jersey bull calf and Co Co was born Monday the 8th of November. This is Trisha’s first calf and we are so happy to start to have her part of the cow herd.
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Friday, November 19, 2010
WALTER / Kansas Farm Life / Midwest Small Farming / Natural Ranch Products / English Shepherd Farm Dog
Walter is the name we have given our new 10 week old puppy. Many days out of the year, the cows will not be ready to come to the barn when Brian is ready to milk,even though they are on a 12 hour schedule. Brian has to walk the fields to fine the cows and encourage them to come in. Walter, an English Shepherd, an old breed of farm dogs, will help Brian bring the cows in from the pasture when he grows up. He will help with predators, and just be a good working dog and companion for Brian. He is so smart and already has learned the command to come and stay. Brian has had a lot of dog training experience. When he was a young man working as a security guard for a college in Pasadena, California, Brian and the other guards spent much time training German Shepherds to help them work at night on the college grounds. Brian’s dog was Lad. He would obey arm and hand signals from many distances away. Never a word was spoken. This education Brian has should help make Walter in to a terrific dog.
Carolyn
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Friday, November 12, 2010
Gurney, June & Mae / Kansas Farm Life / Midwest Small Farming
Gurney, June and Mae our wonderful cows, all will have calves in the dead of winter.
Moonlight, the Jersey bull, was only 12months old when he began his romance with our girls and now we are looking toward a calving round up in two or three feet of snow. You might say “ What a bull!,” or you might say, “ How could you leave him alone with those cows?” How ever you look at it, we’re in for a interesting winter. Oh the extra milk!
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Thursday, September 9, 2010
What A Cow! / Mid West Farm Life / Carolyn’s Natural Soap
Becky the cow, remember her? She had not been milked for 6 months and as far as we could tell, was pregnant and her calf was due in October. Well, her udder filled up and was so swollen Brian had to milk her to relieve the pressure. Long story short, she is not pregnant and is being milked twice daily and giving rich Jersey milk. The Vet said, “ she could have a bad ovary that could be looked at.” Anyway she is healthy and happy and beautiful to look at. We’d love to have a calf from her but she doesn’t need to have a calf to freshen, haha. What a cow!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
BECKY / Kansas Farm Life / Carolyn’s Natural Soap
Our Jersey cow Becky is to have a calf in October, so we have dried her up to have a long needed rest from being milked. We have been milking her for 5 years as she would not dry up and has not had a calf in those 5 years. We are so happy that she is pregnant, at least we hope so. Monday, I noticed that her udder was filling up with milk. This cannot be happening as cows do not begin to have milk in their udders until a week or so before they have their calves. Brian took Becky into the milk parlor and milked out a couple gallons. We’ll have to have her checked at the Vet when we finish the hay work. We sure hope it’s not a false pregnancy. I’ll let you know after she’s checked.
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Sunday, June 13, 2010
WONDER MAN / Kansas Farm Life / Carolyn’s Natural Soap
Brian is a “Wonder Man” in my opinion. He can milk those cows as fast as a milking machine. He knows what each cow is like and what they need to keep healthy. He cares for our cows and treats them with dignity. When he was a boy, he learned how to work hard and appreciate what little his family had. Milking the cows for his father became his job and he learned to enjoy milking and working with the animals.
Now it’s my turn to help Brian with the milk when he gets it to the kitchen. Those tots weigh 20 or more lbs. The milk is strained and put into glass gallon jars and refrigerated. Now it’s time to clean up and watch what’s going on out my kitchen window.
I’ll be making Soap tomorrow. The rich, creamy Jersey milk will make my soap so wonderful. What a life!
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Saturday, June 12, 2010
THAT PRECIOUS GIFT OF A COW / Kansas Farm Life / Carolyn’s Natural Soap
Milk again? Brian milks the cows twice a day, morning and night. He just came in with those heavy stainless tots filled with that precious gold, that the cow gives with out fail.
Cows who eat grass and have peaceful ,comfortable lives are the most graceful, beautiful and enjoyable thing to watch. They dot the fields with their bright colors, and move slowly through the grass as if they were Waltzing to the sound of the wind. Often times I walk outside to join them and enjoy the warmth of the summer sun.
The sun gives the milk that much needed vitamin called Vitamin D. We need that vitamin to remain healthy. What a gift real milk is for the farmer and his family.
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010
MY KITCHEN WINDOW (ONE) / Carolyn’s Natural Soap / Reid Ranch Products / Farm Life
OUR COWS
What a beautiful day! I have the best view from my kitchen window. The cows grazing in the field……
More “My Kitchen Window” posts to come in near future…….
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Friday, April 10, 2009
NEW COW IS SICK
One of our new Jersey cows is sick. After she gave birth to her calf, we noticed a cut on one side of her udder and it looked infected. The vet examined her and stated that the cut had been there awhile and had never completely healed. The only option to getting her well was to shoot Iodine into the 1/4 udder and kill the chamber. We did this and now are doctoring the wound with Iodine diluted spray and only milking the remaining 3/4. We are not able to drink her milk until the iodine treatment is over. Today she did not have a fever and her milk production is increasing.
We also purchased a Guernsey cow that is due to have a calf in June. She is beautiful. I will have to post some pictures of her later.
Went to Leavenworth today to deliver soap to two stores and to buy chickens. We bought 82 Sexlink Chicks. They are just getting their feathers. We are in great need for eggs, so in a short while we should have plenty.
Tomorrow is the big day. FARMERS MARKET IN TOPEKA. Getting up early and will be there all morning. Come by and see me.
Carolyn
We also purchased a Guernsey cow that is due to have a calf in June. She is beautiful. I will have to post some pictures of her later.
Went to Leavenworth today to deliver soap to two stores and to buy chickens. We bought 82 Sexlink Chicks. They are just getting their feathers. We are in great need for eggs, so in a short while we should have plenty.
Tomorrow is the big day. FARMERS MARKET IN TOPEKA. Getting up early and will be there all morning. Come by and see me.
Carolyn
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