As we sat in the sunshine with our mid-morning coffee (it was 15C by 11.30), Keith called to tell me that one of his cows was about to calf and did I want to watch.
Within 5 mins I was in the cowshed - sleeves rolled up, blood, shit and afterbirth everywhere -helping to get the calf jack in place to help the poor cow deliver a very large calf which had started in an awkward position. Not sure how to describe this new skill on my CV but it was a challenging 20 minutes or so. The calf was a heifer which is good news - worth a lot more than a bull calf - and seemed in good health - it was so big with such long spindly legs that it was having trouble standing to feed. As a result, I spent half hour this evening bottle-feeding it as Keith was hand-milking the mother.
As if that wasn't enough for one day, our new rooster arrived today as well. A very smart speckled Maran cockerel who seemed very sure of himself - until he met the hockey girls!!
They seemed less than impressed and gave him a very hard time -Karen in particular was very agressive.
However by bedtime they were a little more accommodating and allowed him into the henhouse. Hope they are all well when I go to feed them in the morning.
Had originally planned to name him Rocky after the hero of Chicken Run but given his performance today, Linda has decided to call him Reginald.
Don't know how I cope with such stressful days - and Keith has two more cows which should calf in the next day or so.
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