I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

They had forecast rain for the whole weekend.  Billy and I had made plans to do a list of inside things.

However when we woke Saturday morning….the skies were clear, we found ourselves hurrying to do some outside things before the rain made its way to us.

I started with the normal routine that comes whether it rains or not…bottle feeding the goats, feeding the chickens and opening the coop door.  Billy had some things he had to check on too.  About an hour later we both came back in for some breakfast and to get ready to head off to do the indoor chores at another location.  I finished my breakfast before he did…so I made my way to the farm to check on the girls.

Once I arrived I saw that they were all near the back tree line.  I zipped on over on the four wheeler.  Everyone was tucked in among the trees, some laying down and some standing.   I always do a head count….so that was what I was doing when I noticed that Bailey, who was laying down, was actually in the process of having a baby.  Thank goodness for cell phones.  I called Billy and said…better come on…bring some towels just in case….Bailey in labor!

I had been watching her….but, I watched the other one too and she had it two weeks later than I thought.  Matter of fact Billy has text me several times this week asking if any of the girls were doing anything.  He laughs because I check their pregnancy status a couple times a day if possible.  This is Bailey’s first baby….so I really wanted to be around.

This is Bailey….at the first of April.  My brother and sister in law had Bailey before we did.  The reason she is named Bailey is because the neighbor called them one day and said…hey, I think your cow had a baby in my yard today.  The mother had somehow gotten out of the fence and made her way to his house next door and delivered her baby there.  They all laughed and so they named the baby calf Bailey, which is his last name, in his honor.  Bailey is very reserved.  I have only been able to pet her a time or two, and that has been only recently.

When Billy arrived in the pasture we watched and waited.  She had the hooves out….and she was pushing…but wasn’t making progress.  Bailey isn’t real big herself, we knew that once the head was cleared it would be easy sailing.

One of the most interesting things to me is that when they are in labor….they will often…not always…but often let you get all over them without giving any objection.  Bailey looked as if she welcomed the help.  She never moved away from us or anything.  There is really no telling how long she had been in labor.  It was very odd that all the cows were with her, as they usually go off to themselves to deliver.

She pushed and we encouraged.   We finally pulled here and there when she would push and was able to get the head through.

At 9:30 a.m. we had a baby boy born.

We decided we would name him TUG, because we had to tug on him to get him out.

Mama licked him a little….but she acted so tired.  Billy and I stepped away and watched..oddly enough all the other cows came back in among her and some started licking the baby.  They were concerned.  I can not explain how cool it is to watch these beautiful creatures interact with one another.  Baby tried to stand…but he too was weak….sometimes that happens with a long or hard delivery.

After waiting a while we started encouraging Mama to get up.  I really think she had probably labored for a while before we arrived.  We pushed her from behind trying to get her to stand.  She wasn’t budging.  Billy put a rope around her neck, he pulled from the front….I pushed from the rear.  NOPE…she wasn’t even thinking about getting up.  Clementine who is probably our oldest cow…and seems to be the leader of the herd…..eased over to her.  Billy let go of the rope and we both moved out of her way.  She gently, but firmly nudge her with her head.  Then he backed up waited a second….and did it again.  I will eat your hat if she didn’t slowly, but surely try to stand.  Her hind legs were very weak and wobbly.  She swayed to and fro for a minute….but she stood.  Then she started walking away across the pasture…not in a straight line mind you….but she was walking.

Now….we had to get that rope off her neck.  There are some parts of this country farm thing that we haven’t exactly gotten down to a fine art yet.  I went after her….trying to quietly walk up behind her just close enough to grab hold of the rope dragging behind her.  By now….she was done with us.   She had the attitude of….Thank you for the help….now leave me alone.  I finally was able to get the end….but I can tell you right now….she weighs a whole lot more than I do.  She felt the tug as I tried to slow her down….and she didn’t like it.  She started trotting….wobbly and all….and I still couldn’t keep up with her.  She was all but dragging me all over the pasture.  She would get way ahead of me so I would have to eventually drop the rope or fall face first.   Then I would catch up and grab the end again.   Billy was running across the pasture saying….hang on…hang on.    Wrap yourself around that tree…that will stop her…..Yeah….right….I looked like a rag doll flopping around on the end of little girls swinging arm.

Billy finally got to me and I transferred the rope to him….WHEW….    Then I got to watch as she drug him for a while.  It was pretty funny….   He was better at it than I was and was able to actually get behind the tree and use it to help stop her.   You would never had known that she had just delivered a 50+ pound baby.

Once he tied her up to the tree and got a little slack….she let him take the rope off her neck.  The look she gave us afterwards was priceless.  He gently took it off and she just looked at him like…..OH….is that all you wanted?    Hmmm…. OK…thanks…and she walked off.

Boy….there is never a dull moment around here….that is for sure.  It is times like those that you hope the neighbors aren’t watching.  If they are…then I am sure we have provided ample material for years of laughter.

Before the end of the day we rounded her and the baby up and put them in an enclosed area so we could make sure they were fine and had good shelter before the rain set in.

Tug is a cute baby…he seems to have a  lighter coloring like his mother.

He has precious eyes….and likes for me to pet him….I really like that.  Of course tomorrow….he may not let me touch him….that is the way it usually is.

Our plans were changed for the day…but we were blessed with beautiful weather until late in the afternoon.  We were so glad we were able to be outside most of the day and that she delivered yesterday…because it has rained and rained and rained today.

It would have really given the neighbors something to laugh about if I had been drug through the mud on the end of that rope……

I love when Spring time rolls around.  With it comes the newness of life.

Of course I have been making my rounds in the pasture…

checking on the girls figures….from the front….

and from the back…..

They endure it……although they look at me as if to say….

alright….let’s get this over with.

I get a good look at each one so I can see how they are progressing with their pregnancy.

This is Punkin….almost three weeks ago….she was very round.  I watch their tummy size and their milk bags, as well as a few other physical signs that help me to know when delivery is near.  Between the calendar and the other signs, I get really close to figuring out the due date….other times I miss it by a week or so.

I missed this one by about 2 weeks.

We went on a Mission trip this past week….and I had hoped that she would deliver before we left.   But she had other plans…..while away, we received a call from our neighbor saying that we had a baby in the pasture.  I had no doubt who it was that had delivered.

I was most excited to hear that she delivered fine and that they both were doing well.  I love being around when they deliver….but I am more than happy just to know they didn’t need any help.  It is great when things go perfect in delivery.

When we arrived home yesterday morning….Billy and I couldn’t wait to check on them.

It’s a BOY!!!!!  He is beautiful of course.  He has a little white on his tummy and a tiny white spot on the tip of his tail.

I was able to finally get close enough to pet him last night.   Mama was patient with me…..it is almost like she knows I really have been waiting for it’s arrival.

Anyway….his name is “Rey”….spelled that way because we were in Reynosa for a Mission trip.  He seems very healthy.

During the day this is what you usually see when a new calf arrives.  A black lump….if the mother doesn’t have him hidden in the tree line.  They rest in the field, beside their mother, while all the others graze.  When they work their way down the field, the mother will let out a little hum….and the calf will get up and move closer to her.  It is fun to watch them.  All the mothers have a little hum they talk to their babies with.  It is different than other times when they MOO.  Interestingly enough the babies seem to know what they are saying.  A certain hum…and the babies come to them.  Another hum…and the baby will stay…and not move from that spot until their mother calls.

Now…..we watch other tummies….and WAIT!!!!!

Its exciting!!!!!!!