It wasn’t planned to have winter calves. But stuff happens on the homestead. One of our cows, who we thought was bred for an August calf, evidently didn’t get bred and while running with the bull, got bred way later. Same with one of our heifers. The cow, Mamba, was getting close and we hoped she’d calve when it was relatively warm last week. No dice. Monday evening when Will did chores, he came up to get me. Mamba was thinking about getting down to business. AND the nighttime temps were going to be -27 F! We herded Mamba out of the pasture, where she was determined to stay and have her calf out in a pile of dry round bale hay, and into the training ring where there’s a barn. We fluffed up three bales of oat straw for her and she decided the barn was good enough for her to calve in.
Two hours later, with the temperature at -17, I went to check her by flashlight and presto — a black, very wet calf! I called Will on my cell phone and we set about toweling the baby dry. And more towels! And more towels! The ears and tail are the most freezeable parts of a calf and we were very careful to keep them as dry as possible and covered with our hands and blankets.
I got the calf to nurse well three times but his ears still were trying to freeze!
At midnight, I finally caved when the temp was -22. Will had on his insulated coveralls and hunkered down in the hay trying to keep warm and keep the blankets around the frosty calf. No matter what he did, the ears kept trying to freeze! Finally at 3 AM, he loaded the calf into the Subaru and brought him up to the house. So the calf, now named Frosty, stayed in the living room while the outside temperature went down to -37 F.
In the morning, it was warming up outside; all the way to 7 above! And the wind wasn’t blowing a gale like it was at night. We took Frosty down to Mamba and he went right to town and had breakfast. Two days later, he’s outside, in the training ring barn and doing great. The challenges we homesteaders sometimes run up against.
Like last night when our neighbor’s barn burned. What a shock. They saved their goats and horses and the rabbits are in shock but alive. But the chickens are no more. Neighbors are all helping where they can. We may be caring for their goats until spring and another neighbor is going to take care of their horses at their place. Country is like that; most folks help each other through tough times.
I’ve been poring through seed catalogs, trying to kind of finalize the hundreds of new varieties we’ll be trialing this spring. It makes my head spin! If you’re having the same problem, check out my article on seed catalogs in the Nineteenth Year Anthology for some help.
Even though it’s only 17 above outside, the sun is shining and I’m raring to plant! Come on, spring! — Jackie
I’m sorry to hear about your neighbor’s barn fire, but I’m not surprised that people have pitched in to help. That reminded me of one of my favorite movies — “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes” from 1945 with Edward G. Robinson, Agnes Moorehead, and adorable Margaret O’Brien. Set in rural Wisconsin, at the end of the movie, a neighbor’s big new barn burns down, killing many of their animals and leaving them financially wiped out. No one has any money to donate to help, but (led by Margaret O’Brien) the entire community offers lumber and labor to rebuild, hay/feed, and animals of their own to get the couple back on their feet. A little bit from each neighbor all added up. You’d probably love the movie IF you ever had time to just sit and watch a movie. It’s charming.
Amazing. I’ve been to her place, and what seems the most quiet chunk of God’s country is just full of events. We have had the same brutal temps, thank Gid Will caught on to a impending birth and your vet skills. You are incredible together!
Yep, it seems like there’s always something going on. I have to laugh when I hear people say “I’m SO bored…”. Sometimes I’d give a lot for a day to feel “bored”!!! But it does keep life interesting for sure. That’s homesteading for you.
Beautiful calf!! At least you didn’t have to bring mama in too!
Was thinking about it…. His mama, Mamba, is like a big dog. But she wouldn’t fit in the living room….
It’s great to see good homesteading parents. We also had a new calf that was born yesterday. It’s cold here in Missouri, but not quite as cold as you all. We also were prepared to take the baby wherever needed and get him warm and dry, but momma did a good job and all is well. It’s good to know that we all face many of the same issues and how we can learn from one another. Keep up the good work!
Sometimes it’s nice to know we’re all traveling the same path.
Love the story of Frosty’s birthday and can just picture him spending a cozy night inside the house with his new people family. Hoping that we all can get back to some more normal February temperatures. At least we are at 7 degrees here in lower Michigan this morning. So sorry to hear of the neighbor’s barn fire, but very glad that they have such great neighbors like you nearby to help out. Don’t I recall that you were a part of the fire service years ago Jackie? (I am too and it is always so sad for the homeowners.) Looking forward to getting our second seed order. Love the new catalog and Will’s cute picture on the cover! You guys take care and thank you for the update. We’ll look forward to hearing how Frosty is doing.
Yes, I’ve worked fires for the MN DNR and later, as a volunteer in Gladstone, NM. David is now a volunteer firefighter in Orr, along with his job at Voyageur Log Homes. I always hate to see structure fires. Frosty is doing real well and thinks Will is his “other mother”.
Hi Jackie, Frosty has a very appropriate name. So glad your neighbor has kind and caring people to help them through this tragedy.
And, my city neighbors in my Historic District are horrified when my chickens are in the house in a container…lol. Would putting Vaseline on the ears keep them from freezing like it does on hens’ combs? Or, would the mama clean his ears for him?
What a beautiful calf! So sorry about the neighbors barn. Fire is so devastating especially in winter. So glad they have good neighbors like you to help them through this disaster.
I have a very cute mental image of Will hunkered down in the straw spooning with the calf and constantly wrapping him in blankets. ?
Big smiles here! Dried off many a slimy wet calf…. great memories. Been reading ya many years, Jackie.
Hopefully the withdrawls from BHM not being in tangible paper form wears off soon. Gonna miss the smell and feel of it. A coffee stain or two… A few wrinkled pages where the words were read right off the page. I will adapt. Keep the posts comin’. Blessed winter up there.
Yeah. I even tried putting my insulated hat with tie-down ear flaps on him to protect his ears but it kept sliding down over his eyes. Didn’t work but now I have to wash my slimy hat!
We were lucky with winter calvings when I was doing dairy as the number of cows in the barn kept it relatively warm. Here in our area of the Copper Basin Alaska we are on our eleventh day with it staying below zero with another week forecast. So far the low on this cold snap has only been -28F. Got your catalog and will make a small order soon. We are taking the chickens hot water three or four times a day and collecting eggs so they don’t freeze.
Sounds familiar! Last night, it was -27 and the highs maybe the single numbers above…and plenty of wind, too. Brrr. Come on spring!!!
Congrats on the calf! It never fails as one reader said, things always happen in the worst weather or on the weekends and holidays when a vet bill will be double the cost lol
I’ve ordered tomatoes from your seed catalog and can’t wait to get them! Good riddens January and come on spring!!!
Would the calf have kept some kind of hat tied on? Just curious here. Does give me the giggles to think about!
Hey, I did put my insulated ear flap hat on him. It kept sliding down over his face. Then I cut two sleeves out of my good sweatshirt to make snoods. They worked for about an hour but it still wasn’t warm enough and they slid on down his neck. Tried towels over the head and constant rubbing with new, dry towels. Bringing him in did the trick.
NEVER fails, they come in the worst weather!! Beautiful calf!
Wow Jacky, congratulations on your new homestead baby! Sorry to hear about your neighbors barn, but glad for them that they have caring neighbors. God Bless,
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