They arrived in the back of a pick up, looking adorable and docile. These little guys have made history…they are the first calves not to be born here on the farm. Some of you might want to know that they are Jersey/Hereford cross. We think they are adorable.
We put their halters on them and then the lead ropes so that we would have some control over them.
We gave them some milk in a bucket to welcome them, which they eagerly lapped up very quickly. Fred (purple halter) decided to take advantage of his handler not paying complete attention and bolted away…he was caught but not before he had literally climbed through the electric fence into the pasture. This, of course, got Herbie and Elsie all excited!
He was caught and brought back to the milk in the bucket, which he happily helped Barney clean up. We then proceeded to properly introduce them to the pasture. Bless their hearts, they had not experienced an electric fence yet. We took them in on lead ropes and let Herbie and Elsie check them out. We showed them the hay and they seemed calm so we unhooked them from the lead ropes, exited the pasture and watched.
Herbie and Elsie followed Fred and Barney everywhere they went! If the calves ran, so did Herbie and Elsie.
Fred is definitely the one who seems to be destined to push the boundaries. Typically, with our other calves, we already know their personalities, since we’ve been with them and handled them from birth, and they know us and what to expect here on the farm. These new calves are strong little guys and they don’t know us and we don’t know them.
We expected they would test the boundaries…which they did…especially Fred. He got zapped and made that adorable sound that I have no idea how to spell. And then he proceeded to get zapped a few more times! Jeff seemed convinced they would be ok, so he headed off to do something else…I stood and watched and what did I see? Fred sailed right through the electric fence on the other side of where I was standing.
I yelled “one’s out!” I ran to the barn to get the lead ropes and Jeff rolled under the fence to get over to the other side where he got through. He was free and who knew how far he would run before we could catch him, if we even COULD catch him? (Honestly, I had visions of when Snickers ran the entire pasture, crossed the road and nearly disappeared into the cornfield.)
I then proceeded to go around the pasture to head him off if he decided to head for the road. Oh my! I got all the way down the driveway, around to the other side of the pasture and up almost to where he was investigating. I was walking slowly so as not to scare him into running away…and what did he do?
HE CLIMBED BACK THROUGH THE FENCE!!! I stood there both shocked and amused! I think he realized his buddy wasn’t with him and evidently had no plans to follow. Now he had a reason to stay!
We left them alone while we milked and did chores. We have kept a watchful eye on them since and they definitely seem to be settling down. I went out before I headed to bed and they were all four (Herbie, Elsie, Fred and Barney) watching me, but the important thing is that they were all accounted for INSIDE the fence!
I will have to update you as time goes on so that you can know how they acclimate. I’d be fine with time passing without any chaotic surprises for awhile!
Now on to the next big event…finding a future wife for Odin. STAY TUNED! Oh, and speaking of Odin…the calves are just about the same size as he is! He wants to play with them so badly! There is usually something going on here at the farm!
