Since that first week where bottle calves were dropped at the farm one after another, we seem to have paused and leveled out at three. As Grandpa Dave says – “one for each of the boys.”
Read more: Now We Have 3 Chucks
Read more: Meet Chuck – Our First Moomaker
The calves had their ears tagged with the boys’ initials so they can spot their cows when they visit. The first bull dropped off became Isai’s – an I. Then, our nephews’ calves arrived. Rhett’s bull got an R and Tanner’s heifer got a T.
Feeding the babies has become a natural part of our morning and evening rituals. However, Aaron and I are still finagling the most efficient way to prep 3 bottles.
The addition of bottle hangers on the pen has helped a ton to make feeding times manageable when one of us has to fly solo. The calves have even gotten into a routine of know which hanger is whose – making it much easier to get the bottles into the right mouths without someone trying to steal from the others.
Isai wanders out with us occasionally. He watches the calves intently but hasn’t quite started reacting to them much yet. I like to think he gets this quiet study of his surroundings from me. Ogilvy, on the other hand, is very into them and spends most of his outdoor time checking the perimeter of their pen. We’re certain he counts them. “1, 2, 3…3, 2, 1…all here. All here! 1, 2, 3…still here, you guys!”
Aaron has been busy clearing brush around the pastures – among many other projects. Once cleared, the existing fence will get some repair. Then, we’ll add new fencing along the open parts of the pastures to create space to send them out for grazing. We have quite a bit of work to put into setting up shelter, shoots and running fence – but the motivation is there, especially with these three little ones growing so quickly.