Winter Calving (and Kidding) on Welsh Hill Farm

Spring has started early at the farm this year, with three new baby animals already: a bull calf and two goat kids. Normally we prefer not to to calve (or kid) in the winter, but we purchased both of the mothers pregnant so it was out of our hands. Our baby bull had a bit of a rough start since he was born on a day with a temperature around -15. We left him to bond with his mother for the first few hours, but I knew that I would have to intervene when he wouldn’t get up and nurse. Since Mike wasn’t home to help, all I could do was put on a movie for the kids and run back and forth with blankets hot from the dryer and throw them on top of him. I was so relieved that within a couple of hours he was dried off and had stopped shivering. Soon he was even up and nursing a bit. A calf needs to get colostrum, the first ‘milk’ of his mother, within a few hours of birth in order for it to absorb the necessary antibodies and nutrients. Calves and baby animals of all kinds will not do well and will most likely have weak immune systems their whole lives as a result of not getting any or enough colostrum. Often they will die in their first year. Because our calf was a bit weak from his slow start, we decided to give him some powdered colostrum in case he had not got enough from his mother. First we tried with a bottle, but we only had a nipple in goat size, (which incidentally the goat refused as well, so go figure) and we could not get him to suck from it despite our best efforts to convince him. He was surprisingly strong at only 10 hours old! In the end, we had to use a tube and put the warm colostrum directly into his stomach. After that, he perked up nicely and has been healthy and strong ever since. He is really friendly and will approach Mike or I if we are in the paddock.

Our twin baby goats were born about a week later and one did well right from the start. The other needed a bit of help, but since he was a lot smaller than the calf we were able to bring him in the house to warm up. I milked some colostrum from the mom and fed it to him in a baby bottle, which he loved! They are all quite comfortable sharing the chicken coop with our laying hens. On sunny days, I have tried to coax them out to play in the sun, but they are not very interested in leaving their cozy abode.

Besides our birth stories, life on the farm has been pretty quiet. Most of our chores are hampered by the cold and snow. The tractor has a hard time starting and water has to be brought from the house in buckets. At least it gives us some exercise and fresh air.

Spring seems a long time away, but I am already planning our gardens and doing seed orders. Our plan is to get a substantial herb garden established so that we can use more of our own ingredients in the body care product line that we are developing. Mike has ordered two hives of bees so that we can use our own chemical-free honey and beeswax as well.

It isn’t all work though. We have cleared off a tiny ice rink on one of the farm ponds and the kids have been learning to skate. Next year we plan to keep a path clear with the snow blower and use the tractor to clear the pond. Then we will be able to play hockey and actually skate without going in little circles.