Nosey neighbor--pics

[Brokenwrench]

My 10 yr old has been saving his allowance since last summer, his goal-- to become a cattleman.

A friend of ours has been talking him up pretty big on this, we came home Sunday afternoon to a note on our door saying "be sure to feed it". Seems he had a two week old heifer calf that he`d been bottle feeding and decided to give it a new home. Kaleb ran down to the barn to see what this was all about, and before his mom could stop him, his Sunday clothes were full of cow s<>t.

Now our one mare can`t figure out what this critter is all about.. Our geldings have been around plenty of cattle and could care less, they`re having a high time at the hay feeder without the bossy old lady around.

The little feeder was his last nights project, figures he saved 8 dollars on a hanging pail. Told me "when you ain`t got much, every dollar counts"

 

[Nancy Howell]

Too cute! Sounds like your son has got a good head on his shoulders. Don"t you know the ladies can"t resist a baby?

 

[Mike M]

Great story ! Great neighbors !

Glad to hear about a kid that has other interests than game boy or play station.

 

[jason, NW Ontario]

Shoot, I'd be awfully proud of that son of yours, for so many reasons. Maybe my baby boy will have a similar project when he's big enough. great photos!

Jason

 

[Jim H SW-PA]

I was about that age when I was in the 4H. I raised a holstein steer. I didn't know he was for the freezer tho. I was sorry I made him my pet. When time came, I ask dad to trade him for another because, [I couldn't eat "Major" if we were to do that.] He said he would.--For a long time after that, I had my doubts that he had. Every time we ate beef, [till that was out of the freezer] All I could think about, [Was it him?] That is when I decided not to raise animals. As for your boy. I wish him good luck !! Because it takes a good man to be a cattle man. And it looks like he has a great start.

 

[James Howell]

Your son has got the right idea. Be sure to encourage him and be sure to keep your "good" neighbor involved.

This will be something he will remember forever and hopefully have fun doing the work involved.

When I was about your son's age, my dad made a deal with a small local dairy to buy the newborn calves for $10.

There were ten calves that were my responsibility to feed every day with some type of "powdered" milk for calves.

I mixed the "milk" in 1 gallon aluminum army surplus buckets. Took the mixing spoon and "banged" it against the buckets and the calves would come running.

Put the buckets on the ground and the calves would drink from the buckets. When the bucket were nearly empty, the calves would kneel down on their front legs to try and get more milk.

After the buckets were empty, they will throw their heads back and "fling" the buckets into the air. Funniest thing I ever saw, in fact I'm laughing right now.

Those ten calves helped build our small herd that continued through the years until my father sold out about 5 years ago.

Nice pictures and thanks for the memories.

 

[Nancy Howell]

I like it when you laugh.

 

[Walt Davies]

One day Grampa called me over to the barn he had a 3 day old calf from the auction. He looked at me and said this is your feed it.
BUMMER just what I wanted. I raised her raised her calf and sold it for my first car a 1937 Plymouth Coupe. Worst car I ever owned.
It took me another 35 years to get to my next cow.
Walt

 

[Dick L]

Fantastic time to start. When he gets 8 to 10 years along raising calves he can go the route my Grandson went.
This is his setup. Up to 400 at a time.

 

[Bill in Colo]

I started with a $7.50 holstien x Hereford cross heifer bottle baby 55 years ago. Cows have always been the constant in my life,today I've about 170 mommas and 25 replacements, this will probably be my last year due to a bad heart,thats 55 years always owning cows.

 

[Brokenwrench]

Thanks all for the comments, I should clarify--I was refering to the horse as the nosey neighbor, not the friend who gave him the calf..

 

[Dan-IA]

Am I the only one that looked at the top picture, thru the little hole, and wondered if that picture deserved a rating or a warning notice? lol

 

[ben brown]

nothing better new borns the latest on my place send a copy to my nices who is in collage she gave me a call said thanks but i want the yellow one. sometime the best gift are the simple ones. the mother had them in bother inlaws jeep then moved them to some old tire so i box them and her up moved them to old houes

s.

 

[LEH]

Walt, My Dad's first car was a 37 Plymouth. He also had a low opinion of that car. Then he bought a 37 Ford 60. Out of the pan & into the fire. Next car was a 37 Chevy. Had Chevys ever since!

 

[super99]

Many years ago, one of the neighbors had a feedlot heifer have a calf,could have put it in a 5 gallon bucket it was so small. He called and said my son could have it.When we went to get it, Casey picked the calf up to carry it out of the shed. Leland told him, Casey, if you go out everyday and pick up the calf like that, when it grows up, you'll be able to pick up 1200#. Casey believed him for a while, but after a little while gave up on that idea. Nice looking calf, good job for your son. Chris

 

[Mike (WA)]

I was out "bull-cookin' around" on the place many years ago, and noticed a new calf in the neighbor's field. It was raining, the calf looked cold, just standing there. It was a roan Shorthorn, and I raised Shorthorns, so I looked at mine to see if a calf had got through the fence. Counted noses, and everybody had a calf. Neighbor didn't know anything about the calf, so we finally figured out that my last cow that calved (near his fence) must have had twins, and one got under the fence. That had been 4 days earlier, and the little bugger was still ambulating. I gave him the calf on the spot, as I didn't need a bottle project either. Besides, he was a real stand-up neighbor, and would never let me reciprocate. Being a Bible scholar, he named him Esau (sp?)- Jacob and Esau were twins, and Esau was the twin who was cast out. Esau grew into a nice big steer, and when he went to his reward, Charlie brought us over a box of various cuts. Very tasty. Attended Charlie's funeral last month, age 90. Best neighbor I ever had.

 

[Ron in Nebr]

Holey smokes! And here I've been grumblin' the last month or so about having to mix up bottles twice a day for just 4 of the little buggers!!!