I try to keep a good variety of topics here on the blog, and it seems it might be time for a farm update! Here's a quick one for you of yesterday evening's cow feeding activities. Feeding time is always very popular with the critters. Alan carries sweet feed out to the cows, and the goats are always hot on his trail! They don't miss a beat!
He pours the feed in troughs, and the cows munch it all up. Mmmm, good! You can see Baaaaad Boxcar Betty in the far right of the photo, eagerly wanting some of the feed. But the goats are not allowed into the pastures with the bigger Dexters and donkeys.
The goats get to share (what they can steal) with Gracie and Pixie Stix, our two youngest heifers, who are in the barnyard with the goats, away from Houdini's loving ways. Gracie and Pixie Stix are not quite 1 year old, and we don't want them bred too early. So, in the barnyard they stay.
Lucy, our little red cow, is low-cow in the herd. She's not an aggressive cow so she doesn't fight her way in (and she's the littlest), so the other cows don't like to let her belly up to the bar. Here are Pixie and Princess pigging out, while Lucy looks on from the side.
What the cows don't know is that Lucy gets special treats while they are busy enjoying their snacks, or are out at pasture not paying attention to what's happening up at the barn. The donkeys stand by, waiting their turn.
The always present "Coooookies?!" look on Lucy's face during feeding time.
When putting out new hay bales, Alan shuts the gate between two pastures so we don't have to deal with the cows while he's moving the tractor in and out of the pasture. Pixie heard him rattle the gate and looked to see what was going on. She quickly went back to eating.
Pixie and Houdini munching away... Numm numm numm!
When it comes time to set out hay, Alan uses a big spear on the front of the tractor bucket to spear the round bales and move them into the pasture.
Alan sets the hay in short bale fences to lengthen the life of the bale. The cows like to rub on the bales, which tears them up faster than anything and wastes a lot of hay. The bale fences are a necessity! We have short cows, so the bale fences are short too.
Houdini and Pixie look on (behind that gate Alan closed earlier) while Alan maneuvers the bale with the tractor. The cows love new hay day!
Houdini loves hay...
Dixie's Chick loves hay.
How fun! I love seeing what you do on the farm. And it warms my heart whenever I see you loving up a little one who needs extra care (e.g., Lucy and little Cricket in the house).
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | September 23, 2011 at 01:20 PM
Hi Anna ~ thanks for the Farm update ~ I can't believe how big the baby cows are already! And thank you for including BB Betty :) I swear they must smell each and every piece of food that comes on the farm LOL
Posted by: Robb_eeie | September 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Always love to see what it's like down on the farm! Cooooookies!
Posted by: kathynruss | September 21, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Anna,
Thanks for sharing your life on the farm. I love hearing about it.
Posted by: Gerri K | September 21, 2011 at 04:50 AM
Always fun to see what's happening on the farm. Wonderful photo's of the critters but where are the farm kitties?
Posted by: Ida | September 20, 2011 at 08:40 PM
I was suprised to see some green leaves in the background on some trees.
Thanks for the great photos, esp of Pixie sticking out her tongue.
Any rain yet?
Posted by: Shala Carter | September 20, 2011 at 08:02 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE the farm report! That expression on Lucy's face is priceless. :D I have a soft spot in my heart for cattle...so precious. Thanks for the look into your feeding time!
Posted by: diane mcvey | September 20, 2011 at 07:31 PM
I love your cute critter updates. Cows have such pretty faces! But I guess it's cause I love all things furry! It looks like you have very happy well cared for animals. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Posted by: Scrappin Shonie | September 20, 2011 at 02:21 PM
They all looks os content when the hay is served up! Lucy's cow cookie face looks like the men at my house when they smell fresh cookies! LOL. Hugs all around.
Posted by: Carol Dee | September 20, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Love to see the animals! :-) How often do they get one of those big bales of hay?
Posted by: Barb S | September 20, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Thanks for the farm animal update. I love looking at all of your sweet critters. Definitely looks like a lot of work getting them all fed & cared for. Hugs.
Posted by: Troy Louise | September 20, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Hi Sherri,
The barnyard and feed areas always looks extra dry and trampled this time of year ... but the pastures are nearly barren now as well, from the drought.
-Anna.
Posted by: SweetMissDaisy | September 20, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Those are some GREAT photo's! I noticed the fields in the foreground of some of the shots looks really dry. Was something harvested or is that from your drought??
Posted by: Sherri D. | September 20, 2011 at 11:23 AM