Lesley Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 We haven't got bantam chicks Andrew - just ordinary chicks under a broody bantam! We had a power cut last night - 2 and a half hours We weren't back on until gone 11pm I think the calves names may be Ella and Billie - a bit more of Carl's input, he also chose Ermintrude and Florence The calves are 11 month old black Dexters - quite small and very skittish. Photos later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Lovely photos *sigh* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 Well................. hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it? We've had a disastrous day. Everything was going well until we got back with the calves. The stock trailer was reversed into the gateway we'd left in the electric fence............ we couldn't turn the electrics on until the trailer was out of the way............ The calves took one look at the fence and disappeared One went one way - one went the other The stockmand couldn't oack up his trailer quickly enough, by the time we'd phoned the nearest farmer for help, the trailer was off down the drive Within 5 minutes all the farmers in the immediate vicinity knew we had a problem and Matthew came to help us locate them. We could see one right at the top of a neighbouring field. He went off and rounded up people to help while we searched our own land and outbuildings for the other. In the distance we could see Matthews Dad in a 4x4, his sister on a horse and Matthew and friend on the quad bike. What we didn't see was the said friend about to jump on to the calf when Matthew drove away to try a different angle, leaving his friend on his backside Matthew shoulder barged the calf into a ditch and they managed to catch it and rope it's feet. They managed to get this calf into a horse trailer and bring her here. She's now shut in the big barn. The other is still missing The one we have is now called Very Expensive Cow The other is known as Incident No. 500 14/8/06 The next field along from where they caught the first one is 120 acres of maize which is taller than the calf It could be October before she is seen again We feel very stupid now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Oh my goodness! What an awful time you've had! Do cows eat maize? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Aaaaagggghhhh......I'm really hoping for a happy ending on this for you, Lesley. Aaaaggghhh..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 OMG i really think you do need a drink now! What a nightmare of a day you have had, i do hope you find the cow soon. Whats the plan for this evening - more cow hunting with the neighbours? Im sure everyone will help out. Please keep us up to speed with how things go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 hecking heck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Oh my word Lesley ! What a nightmare!! Hope you're reunited with the globetrotting cow soon before she eats all that maize! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Oh Lesley, what a day . I do hope that cow turns up very soon- and that the maize is left undamaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 What a nightmare Lesley - have a gin, I think you deserve one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 The other is known as Incident No. 500 14/8/06 The next field along from where they caught the first one is 120 acres of maize which is taller than the calf It could be October before she is seen again We feel very stupid now Oh crumbs Hope your runaway comes back to its friend. Maybe she needs time to calm down after her ordeal. I did laugh at her name Incident No. 500 14/8/06 (sorry) Hope she's OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 OMG it's not easy being a farmer is it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 Back again!! Against all the odds, Matthew saw her when he want to feed the pheasants - rounded up the posse (without his friend who was already an hour late with the milking and has a sore bum!) and they managed to catch this one as well We really didn't think we'd see them again. They are in the barn where we store some hay which is a shame because they should be eating just grass and not costing us money at this time of year. At least we've given all the farmers in a 5 mile radius a good laugh We haven't eaten or even had time for a drink of water since this morning - I've got a cracking headache. I think G&B's is called for - lots of it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 So glad you've at least rounded her up. I suppose in years to come you'll be able to laugh about it.......possibly! Good way to break the ice with neighbours though..... must remember that one..... have a VERY LARGE bar of chocolate Lesley! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Something like that happened to my Mum's Dad on a boxing day one year when he was still alive and farming. Here's the story: It was Boxing Day and he'd got a phone call from this lady saying-Your heffers have escaped. So he quickly got up gathered a few people and managed to get them all back into their field. This took all day! At least you only have two though Lesley!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Such a relief that you've managed to get them both rounded up. I'm sure that one day, eventually, you'll be able to see a funny side to todays' pandemonium, but right now that chocolate sounds like an excellent idea You've definitely earned it If it was me I'd be hitting the bottle by now, so I reckon the chocolate sounds very restrained. I hope that these calves settle in well after such an exciting start..... just their way of making an impression, and getting their bearings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 (edited) What a roller coaster...just caught up and you can see that this small holding is hard work. It's just the sort of thing that happens to us Lesley and we all wish we had hindsight. Well done for getting them back and I always think we learn something don't we I bet the farmers think you're feisty lesley and no quitter's BBx Edited August 15, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Glad it finally had a happy ending Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 15, 2006 Author Share Posted August 15, 2006 So are we We were lucky in that the calves went into neighbouring fields - the other boundary of ours is the very busy Fosse Way We had to contact the police just in case - which is why we had an incident No. We also had to contact the NFU for insurance purposes and the abattoir manager because, if there was any chance of the calves escaping on to the highway, they would have to be shot . That in itself would have been a nightmare - the road has to be closed! We were so fortunate. We introduced ourselves to the neighbours as soon as we moved here in May and they have shown what a true community there is between farmers. On top of that, the weather was lovely - imagine doing all that in freezing rain? Carl took to drink - a well earned pint of some obscure beer - I didn't have any chocolate - I just sat like a zombie for the rest of the evening! We were soooooooo fortunate and the outcome could have been so much worse. And, at least it wasn't televised like Jimmy's pigs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Gosh Lesley what a day They can move when they want to Hope today is more succesful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Just what I was thinking, you can see how these things can and do happen. you must have doen something good to have this outcome Lesley keep chocolate as a standby, just in case! BBx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Crikey Lesley! Only just caught up on this and can't believe what happened You poor things, I bet you're tired today. Mad Cows! I'll give them a good telling off when I see them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Dexters can be rather naughty! Can't they lesley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 What a hectic day!!!!!!!! Glad you have the calves back, and I hope you get some rest. You deserve it. ---Martin--- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Oh thank goodness the other one was spotted and is now back home. 'Wild cow chase' not goose chase! I can just imagine the call to the police I bet they were expecting another stolen car or mobile phone not a mad cow on the loose! Now do you see why the guinea pig village was such a good idea! Lesley your next purchase should be one of those small fridges and it should remain stocked to the brim with chocolate for days like these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
