Adaptation

For those who were reading about my temporary "house guests" this past February, babies and mama have done fine in their outdoor reunion, with the exception of  . . . inclement weather when separated for milking purposes.

Usually by now, the mamas do not spend the daytime hours with their babies.  This year, rather than penning up the babies and letting the mamas out for the daylight hours, I've reversed that and it is working better for the most part.  I love seeing the babies running freely, and the mamas really don't mind lying around basking in the sun, munching the best hay on the place for a few hours in a day.  Once, they are milked in the evening, they enjoy the pasture with their little ones and no critters are penned.  Every little family has their own shed.  I believe the babies are much healthier this way, and the pasture in which they do run freely is the one by the house, so if there is any danger, I am immediately alerted.

With the changes that transpired this winter, I have had to make two further adaptations regarding the milkers, so I am delighted to have a new milker that arrived without a baby just the other evening.  If I'm going to be gone, I leave the babies and mamas together for the babies' protection.  Even if I'm home, in the case of rain, I leave the families together again.  I was fortunate to be home when it rained after penning up mamas.  The babies were protected by an awning and windbreak, but they stood right outside their mamas' pen and whined, so a day without milk is better than sick little kids!

Evening chores are quite a circus these days, but I love it.  The little ones are growing, and the mamas are settling into the routine, and the calves are catching on to "their turn."  The chickens are now egg producing machines, so it's time to drag out the incubator.

This reminds me, though.  Eggs can be cracked and frozen separately in ice cube trays, then when frozen solid placed in a freezer bag by the dozen or more, to be taken out as needed for baking or cooking.  I do recommend breaking the yokes and beating slightly before freezing.  I've also scrambled them up by the dozens and frozen them already cooked.  They thaw and reheat nicely through the winter months when egg production slows down.