Bottle Baby Advice Needed!

[WildRoseBeef]

I didn't see your latest reply when I posted my response. But upon reading your latest post, she definitely knows that she's the dominant one and knows she can get in your space even when uninvited. No doubt you thought it was "cute" before when you first got her that she did that, but now it's not so cute since she's a bit bigger. So, not only do you need to be more assertive, but persistent and consistent in teaching her some manners. And you really have to mean it when you holler at her or chase her away. I know you probably already think you mean it when you tell her "No!" and push her away, but if it's kinda half-hearted and you feel sorry or guilty after for being so mean to her, then that in itself loses the effectiveness of the training. It's completely counter-productive, and certainly not helping your situation.

Also, cattle are not horses. Cattle use their heads to push each other around, unlike horses, so simply pushing on her chest and telling her no is, as I mentioned before, just encouraging her to play more with you. You will have to do or say something to scare her and shock her into realizing that you don't want to play with her--and that might meaning having to raise your voice and holler something harsh at her.

 

[SCLeppyLvr]

I understand. So don't push her chest, push at her head or face and keep pusing until she submits. I can see how to her it would kinda seem like bumper cars by just pushing back and releasing when she backs away. The day she came at me like she did I spent what seemed like a long time but only probably three minutes trying to get her away by trying to make myslef look bigger, I threw my arms out shoulder height and hollered at her like "hey!" or "get!" while stepping forward towards her, but that only seemed to make her upset because she bowed her head and swished her tail frantically. maybe i misread her signals. but as soon as i would turn away she came up at me again, so turned again threw my arms up and yelled at her "Dixie GET!" and walked towards her, she backed up but still bowed her head and swished her tail, i tried one more time to do what i meant to do and she head butted my butt, i pushed back with my butt as she kinda pushed me into the feeder almost that was when i decided to leave the pen. i was nervous.

So now when i go in, i will try your advice, however i am not sure how to bring the bottle into the pen, lock the gate and keep her off all at the same time.

 

[SCLeppyLvr]

"You need to establish dominance with that heifer and let her you know YOU are the boss and you do not tolerate her bad habits. Don't go messing with her head any more because that just encourages her to head-butt you. Do not show fear nor try to back down when she gets rough with you. NEVER back away when she approaches you!! If you are going to push her, push her at her shoulder and keep pushing--do NOT push her away then back off--until you either have her on the ground on her side, or if you get to chasing her away from you. This is the very thing that cattle do amongst each other to establish dominance, and may seem rough and harmful if you are going to be acting that way, but really you are telling the heifer in "Cow" that you are the boss and are not to be messed with."

Never mind about the head thing, i didn't listen already! ha ha, I will do what you said here.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Yeah, it's good that she backs up on you like that. You just need to ignore the signals of her challenging you (bowing her head and swishing her tail), and keep pushing at her shoulder (or even "psychologically" by moving towards her shoulder or hind quarters) until she turns away from you and walks away. Don't stop once she turns away, keep pushing until you are herding her around the pen. If you have to do this more than once, then do it! It's all psychological, you have to pose to her as the leader more psychologically than physically, because if you establish that, then you can remain her leader even when she's bigger, stronger and faster than you. She will challenge you on occasion, on those times you don't really expect it, but always be prepared to psychologically establish or maintain your level in the bovine pecking order when necessary.

 

[SCLeppyLvr]

Any thoughts on taking the panel out from between the pens and letting our ewe and the heifer calf be together???

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I see nothing wrong with that, but maybe first introduce them through a fenced barrier if that hasn't been done already. Then, introduce them a little at a time with you present for the first few days to see how they react to each other. If they get along well, then it should be no problem having them together for most of the day.

 

[SCLeppyLvr]

They have been housed right next to each other but have welded wire fence on the corral panels to keep predators out as much as possible, so they know who each other are, just haven't been together to touch. Also the past few days the calf has a goopy eye, and a case of diarrhea, not sure what's up, he schedule got a little screwed up the past couple days with feeding, but could that give her upset stomach? she seems otherwise okay. I gave her a 2 qt bottle of electrolyte, should i give her anything else or just give her more electrolytes for a few days??????

 

[SCLeppyLvr]

I have a question regarding something I have been pondering for a few weeks... I have a 18 month old ewe who is about 125 lbs, MAYBE 130. Our heifer is now almost 4 months old and possibly 300+ lbs??? I could take a pic of her and upload maybe someone could vsually tell me how big she is. I may take by beef tape out tonight when I feed to measure her. Anyway I am wondering if I should let them be together? They are in pens next to eaach other and they can touch, but would it be safe for the ewe to be with the calf? I am only afraid the calf will be really rowdy and hurt the ewe since she doesn't have any other playmates. And I don't want the ewe injured. OR vice versa, the ewe to injure the calf! She can be pretty grouchy if she wants.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Let them be together, it'll be better for both of them. Cattle are tough (so are sheep, really), and I highly doubt one would be tough on the other and injure either like you are imagining will happen. I think you just have to let them sort things out themselves and they'll figure out their pecking order and, before you know it, become best buds as best as a young ewe and a heifer calf can be.

Besides, there's only one way to find out how well they'll be together.

 

[SCLeppyLvr]

She has scours right now, didn't think she could get this at five months old? at any rate got her loaded with a 30cc of EZ+ Calf Aid Scours Aid as of about an hour ago. Been giving electrolytes 2 qts 2x a day the past two days. is there anything else i need to do? should i get any more of the EZ+ stuff or will one be sufficient?


Also what could cause this? By herself still, same hay ration, smaller grain ration (weaning her off it until winter then doing plain pesticide free barley) , last bottle of replacer (1/8 the powder) tonight, and clean water??? I'm confused.