Please reassure me

[Azriel]

I got 2 calves on Sat, one is just over a month, and the other about 2 weeks. The rancher I got them from was feeding them 3 times a day, but the younger one wasn't eating very good. I did feed them 3 times on Sun ( the little one didn't eat much for the 2nd feeding), but with the hours I work I'm only able to feed them twice a day. I feed at just after 4am, then when I get home from work at about 6pm. They act like they are starving. Should I give them another feeding at 9pm? Is 2 feedings a day really enough? The good thing I guess is that the little one is actually asking for her bottle now instead of having to corner her and try to force her to eat.
They are eating a mix of calf starter pellets and sweet feed, and also drinking water, so I know they have something to eat between feedings, but they just seem to be so hungry. I really need to know I'm not starving them.

 

[jhm47]

Twice a day is fine. Keep them on the hungry side, and you will go a long way toward avoiding digestive problems and pneumonia. Calves have a sucking reflex, and when you feed from a bottle, they often have a need to suck more. A calf that is sucking on a cow will take nearly a half hour to get enough, due to the smaller amount of milk they get from a teat. A bottle calf is usually done in less than 5 minutes, and this does not satisfy their sucking reflex, although they have consumed enough milk. A "hungry" calf is a healthy calf. Good luck!

 

[Cricket]

x 2. The only time I've done 3 times a day feedings was when I had a winter calf. Sometimes I'll give them extra water if it's hot if they're not on a bucket yet. I think they're more inspired to eat their calf starter if they're only fed twice a day. Good luck!

 

[she-earl]

The calves should have access to a calf starter feed and fresh water. This will help to "fill them up". Do not give them hay until they are six-weeks-old.

 

[Azriel]

This is my 1st time having bottle calves, and actually just getting back into cows after being away from them for 30+ years, so I've forgotten more than I ever knew.
So tonight I thought I would take them for a little walk outside after I fed them. They follow me all over the barn, so I just assumed they would do the same outside. Big mistake, they took off running over the hill and out of sight, and I thought I had lost my calves forever. Pretty soon they came running back, but everytime I tried to walk up to them to catch them, they were gone again. That went on for about 20 min. then they just stopped and walked over to me and followed me back into their pen. They should sleep good tonight.