Sid Has Two Mommies
☆ July 5, 2016
Little Sid, kitchen calf, lap calf, my sweet little orphan, was a bottle baby the first month of his life, which made me “Mama.” He followed me anywhere and everywhere. If he was still hungry after draining the bottle I’d brought out to the pasture, he’d follow me back to the house, up the stairs of the deck (clip-clopping across the deck on his tiny hooves), in the front door and all the way to the kitchen, where he’d wait at my feet as I prepared another bottle. (It was such a bad habit, but so cute I couldn’t bring myself to break him of it.)
And then Daisy calved. Instead of milking into a bottle for Sid, I led Sid to Daisy’s udder, using the empty bottle as a lure and sticking one of her teats in his mouth. He caught on within two days, though Daisy was a less willing participant (as is normal – cows don’t like random calves stealing the milk that is meant for their baby). But Daisy has more than enough milk for all of us, and I knew she’d accept Sid eventually, as she has adopted orphans in the past. Exhibit A: Frisco and TR, way (WAY!) past the age of needing milk, but don’t they all look so content?
So, I helped Sid dine with Daisy a few times a day – while she was haltered after I’d milked her, while she was distracted as I brushed her, and, at times, using Maia’s super-effective blindfold technique. Meanwhile, Sid and Roxy became best pals – siblings, really. They are side by side every moment of the day. Sid learned to eat when Roxy ate, keeping Roxy closest to Daisy’s head, so when Daisy turned to look or sniff, she’d find Roxy and mellow out. And then one day I caught Daisy licking Sid, and answering his moos, which means she’s decided to be his mama, too.
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28 Responses to “Sid Has Two Mommies”
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July 5th, 2016 @ 6:58 am
Bovinity divinity! He’s a lucky boy to have two such kind mamas. That boy is going to be spoiled, I can feel it! I’m imagining him still being a lap calf at one ton.
July 5th, 2016 @ 7:23 am
That Daisy! She’s such a good cow-mommy.
July 5th, 2016 @ 7:26 am
Soooooo wonderful!
July 5th, 2016 @ 7:39 am
Life is SO RICH when we let animals into our hearts.
July 5th, 2016 @ 7:55 am
I love a story with a happy ending. What a sweet trio they make!
July 5th, 2016 @ 8:00 am
Amazing what can be accomplished with a little effort and some determination.
July 5th, 2016 @ 8:34 am
My kind of love story!
July 5th, 2016 @ 9:29 am
An open adoption, bovine style.
July 5th, 2016 @ 9:33 am
Aw, what a good momma :-)
July 5th, 2016 @ 9:40 am
Daisy is the best.
July 5th, 2016 @ 12:26 pm
Aw, so sweet. Can Daisy adopt me for a day or so? I need some Momma love.
July 5th, 2016 @ 12:27 pm
Good mama!
July 5th, 2016 @ 12:36 pm
It is so interesting to hear about the calves and Mama Cow! And to see their photos. Love it! Thank you, Shreve.
July 5th, 2016 @ 1:27 pm
Aahhh, Bliss…!
July 5th, 2016 @ 1:52 pm
Daisy is such an angel-cow.
You were both lucky to find each other.
Is Sid going to grow up to be a stand-by stud or will he become a plow-cow?
July 5th, 2016 @ 3:32 pm
Daisy is that family cow that used to be in most yards, milk for everyone, always enough for the orphans, and so beautiful inside and out.
July 5th, 2016 @ 6:17 pm
sweet sweet love. am in awe of your special position as fairy cow mother!
July 5th, 2016 @ 8:46 pm
love this! such sweet babies….
July 5th, 2016 @ 9:10 pm
yay Daisy – she is so sweet. glad Sid was adopted!
July 5th, 2016 @ 11:50 pm
So sweet, so nice to see in pictures, thanks for that, Shreve, what a lovely family!
July 6th, 2016 @ 7:40 am
Thanks for the update on Sid and he’s progress. Daisy is such a gift, wonderful cow for your farmily.
July 6th, 2016 @ 10:00 am
We shall call you Dr. Shreve Dolittle from now on! Wonderful story.
July 6th, 2016 @ 11:35 am
I want to curl up in the shade of a tree near these three beauties and just soak up all that contentment. I’ve asked you this so many times, but here I go again: how DO you get anything done?! I would want to stop and stare at every cow, calf, bull, cat, kitten, chick, barmy rooster, alpha hen, horseee, barn owl, meadowlark, handsome cowboy, Chloe, Charlie and Charlie’s raven.
Wait. Did I just write “handsome cowboy”? I’m hopeless. Still…
July 6th, 2016 @ 9:24 pm
Well, if that’s not the sweetest thing I read all day…
July 6th, 2016 @ 11:46 pm
Daisy and two fully grown plow-cow friends: “This only works because cattle don’t have upper teeth”.
July 8th, 2016 @ 8:18 am
I just wanted to let you know how much I love the stories about your family. They are a wonderful diversion from the craziness of the world.
July 10th, 2016 @ 12:51 pm
Daisy is such a good cow/mom.
July 15th, 2016 @ 10:09 am
Daisy is such a good mama! What’s one more, after all?