Beds of Hay

We drove off the ranch yesterday to head to the bluffs to check on Patrick’s cows. We branded them this weekend and took them to new pasture and then bam, a blizzard hits when we least expect it. And that’s just tough on the sweet baby calves.

Snow was still falling by evening and blowing across the road.

When we got there, they seemed very spry and excited to see us.

We got out and looked everybody over. They were a little frosty but everyone looked good and healthy.

But looking over the pasture, there wasn’t much grass peeking through and nowhere for them to lay down to be protected from the cold ground. That’s where we come in. Patrick attached 2 chains to the pickup and the hooks on the other end locked into the hay bale so I could pull it off the stack.

We dragged it over to the cows and Patrick got out to cut the strings.

The girls were a little impatient! I backed the truck up unrolling the bale while Patrick helped to pitch off the hay to them. When the bale got smaller, I stopped the pickup and jumped out to help. We pushed the bale and rolled it into the trees so they had something warm to lay on and be protected from the wind.

By the time we were leaving, the calves made their bed on the fresh hay while their mothers were chowing down.

Warm and toasty. Well, not really. But at least they are covered in leather!

We checked on them at about 5 this morning and they still had a lot of hay left and the entire herd was bedded down on the hay. They looked good, just a little cold. We’ll roll out another bale this evening for them to help them get through this crazy weather. At least the sun has finally come out. That should warm them up a bit.
Just another day in paradise y’all!

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