04/02/2025
Happy 3rd Birthday to our Mango Girl! π₯
This is a face you have probably not seen posted on our Rustic K Farms page, but she is special. She is the first calf born from the first heifer we purchased to start our own herd. π
Miss Mango had some big things coming this year... She was going to be a momma for the first time! β€οΈ As the time got close for her, we pinned her in the barn to keep a close eye on her and wait for her to deliver. Friday morning when AJ went to check her before work at 5:15am, there were 2 hoofs sticking out. By the time I went to check her before taking the boys to school and heading to work, she was down, with only 1 hoof sticking out and a nose and mouth that did not appear to be breathing. I quickly went back to the house, got my boots and a farm jacket and jumped in to assist this poor momma. I touched the calves little face and it was cold π So I quickly accepted the fact the calf was gone, but how did I save momma? This leads to my next topic...
IT TAKES A VILLAGE!
Thankfully our wonderful renters were still home and more than happy to help and a quick call to Jennifer Feth Placht for a walk through on how to pull a calf when only 1 hoof is sticking out and she was there in less than 10 minutes! It was tricky but we got the stillborn calf out. But momma still wasn't out of the woods... π’
I left to take the boys to school and get to work and hoped and prayed with some rest, Mango would get up and start releasing the bloating she had going on. When AJ finally was able to get home that afternoon she was still laying on her side, terribly bloated! Again, 1 quck call and Joe and Katie Schengbier to the rescue! Within 15 minutes, the 3 of them had her on her feet! I picked up some medicine that night for her from the vet to help her heal. It's been 4 days and so far so good! π€
I love how strong the farming community is! No one owed this help to us but simply showed up out of the kindness of their hearts! We are so grateful and thankful to still have our Mango Girl! β€οΈ