Mornings are not stylish times.

Kai is a month old today! And stubborn as hell, but I am hoping (possibly against hope) that he becomes more tractable soon. Uff da.

Milk Face

After a tense first day, where Kai wouldn't take the bottle, opting instead to call constantly to Mama, who called right back to him, I gave up in despair and dumped the remnants of the bottle into the little water dish I had bought for him. I'd seen that he'd drank the water, so maybe he'd be interested in food that way, too.

Well, the next morning, the milk was gone, and Kai had decided he was going to be a bucket baby, rather than a bottle baby. Since he was used to feeding over the course of the day, he doesn't really finish his milk in one go; he spreads it out. When the milk is gone, I replace it with water, and he gets another feeding in the evening. I'm trying to space them about 12 hours apart, usually hitting around the 7:30's.

He is still skittish, and doesn't come up to people right away. That's OK. Since I'm not getting him the hands-on attention of a bottle, I'm keeping the bucket between my feet so I can pet him whilst he is eating. He is improving, though he still doesn't like being tied up, and doesn't lead well at all. On the upside, my 4-H training of many years ago taught me how to move an animal his size. I showed sheep (Fred and Harry. I always had a thing for odd names for critters.), and they were bigger than he is now, and just as stubborn. Finally, some hands-on experience I can draw from!

The grunting party that was going on for the first two nights is mostly over with. We still have Kate isolated, and we'll probably leave her like that until a week has passed. The little area we have Kai in is up against the pasture, so the other yaks can come and visit with him through the fence, but it is (hopefully) escape-proof, as it is the dog run. Kai has started chewing on grass a little bit, and I'll probably add some Calf Manna into his diet. He is not aggressive, despite the amazing ass-whupping that he can hand out. He's just scared. He'll learn that we aren't trying to hurt him.

Yak-napping

Last night, Daven and I (mostly Daven; I distracted Kate with tasty treats) yoinked Kai to start trying to bottle feed him. We should have done this at 3 days old, but were unsure of ourselves. Mea culpa. Now we know for next time.

Bottle feeding a baby who is used to mama and does not want to drink is a frustrating business. Patience is key, but we haven't had much success yet.

I do have a new definition of "too early". If you've been up and messing with livestock at least 2 hours before the feed store opens (needed a new halter), it is too early. ;)

So, he is now haltered (Twice; Daven got his ass roundly kicked by him both times and is now sporting a limp, several head wounds and a crushed hand. Yaks are feisty.) and tied up to get used to the idea of staying still. Water left nearby him, which he of course has already splashed out, mostly. That's OK, I'll keep refilling it. This is a process, and he will come around. Even before we haltered him the second time, I was able to pet his face and neck, but he just got too skittish to let me put the halter on him without being restrained, yet. It will come.

Sorry about the pause in posts, again. I had a relapse of sickness, which knocked me down all last week. I'll try to be better.