I just thought I should relay this .My neighbors 1 year old bull calve was found this morning on his back in an old bath tub in the pasture.How he got there is anyones guess ,the only thing we could come up with is that the bulls were playing and he got knocked over .I know this is rear ,but it maybe something we should think about since they are often used as waterers .He should be all right ,a lot of bruises and cuts .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), March 22, 2000

Answers

Maybe this is how the concept of milk baths got started. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Glad to hear the baby is okay.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), March 22, 2000.

I just realized after reading this that a bath tub could be dangerous... especially to younger calves who may like to play and then God Forbid.. drown. I always worry about this with our goat kids but never the calves. Got me thinking now!

But then again when i was a kid growing up dad used an old tub and then got a big metal one... Never had a problem except for my stunt...I got into trouble cause I put some bullhead I caught into it and the cows would not drink the water.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), March 22, 2000.

Bernice, when you say, "bullhead" I hope you mean "catfish". The other alternative is kinda gross. (he-he)

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), March 22, 2000.

Those young bulls are always gettin drunk and falling in bathtubs!!!! When I was a young bull I did the same thing. Yuck Yuck......those headaches any better Patty?

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), March 22, 2000.

How did they get the bull out? What are they doing now to keep him from falling in again?

-- Elizabeth Petofi (tengri@cstone.net), March 23, 2000.

Thanks for asking Kirk ,I thought so til yesterday I had a whopper! I did put a call into the Dr.'s office ,and am still waiting for a reply .As for the bull ,it took 2 big men to tip the tub over and get him out .They will no longer use the tub.I also feel better that you all found it amusing! I laughed so hard when she was telling me .All I can think of was you should have had a camera!All is well with the bull since last night .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), March 23, 2000.

I had 3 bathtub waterers but i don't like them, they don't hold enough water. I gave 2 away and the last one is fliped over outside the fence. now I use 8' stock tanks, 2' high, lower ones for calves and automatic waterers. The water stays cleaner and there is less waste. Also, while I'm at it, I use hog nipples to water the pigs, a real mess & water saver.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), March 23, 2000.

I have three bathtubs (cost was right, all given to me!) I have one for a rain collection device which also serves as a place for my dogs to jump in and cool off in hot weather and tree toads to breed in. I put wire over the other two so no animal will fall in and get stuck, but my intention is to use them for earthworm breeding beds, which I read somewhere on the internet (don't remember where) was a good use for them as long as you keep a sponge or filter in the drain hole and tip them slightly so extra liquid from the worms can drain out -- a super liquid fertilizer for the garden!

Just a thought so the tubs can be used by Hendo and others who don't use them for waterers any more!

-- Elizabeth Petofi (tengri@cstone.net), March 24, 2000.

Remember to take the plumbing handles and faucet off the old tub. Our colt got her halter caught and boy did we have a tussle getting the colt calm and unhooked from the faucet............now we take the halter off too! I think the water only looks cleaner in a stock tank. Our horse building burned down, the galvinized stock tank is ruined so we are back to using a tub. The water looks GROSS! I won't be keeping any goldfish in it to keep the mosquito larva down-the cats will have the fish snagged out of that tub as quick as I turn them loose. Kathy G.

-- Kathy Giddings (ckgidd@netins.net), March 27, 2000.