training bottle calves

[mary,tx]

As y'all know, I brought home a couple of bottle calves a couple of weeks ago. They are doing very well bottling and taking their calf feed.

Can y'all give me advice on training them? I would like to be able to teach them to walk on a lead, if possible, or at the least, I would like to be able to come into their pen and not be butted.

I have an old calf halter which is waaay too big. I'm wondering about teaching them to lead with a breakaway collar like I do the goats. Stupid idea?

[LibertyWool]

Last year I trained my bottle calf to lead in just a few days. He was already used to be staked in the yard. So when it was not near bottle time, I put a sheep halter on him and worked with him like I would a lamb. In no time, I could take him around the yard, changed directions, etc. I've not found a way to keep from being butted, until you stop bottle feeding.

[kmorisett]

I don't bottle feed, but in the beginning, I was still getting butted for milk. Each time she tried I told her "no" sternly, and well as give her a physical reprimand. She stands respectfully near me now, and doesn't look to bump some milk out of me. I'm guessing it would be a little trickier with bottle calves, but it's worth trying.

Kim

[Country Bumpkin]

all of my calves would bump me while on the bottle but they quit doing that within a day or two after getting on buckets for their milk. my youngest one is the only one that still does it but its only when he's not getting enough attention or your walking too slow in front of him LOL.

as far as teaching them to lead on a halter...calves are very smart, spend some time working with them with whatever collar or halter you decide to use. they will learn quickly to walk on whatever lead you train them to, just be patient

[Ugly Cowboy]

Oh, it aint hard to train one at all... Heck, I even trained one of mine to ride... That's right, I can ride her like one would a horse, it's actually pretty fun, although it looks kinda silly.