How to Care for and Keep a Bucket Calf

Many children raise bucket calves every year as projects for 4-H, the FFA or other organizations. A bucket calf is a young calf that is removed from its mother by choice or if the mother is unable to feed the calf herself. The calf is bottle- or bucket-fed until it is old enough to eat calf starter alone. Learning how to care for and keep a bucket calf teaches children responsibility and how to care for a newborn calf.

Things You'll Need

  • Replacement milk
  • Bottle and nipple
  • Calf starter feed
  • Shelter
  • Hay or straw
  • Halter
  • Lead rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide the bucket calf with an appropriate shelter, such as a barn or shed, that is clean and dry, with sufficient ventilation. Spread hay or straw out in a small area for the calf to lay on.

    • 2

      Feed the bucket calf replacement milk from a bottle or bucket. Clean and sanitize the bottle or bucket after each feeding.

    • 3

      Provide calf starter feed to the bucket calf. It may not eat it at first, but it will learn to eat. Start by placing a small amount of the calf starter in a feed trough and slowly increase the amount each day as the calf begins to eat more.

    • 4

      Begin weaning the bucket calf from the milk replacement at approximately four to six week of age or as soon as the calf is able to eat 2 lbs. of calf starter per day.

    • 5

      Call your veterinarian to come out and castrate your bucket calf at between two and 10 weeks of age. Removing the testicles is important for meat quality of a cow. A veterinarian should give vaccinations at this time as well.

    • 6

      Spend time with the bucket calf every day, petting it, brushing it and getting it used to being handled. Place a halter on it as soon as possible and begin teaching it to walk with you using a lead rope attached to the halter.