Winter Farm Activities

 Winter activities on the farm are not as much fun as the summer activities, although these unusually warm temperatures have been making things much easier. Our biggest obstacle here on the hobby farm are animals and water. We did place a crockpot in the chicken coop to be sure that they have water available all winter that never freezes. The biggest issue is keeping it clean. The other coops that we have do not have access to put heated water bowls to and that makes them a bit harder to keep water in consistently. Each day that the water if frozen, it means taking the waterers in the house, cleaning and unfreezing them and refilling to be taken back outside. However, that must be done multiple times a day when it is really cold. 

Another farm chore is hay or straw. Each pen for each animal or animals, must have a warm spot for them to get to and so we fill them with hay or straw so that each has a source of protection against the elements. The chicken coop has bedding in it, so we don't have to do it, but the bedding must be changed even during the winter. Changing it in the winter is a bigger chore than in the summer for sure, unless you like the cold. Having a 4-wheeler to haul the straw, hay, and bedding to the pens makes the work a little easier. 

Providing extra feed is necessary in the winter as well. The corn in the feed helps to warm their body temperatures to allow them to stay warmer. This means an extra feeding each day usually. If the temperatures are below zero, we usually will feed lesser amounts each feeding but feed them at least two more times each day. It may seem to be a bit much, but it makes sense to me. Added heat is always needed in temperatures like that. 

Winter is a great time to be preparing for your next canning season. Checking jars, lids, canning materials and organizing them can all be a winter project. It will save you time when those crops you plant begin to all need to be picked and canned in the middle of the summer season. It is a great time to think about if there are any new items you would like to add to your garden and begin to plan it as well. Checking seed catalogs and beginning to order seeds might seem like a spring chore, but for many it is a great way to spend those cold winter months, why not dream about spring?