Many of us have a glorious picture of farming, don't we? I did.
Lush green pastures, obedient and healthy animals, perfectly cleaned coops, and the like. Ya know. The good stuff.
But then comes reality.
And then comes reality + winter.
It's our first winter here on Beatha Fonn and even though I'm not stranger to hard winters (I did, after all, grow up here), my Southern born man is still adjusting to the two degree temperatures and tough task of driving in the snow and ice.
He says he's good at it. But I say otherwise. Ahem.
This winter is quite different than last year's winter, which was spent on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama soaking up the eighty degree mid-January weather. Though, to be fair to Washington, the Alabama summers are horrendous – so that winter weather is really a trade off.
Anyway. Here we are. Two degree weather. Little icicles on Sal's whiskers. And frozen eggs to boot.
The reality of farm life in the winter is that even though the sun hides for a good portion of the day, no vegetation is growing to feed the animals, and water is freezing faster than you can peel your frozen socks off, the chores continue. Every. Single. Day.
The animals must still be watered, which can be quite tricky without irrigation. Right now, we're running a 200 ft. hose from our laundry hookup to the barn where we keep Sal's water tank. Thankfully, it's a large tank, so we only have to fill it every couple of days. But after every watering, we must manually drain the awkwardly long hose (which never works that well) and bring it inside so that it won't freeze up. Mind you, we've already lost two hoses this winter to the ‘ol freeze-and-split. Good times, good times.
And then comes the added joy of a giant pile of poo in the water tank. In the spring, summer, or fall, this turd would easily be able to be dumped out and cleaned up. But in two degree weather, the poo quickly adheres to the side of the tank as a nuclear-fused-poo-sicle of sorts that will require nothing short of a welding torch to remove. Ah yes. Good times indeed.
Then, there's always the fun of getting to complete those chores you put off for just a wee bit too long. Planting grass seed in the grazing pasture would be one of those chores. Even though we've had the seed sitting in our shop for a few weeks now, for some reason, we never prioritized the twenty minutes it would take to spread. The idea with the seed is to spread it right before the first snow fall so that the snow will quickly cover the seeds and help protect them from the hungry birds that will all too quickly make a lunch out of it. Unfortunately, a few inches of snow is already here to stay and thus, the seed was spread on top of it. Guess we'll see what happens, come spring!
It's also all but impossible to keep our poor chicken's water from freezing. We've tried waterers that plug in, heat lamps, and hot water – only to find a few hours later that it's already a solid block of ice. I've been making a few trips down to the coop per day to gather eggs and give them fresh water. I suppose their freezing water is a good thing – it keeps me actively checking on them in this harsh weather and also makes me diligent about gathering eggs. We've already had a couple freeze and frankly, I wanted to cry. So we better not loose any more.
(Don't worry, the dog ate the frozen eggs. As always, waste not want not.)
On top of it all, we trudge out of our warm bed at 5:00 a.m. each morning to milk Sally Belle. To be honest, I really enjoy the actual milking – I'm productive, alert, and warm next to that big ‘ol bovine body. The worst part of the morning is walking from the house to the barn. That's the little portion I could easily do without. Brr! Even with my accessory of choice, it's still pretty chilly. I do quite enjoy when the warm milk hits the cold bucket though – it's steams and gives me a facial of sorts. Ya. That's it. A Farm Girl Facial.
Farm life on the winter is tough. It isn't for the faint of heart or the lazy in spirit.
But as I trudge through the winter days, I hang tightly to the promises that spring will hold. Baby animals. New fruit trees. Vegetable starts. Grazing cows. And blue skies.
Also. I would just like to point out that until spring arrives, I'll be wearing my coveralls every where. Which makes me look about much larger in my shadow than in reality.
See. I told ya it wasn't for the faint of heart.
Brandi Stalvey
I’m getting pretty tired of 80 degree days in December here in north Florida, and I’m wishing for cooler weather, but I can’t say I’m jealous of a frozen turd in the cow trough!! You’ve got a really tough job!!
Lindsey
Ya know what’s gonna be worse? The spring thaw. MUD EVERYWHERE! So enjoy the pretty snow and the blessedly frozen ground. ๐
megan
Frozen chicken water is the worst!!!! I drag ours into the garage at night…then spill it pretty much every where…awesome! We had a girl freeze also…god rest her soul! We are on the Westside of the state so we get the warm 20 degree air! Hang in there farm girl!
p.s. We have clover in the garage that needs to be planted haha…have had it for a long while….ooops!
Suzy
We are in the single/negative temps here too. When it gets that cold the heated base for the water can’t keep up. So what I do for my chickens is a heated dog water bowl. It works great! It set it up so its on cinder blocks or something so they can’t scratch and flip stuff in it as easily. Then just take a bucket of water down once a day to refill it.
Kendra
Make your own brilliant chicken-water-warmer… its easy and works! My husband made it for me in just a few minutes after he gathered the supplies and its kind of a lifesaver! http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/11/make-cookie-tin-waterer-heater-under-10.html
Jenn
We are just outside the Tri-Cities also in WA. It has been so cold! We have been feeding any frozen eggs back to the chickens. They could probably use the extra protein.
We have this insulated tape that you plug in and wrap around pipes like our pump. We have not tried it on the chicken’s water yet but I am wondering if it might help… Either that or they will peck it to death and get buzzed.
Hang in there… Spring is around the corner.
April
Early spring is a good time to spread those seeds: the freeze/thaw cycle will work them into the ground.
Katie
I have been following your blog for awhile, and I just love your honesty and wit. And I have to ask, how do you do all this with two little ones and a husband that works off the farm? My husband I are dreaming and planning our little hobby farm as soon as we can find the right piece of land, but, honestly, the thought of doing all that with babies is scary. I have a one year old and a three year old (and hope to be blessed with a few more). Do you have a post on getting it all in a day?
Jesse
Make that 3 babies! ๐
Jesse
…for Shaye, I mean. I don’t know how she does it either. ๐ฎ
Ashley Housley
Love this. I have been watching Alaska: The Last Frontier to feel better about my winter homesteading chores, but we’re only in Tennessee, so it’s barely cold at all compared to up where you are. I definitely feel for your husband- Tennessee is the furthest north I’ve ever lived and I about froze to death the first year we were here!
Jesse
We moved to TN in March. I’m from NY though ๐
Jaclyn
Just saw this about the chicken water… not sure if you want advice, but IF you have a metal waterer, a super easy solution is to glue an oil pan heating pad under it and plug that in. Keeps water from freezing here in Alaska when -40 F outside! I would assume you could find a one of those small pads at an auto supply store, they’re less than $10 and you just glue them on the bottom of the waterer (on the OUTSIDE!) with some high temp glue. Easy peasy.
Marissa
This is our first Canadian east coast winter with animals bigger than chickens and a goat. We haven’t gotten colder than 10 below freezing yet but still winter is a big challenge. We’re packing water to our cows a couple times a day now and oy, it’s a chore. But on the positive side at least now that its freezing there is no muck. And maybe next year I’ll have a fully enclosed barn for milk!! A girl can dream. And the lined overalls are fabulous…I need to get some of those!!
Lisa
This is our first winter with a milk cow here in northwest Indiana, and our temps have been frigid as well. Do you use any thing on your cow after milking? I have been using a coconut oil/olive oil blend on mine because she still has her calf on her. But, I’m concerned that she might be at risk for frostbite.
Katrina
I thought we were the only ones with hoses stretched out across the pasture, LOL!
When we had the boys drain and roll them up, we had over 1300 feet of hose. Insane.
We caved, and this winter bought an in-tank water heater for the sheep pasture – so now we have electrical cords running to the corner, but no hoses to mess with. Sure is a lot easier, since we just have to haul 5 gallon buckets of water out every few days to refill.
Jess VanBuren
Hey I’m not sure if this sounds easier than it is (I don’t have any farm animals to be taking care of… yet ๐ ) but as far as freezing water and hoses and all go wouldn’t it be possible to makeshift a snow collection system to toss in a heated bowl instead of running the hose all the way out there. Or when the snow is deep enough to just scoop it up and let it melt. I know when it’s barely accumulated but it’s still cold it’s not very practical but couldn’t there be a system to actually utilize the cold for water storage closer to where you need it?
Lisa
We made a new chicken waterer this year and it works great, even in below zero weather. 5 gallon bucket with “chicken waterer nipples” (from amazon) screwed into the bottom. drilled a hole in the side close to the top for the cord of the bucket heater (from bomgaars). slap the lid on and the water stays clean. Can use this year round. We fill it about once a week for 15 hens.
Denise
Love your post, u always keep your sense of humor! I’m live in WPB Fl and have for 20 years and as much as I don’t miss all the freezing winters, being originally from Buffalo NY, need I say more, there is something about how the snow insulates the ground and make things much quieter or how when u walk outside in the snow the freezing air you breathe in cleanses you. There is just something about the cold a body misses after all this time! Yes the summers here are most awful and you think you will not be able to tolerate one more Africa hot muggy day!!!! Then the winter comes and while all my family up north is shoveling, scraping and FREEEEEzing I’m at the beach sunning! so we all have our issues with weather I guess, but my hats off to you all who have the kind heart and courage to take care of all your animals, that is something I cannot imagine and I thank you for sharing with us so we all know what so many people endure to care for those innocent creature who give us sooo much in return. Look forward to further posts!!:)))))
Lori Barre'
Hi Shaye ๐
I live in SW Washington so I definitely dont have the weather that you do BUT when it was freezing here I took my chickens water pail from the chicken yard into their house.
Poor Sal with booger-cicles. way to go pregnant momma for the dedication for the early wake up…you rock for reals!!!
Lori xoxo