The cold spell has begun. We had quite a severe frost this morning and thin layers of ice on drinkers and water troughs! The Cow Pad, which has fast become our measure of how wet things really are, has become quite dry and solid in places: perfect! We, as in us smallholders, often worry about our stock in cold weather but in truth, cold and dry are perfect for animals. Bugs get killed off, the ground is kinder on their feet, they can wander around more freely and their thick coats keep them incredibly warm. As long as they have feed/grass/hay and water, all our livestock will do very well outside.
We are really pleased that we have all the field shelters we do mind you. Knowing animals can get under cover if they need to is a huge comfort. This morning when we went into the 4-acre to check the sheep and alpacas, all the alpacas and five of the seven sheep were all snuggled done in the straw in their field shelter and looking remarkably warm and cozy!!!