COLD WEATHER MEANS SOME CHANGES ON THE FARM INCLUDING FIGHTING FAMILY MEMBERS

It is going to be super cold for the next week (under 20 degrees F). I have to do some things for the animals so they can handle the cold. The pigs challenge me as always to get to where they anticipate I'm going to feed them. So I outsmart them! Now begins the months of breaking up the ice in their water bowls. I am most worried about my little buckling (Romeo) because he is alone and needs companionship for warmth. I put him back with his mom and sister and they head butt him to assert dominance, but he holds his own. I have been through many cold winters and haven't lost an animal yet to cold, but I have to stay diligent and be aware of their shelters and needs.
Every day my family and I are learning what it means to run a hobby farm. We started with chickens then added myotonic, or fainting, goats, and eventually kunekune (kune kune) pigs. Throw in some Guinea fowl and turkeys and cats and dogs with a creek and tons of wildlife and you start to get an idea of what our hobby farm is like. Hobby farming is time consuming and hard, but rewarding and fulfilling. There are daily chores that never stop. The animals need to be fed and watered. Pastures and pens need to be fenced and built. Goats and pigs need to be rotated in their pastures to give them fresh food and to rejuvenate the land. Food is planted and grown for the animals. Medicines are given orally and injected to prevent and cure sickness and combat parasites. Hooves need to be trimmed. Babies need to be raised. At any given time we have gilts, sows, boars, piglets, bucks, does, kids, chicks, chickens, keets, guineas, turkeys, etc. that need our attention, love and care. Follow along and we’ll learn and grow on this adventure together!