Winter Movements

Sharon moved the chickens into the barn, and just like every year she wonders if she could have kept them outside in one of the fields a little longer.  Since it's 24 degrees this morning and the chicken water bowls are frozen, she probably made the right choice.  If there's one thing we've learned it's that if you wait until the cold weather forces you to move, some type of cold-weather emergency forces your hand and the stress on animal and farmer is high.  I've been keeping the cattle in the back 9ac which is all the way at the back of the farm.  The water lines don't reach back that far so we use the green pickup with a water tank in the bed to keep the cattle watered.  There must have been some water in the handle because this morning the handle was frozen open.  It should warm up soon enough this morning but it just means that the cattle chores get pushed back into the days activities.  Today also starts the beginning of the 2010 pheasant season which is really for us the beginning of the winter season.  If things around the farm haven't been completed by now, chances are that they won't get done before we freeze in.  We host quite a few hunters the opening week - getting to see old friends that we haven't seen since last year, and meeting new ones for the first time.  This year it looks like there will be about 20 people from out of state.  Its always a fun week that we look forward to every year.