Chores

Brian usually does the animal chores in the morning before he goes to work so I have been spoiled this winter. However, with Brian on a trip to Argentina and Brazil for 10 days I have been doing the chores this week. It really isn't too bad - and a nice break from the kids, you just have to ignore the fact that they are probably screaming inside. So today I thought I would outline winter chores on the Gardunia Farm.

Before you start remember to put on rubber boots, coat, gloves etc. Also remember to bring any food scraps outside for the pig. If you want to go the extra mile you can also take out the garbage and put any mail in the mail box at this time.


First we take care of the cows and pig. (I love this picture! You don't see cows and pig chowing down on popcorn that often.) At work Brian and all are doing popcorn popping tests so everyday Brian brings home huge garbage bags of popcorn. So pick up a bag of popcorn from the car/garage and bring it back to the cows and pig. They love it. Then check on the watering trough. If it is low turn on the water so it can fill while you finish up. If it is frozen break the ice and check all the plug connections of the trough water warmer thing so it will start working again. The cows also get a bale of hay from the barn.



Chickens (5 hens and 3 roosters - 2 need to die). We keep the chickens in the corn crib with the tarps around it to block wind/rain/snow. They also have a tarp and hay bale "house" inside. Inside is the green waterer, tall metal feeder and that other rusty thing with the hen's bum sticking out is where they lay their eggs.



Check their water level and address any frozen issues. Make sure they have food in the feeder, if not go back up to the garage and fill up a bucket with layer crumble and scratch grains and put it in their feeder. A full feeder will last them almost a week, but sometimes they go through it faster. They also enjoy popcorn. Bring in any eggs. Tip: it is good to collect the eggs after you move the bale of hay or they tend to get broken in your coat pocket. Yuck!



On a really good day it will only take 15 minutes. On a snowy day when everything is frozen and water and food needs to be refilled it takes about a half an hour.

When school is out and it is warmer Emily helps out tons with the chores - last year she was almost solely in charge of the chickens. I love our little farm.