We had some of our coldest weather this week, with our lowest morning temperature at -12F. The worst of it was the winds. I remember as a kid hearing weather reports growing up in Boston of the temperatures on Mt Washington, and they would always say the temperature (some cold number like -20F) and then they would say that’s actually -35F with windchill. I thought to myself that’s cheating, it’s not actually that cold. But when you’re standing in it, the windchill is very real.
One afternoon this week we took the trailer over to Nana & Gampy’s house to load some square hay bales to take back for bedding for the pigs. Racey, Lewis, Lovett and Gampy all climbed the worn wood ladder nailed into the wall to get to the mow where the hay is stored. Climbing this ladder has become a sort of right of passage, the rungs are uneven, and with the added hinderance of winter boots, double mittens and snow pants we had a new challenge. Lewis (6 years old) scampered right up the ladder and Lovett, not to be outdone was right behind him. As parents, we were reminded of the last time we climbed this ladder during the summer and how much has changed since then. Lovett only explained once that it was taking her a little longer because it was difficult to lift her legs with the big snow pants.
The temperature was dropping and the wind was blowing. Even with the warming activity of moving hay bales our fingers and toes were ready to get back in the warmth. Thank you Gampy for helping us load the hay.
How do animals stay warm outside in -12F? There are a few popular tactics for pigs. I think this picture sums it up.
Cattle and horses have incredible coats that keep them warm in the even the coldest weather. If there is wind, we always make sure they have a place where they can get out of the wind, and if it is still and sunny they find the best sun spot and soak it it. For chickens we don’t even try. We only raise our chickens during the warmer months of the season.
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