Out Around the Barn

This summer I visited my aunt and uncle who live on a farm in Wyoming. Being from a big city, I was worried that there wouldn’t be much for me to do in the Midwest: boy was I wrong. Although there wasn’t the same urban social life that I was accustomed to, there was more than enough to do on the farm.

Everyday I woke up at the crack of dawn to feed and tend to the animals, which included coaxing them out into the fields with cattle sorting sticks. As it was during harvest, I also spent a good deal of time out in the fields on a combine. While there wasn’t the social interaction that I was accustomed to, the summer of hard work did a lot to build my character.

On most farms or ranches you see several out buildings.  Some are for the hay and feed storage and some are for equipment and repairs.  Others may be for livestock, whether it is for just the purpose of feeding or for holding them in stalls.

Most farmers/ranchers I know and have talked to have a barn for their cattle and livestock.  Most of them are used to feed, not to contain them.  We rarely contain our cattle in the barn unless we are vaccinating, sorting or working them for some reason.  Cattle do well out in the open but, they do need shelter from the weather.  In the summer, it is good to have a place to get out of the heat and away from the flies.  In the winter, it is good to have a place to get out of the wind, cold and wet weather.  They will withstand most all weather but do like to have a comfortable break from the worst of it just like we do. 

Our Longhorns roam the pasture year around but we have a specific area where they are fed and they have  one side of the hay barn for shelter to get them out of the weather.  If the barn is too far away when a storm hits or it is too hot, we will find them down in the valley in the trees down by the creek.  They are pretty smart animals.

Another reason to have a barn for your cattle is so that you can work your cattle safely.  It is not always necessary that you personally have to have one but, at least, have use of one available to you. 

So, no, a barn is not necessary but shelter is.  It can be considered as a part of your lifestock or farm supplies.  Make sure they have some kind of protection and they will be happy.

I consider myself a lover of animals.  I enjoy my animals a lot.  My horse, Blaze, is a beauty but due to health issues, I don’t get to spend as much time with him as I would like.  My goat heard gets more of my attention since I have seven nanny’s getting ready to kid and my dog, Bella, gets her daily time with me.  I really consider myself a dog person over cats but do have a couple of favorites.

On our farm we have had an over abundance of kittens this fall.  Nine litters have arrived and made themselves at home.  Every few months we began to notice a new Tom hanging around and then disappear, then another would show up.  Of course, it wasn’t long before the Mamas started showing and we knew then that we were headed for a lot of kittens.  Now we can officially count 20 plus 0ut around the barn at feeding time.  Out of all of them, I have two that I call mine, a Calico named Fluffy and Black kitten with a white diamond on her neck called Raja.

So, my question is are they considered a farm animal or just pets?  Well, we know a lot of people have cats as pets in their homes, sometimes several.  But on the farm we have more than several, we have twice that many.  And yes, we consider them as farm animals, they keep the rodent population under control.  That is good on a farm. I once had a rat run up my pant leg and let me tell you that was not a happy moment.  I jumped a fence and ran until it fell out of my pant leg.  I was 16 at the time but have never forgotten it.  It was just one of those feelings that you don’t forget.  

So in light of all of this talk about farm animals or pets, I consider them both.  Just as we have working dogs, we have them as pets also.  We take care of our Cats and Kittens just like we do our other animals.  We feed them the best cat food we can and have found that Proud Paws Cat and Kitten food is terrific for our feline herd.  They enjoy the taste and eat it up.  Some can be and have been picky about other cat food but this feed they really like.  They need to have good nutrition to grow and keep healthy just like the horse feed we feed our horses to keep healthy and the rest of the animals.  We love them all the same.

Here we are almost a year on our blog.  We have posted over 70 blogs and would appreciate comments from our readers.  We would like to know your opinions and ideas about our blog.  If there is an article that caught your eye, let me know your thoughts on the subject.  We look forward to hearing from you.

If there is a subject that you would like to know about, we can do our best to find an answer to your question.

We are a farm family and enjoy our animals and farm life.  So talking about the farm and all that it requires is a passion of ours.  From equine supplements to chicken coupes, we will discuss just about anything.  Comments welcome.

Merry Christmas everyone.  It is the holiday season and we are all getting ready for the parties, family get togethers and presents.  Now, who doesn’t get excited over receiving a gift?

Well, can you believe that your animals like to receive gifts also?  Now I am not necessarily talking large animals but if they are a pet, they will let you know in their own way that they are happy.  Larger animals, like cattle appreciate a new bale of hay set out for them or an extra bucket of feed, even an extra bale of straw for bedding and to show their appreciation, they jump right in like it is a new toy. 

If they are pets they are more loving and affectionate.  Our horses enjoy an extra and unexpected brushing and even that unexpected walk just because they spend time with their master.  Our calves get an extra bale of straw for bedding and my pet, Buster, gets to be led around and pampered a little, he is my Little Holestine bull calf.  Our dogs, Jessie and Bella may get a new tennis ball and treats for a day or two and my goat herd will get new bedding and a little treat, animal crackers. Even livestock vitamins are a treat for your animal.  My horse enjoys peppermint and if I give him a piece of peppermint candy after a good ride or just because.  I can tell he loves it.

They really do appreciate the extras that we can give them just like we appreciate the gifts we receive.  So do something special for your animals this season and show them your love.

Even though you may have dreamed of having a pony as a kid, and now you want to get your own kid a pony, take some time to consider just what your about to get into. First of all, ponies need lots of land to run around on; they also need someone to spend a couple hours per day caring for them; and they need dozens of supplies to be properly cared for. The following list highlights all the small horse supplies you should plan to have when getting a pony:

For leading/riding:

~lead ropes
~halters
~bridle with reins and bit and chin strap or curb chain
~saddle and pad with girth
~tack box with brushes, hoof pick, curry comb, mane/tail comb

For feeding/watering:

~water bucket for in the barn
~water trough for the field
~ground feeder for grain
~salt block (very important!) keep it in his field near his water
~hay (when the grass is depleted or when he is kept in the barn)
~grain
~horse supplements

For washing him:

~mane and tail shampoo and conditioner
~large sponge or plastic curry
~sweat scraper or squeegee

There are a lot of other products you can get, but these are the most basic and will get the job done.

If you have animals you will have to have some type of livestock feeders to feed them.  Now, I do not mean cats and dogs, I’m talking cattle, horses, goats, sheep, pigs and such.  Depending on the animal or animals you have will tell you what size you will need.

Goats, sheep and pigs usually need a low feeder where the trough is low to the ground or sits directly on the ground.  This makes it easy for them to reach.  Horses and cattle, unless  babies, can be higher.  High enough so that they do not have to eat off the ground and low enough that they can easily reach without struggling to reach their feed. 

Once you have determined the size, how high and how many will be eating from this one feeder, you will need to purchase supplies.  That will include lumber, treated or non-treated, some 2×4’s and 2×6’s, strong sturdy posts and some screws.  How much of these will depend on the size of the feeder you want to build.  Then you get your measuring tape, saw, hammer, if using nails, drill and begin to build.  I am certain that if you do not have an idea of how to do this you can find instructions on the internet or contact your local farm bureau.   It will take some time but in the end well worth it.

On the other hand, you can purchase livestock feeders at any online or storefront farm supply company.  There are several to choose from, all shapes and sizes.  If you are not one to build things or work with your hands, then this may be the way to go.  Check out our website by clicking on livestock feeders and look around.  Click out our affiliate “Barn World” and you will also find some feeders and ideas there.

You could accuse a farmer of being many things – hard-working, individualistic, self-reliant – but “late riser” isn’t one of them. Most farmers are bounding with energy from the moment they wake up in the morning, which is a good thing. The agricultural trade is largely seasonal in nature, and a farm worker must make the best of every minute of daylight. In some cases, getting up before the rooster crows can be advantageous.

While the time before sunup is ill-suited for work in the fields, there are plenty of other chores that can be accomplished at that peaceful hour. For example, one could do some maintenance work on the tractor, head out to the barn to feed the livestock, or just work on a few home improvement projects around the ranch. I’ve found the cap light to be among the handiest farm accessories around as it gives me a reliable source of light and allows me to keep my hands free.