Look at Sheila in her bed. How on earth Poppy fits in there too I have no idea.
Poppy certainly wanted to fit her ears in the photo though.
But they do.
With the temperatures slowly drifting down into hell I am taking stock of the hay. I figure that as long as these two big cows get sold soon and it does not stay too cold for too long, we should last another two months with nothing at all to spare. 
When it is really cold like this everyone gets extra rations to warm them from the inside out.
Tima is totally undeterred by the weather. She steams along her icy path in pursuit of food without any thought for the cold.
You cannot show weather in images – we might show the results but this image was taken in a howling wind accompanied by blowing snow. And the ducks all look so calm and warm – caught with their heads up. I put straw out on the ground for them so at least they are off the ice a little.
Straight after this shot I shooed the ducks into the barn out of the wind and off the ice and pulled their gate shut early. I gave them food and a little pot of water. I will not fill up their big dishes until it is a bit warmer. I am afraid they will become encased in ice from bathing in water and if we are in sub zero temperatures that cannot be good for a birds body temperature. Plus the water freezes faster than they can splash it rendering the dish useless for as long as the freeze lasts which could be weeks.
In these temperatures I water the animals and birds three times a day then tip out what they do not drink. Many of them have heated waters of course which makes life easier.
And look at the weather forecast below- yes – do you see that MINUS 18? I heard a meteorologist talking on the radio yesterday referencing the JANUARY OF 2014 when discussing the coming weeks. My worst winter so far was The Winter of 2014. I was deeply unimpressed.
Those kinds of temperatures result in animals with frostbite. All we can hope for is that it is a quick dip into the freeze.
Lest we forget: I grew up on a beach in New Zealand! Like the ducks this is not my natural habitat!
The ducks and the chickens have slowed down and are laying way less eggs. Too many grey cold days.
But the skies are clear this morning and it is 2f ( -16c). And there will be sun!
Have a lovely day.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
40 responses to “IN A PIGS EAR”
Haven’t visited your blog in ages with one thing and another. Goodness, all these new goings on in your life, I feel exhausted just trying to catch up with them all! I shall endeavour to be more vigilant in keeping up with all things farmy!
Christine
That Tima makes me laugh! Keep warm or try to.
But you can not make a silk purse from a pigs ear. Poppy and Sheila are happy about that I am sure. Those ducks are doing great for you. Sturdy animals! So happy that was a WIN so far. (touch wood!)
New Zealand is experiencing extreme heat right now aren’t they? How is the son’s project coming along?
No extreme heat here yet, but it is forecasted to get up into the mid-30s (Celsius) this coming week. Nothing like Australia’s temperatures of 46°C though!
I remember the winter some of your chooks ended up with frost-bitten combs, poor loves. I refill the water bowls a few times a day for the chooks and wild creatures, but for the opposite reason……we are boiling over with heat here. I use old cat litter trays (clean of course) and saw two young crows having a marvellous time in one the other day…..frolicking and splashing. Lovely to see, they usually sit on the fence but don’t often venture down, or very quickly if they do, but must’ve been so hot they couldn’t resist a swim.
For a moment there I thought you were so frustrated with the weather that you lashed out at dear loveable Sheila and Poppy by calling them “big cows,” but then I thought, no, you are not going to sell them. You couldn’t. (Right?)
No. The two Angus I bought last year will be sold just as soon as I find them a nice home.
Right. It wasn’t long before I remembered your plan. Made sense at the time. Still does.
Watch out 🙂
https://sputniknews.com/us/201901261071845781-us-polar-vortex-storm-incoming/
Thank you! Just what I needed to read!
Re a Duck’s natural habitat… (lol That’s what migration’s for; )
We need to get busy knitting hats for the cockscombs. Oh dear. I think of you every time I pull my collar a bit higher and tighter around my neck…reminding myself that I am a pussy and that the cold here is nothing by comparison. I’m often amazed at how serene the animals look in the photos, as if the cold doesn’t matter to them at all. Here’s to the clown suit! x
Can’t imagine that cold Celi … beautiful photos. And you are right those ducks look calm and warm ..