Weather Watching on the Farm

Do you see them?  The things that make shepherd's happy?

Here on the farm, it's hard keep track of the weather all the time.  Stopping to look at a device or turn on a device is not always convenient.  There are ways to gauge how to manage the day with livestock, without looking at a device, since barns and devices are not real compatible at times.

Take a look out this window, where you will see something that makes a shepherd happy!   See those tiny icicles forming up at the top, to the right?  They may be tiny, but they bring joy!!  What they mean to a farmer is that the day is mild.  The bite is gone.  Relief!  Relief for all!!

When the sun shines in January here, you'd hardly notice.  It's cold.  Some days are well below zero (F), and nights frequently are.  If the day is mild enough that the distant, weak sun can melt a little something and make it drip, yippee!  It's a good day!  Get the dogs out to play!  Let the horses out to run!  Let the sheep out to leap!!

Other things we look at are the cows.  We look at the cows a lot.  They are better weather indicators than any device!  How they are standing, how they are moving, or not, can give you all the direction you need to manage livestock and your own dressing needs for the trips outside.  If the cows are all  pointing a certain way, watch out...cold nasty wind!  If they are not getting up, bad day!  Dress accordingly!  If they are up, all scattered, or moving around, good day!  It's mild and the stress is off for now.

Birds are another good thing to watch...wild birds that is.  If they are hopping around, legs showing, then you know it's mild.  If they are not feeding much, you know it's nice out.  If they are sitting down on their legs and feet immediately upon alighting on something, you know it's bitterly cold.  If you look out at their favorite feeding times and no one is in sight, it must be a terrible day!  Sometimes though, they are hiding from a perceived threat, but if the weather is bad, they won't come to feed.  When the weather tames, any housebound person will have much joy when they return to the feeders, for that's when you see all kinds of beautiful birds! 

The weather is always changing.  Taking warm wooly mittens off to unzip a coat and take out a device is unpleasant, to say the least!  Smart shepherds though, don't need to do that.  Just look out the windows.  The birds and animals will tell you about the day.