Cool Spot For The Cows

We are in July now.  There is no end in sight to the hot days.  Inside the barn we've improved things to attempt to make it comfortable for us while we milk the cows.  We've installed circular fans and position them so that they point directly at us while we milk.  In addition to moving the air to make it somewhat cool, it also helps combat flies and mosquitoes.

One additional improvement is the 'wings' that come off the northern and southern roof of the barn.  This was a no-brainer that we should have done years ago.  These wings give protection against the rain and much-needed shade for all the animals.  They all seek respite from the sun's rays in the shade.  One added benefit is we don't have to give Rosie a bath before milking her every day.  In prior years, Rosie would lay in the mud to cool off.  You can actually see her old mud hole in the photo below.  It is right above the third water trough in the center left of the photo.

She would lay in the mud and get up for milking/feeding time and we would have to spray her down with a hose every single day.  Well those days are gone as she just lays up in the shad under the wings of the barn.  We even put up another lean-to on the eastern side.  For some reason the chickens really like to retreat under this roof.  I think they hide out under here from the hawks that terrorize them.  The old goat barn adds more area under roof.  This old goat barn still stands from years ago when the kids were young and showed Boer meat goats.  Now, the chickens and goats and sometimes cows get in there when the weather is bad.  We never leave the main milking barn open for the animals.  They are not good house-keepers and it would be a wreck!

As I was walking back from the barn this afternoon, I caught a glimpse of Annie with her doeling, Matilda.  They jumped up on top of an old water oak tree we felled a couple of summers ago.  Goats love to climb on things and this wood pile is their favorite - especially for Matilda.  Belle, our Great Pyrenees puppy, likes to play with Matilda.  Trouble is, she plays too rough.  She chases her throughout the pasture, running at full speed. 

We are always uncertain if she is going to harm Matilda.  Is Belle going to eat Matilda?  We keep a watchful eye!  When this occurs all of the goats enjoy running and jumping atop the wood pile for safety.  At least for now, Belle has not attempted to jump up there.

You can probably see above that the chickens really like the shade underneath the log.  The earth is cool and no sun can shine.  We've had to check beneath the log as hens like to lay nests of eggs underneath the log.  Speaking of finding a cool place in the shade, I'm heading in now!