On our farms, as on most farms, the animals come first, they always eat before we do. The staggering amount of snow, unlike anything we’ve seen before, was a special challenge.

The animals are in a dry and sheltered pole barn, but the snow was so deep none of them could step out of it, even for a short walk.

All of our feeders were buried or filled with snow. After I got my car dugout, I joined Maria to try and dig out the donkey feeder. We got the snow out and dug some paths so the animals could get to the heated water and move around outside of the barn.

The only time these grazing animals get unhappy and grumpy is when they can’t nibble on grass, even in cold weather. They won’t be doing that for a week or two, if not for months.

We gave them extra hay and some grain for energy. We can’t see one of the feeders, it’s completely buried. We’ll search for it tomorrow. In the meantime, food is served twice a day in the barn.

I got some frostbitten fingers on the first farm, and they act up in cold like this. I’m dipping them in wax tonight. And finishing a mystery. And taking a nap.

Sheep and donkeys are not like dogs. They are desert and mountain animals, and they like fresh air and mobility. They are prone to respiratory issues, and being kept in close quarters without fresh air isn’t what they want or need.

The pole barn shelters them from wind and wet.  And gives us the chance to feed them inside when they need that.