All the livestock need more feed to keep them happy.
Water pipes that are exposed tend to freeze up, even the ball tap units freeze solid and playing with hot water to thaw them out, it always goes cold and you're usually wet through yourself and frozen, but getting water to livestock seems more important.
We were very busy with eggs leading up to Christmas and at one point were virtually waiting for the hens to lay before we could deliver them but, fortunately, we got everyone supplied before Christmas Eve – just.
With Christmas and New Year being the best time for tractor and machinery breakdowns once again we seemed to get our share, which again makes everything more difficult.
I had actually banned Christmas and New Year as more and more people want time off but more and more people have to work to keep the cogs turning so that the people who have time off can enjoy it more.
The people that have to work are more upset as they can't join in.
The white geese thought the snow was the perfect camouflage if they just sat in it, then we wouldn't be able to find them for the dinner plate.
Only thing was they forgot to shut their eyes and camouflage was broken.
Now the fox is totally different.
We don't see too many but their footprints are all over every field, you would think there was a flock of them.
On New Year's Day to be exact, we were walking back home from the local tavern after a couple of shandies it was quite pleasant really with the full moon up and shining bright we didn't need the torch, well only to check the footprints.
We were following down the road and yes, there were two foxes just walking down the road in front of us, but they beared off at the edge of the farmyard.
We have had a few calves just recently.
Snow and blow whatever, if they are coming well they just have to come mainly bulls, some beef and some dairy bred calves most of them now are suckling cows.
We have got three to a cow.
The calves suckle the cows twice a day, same as milking them, only the cow will work twice as hard feeding the calves so she needs feeding extra to keep them going.
When they have started growing well we will probably sell them as family units.
First bit of good news for 2010 for us is Byland News in Byland Road in Whitby rang to see if we could supply them with free range eggs and we were happy to oblige as this is our first shop in town.