
Allison Lee
Smallholding Correspondent
1:00 AM 21st December 2024
lifestyle
Christmas On The Smallholding
Like many people, I absolutely love Christmas. To me, it is a special time of year that enables us to catch up with loved ones and share good food in the company of those we love the most. However, life on the smallholding doesn’t stop for Christmas, and extra preparation needs to go into looking after the animals in addition to buying presents and cooking the Christmas feast.
It is important to remember that shops, including feedstores, close for Christmas, so planning ahead is essential. I always ensure that I order plenty of feed to see me through the Christmas period and into January to ensure that I am well stocked should the weather make trips out difficult. January is notorious for snow and ice, and making sure the feedstore is well stocked is one thing less to worry about. I also ensure I have ample hay and straw supplies so the animals can bed down comfortably should the weather turn cold.
Although Christmas is a time for giving presents and spoiling our loved ones, I am quite strict with treats for the animals. In the past, I have bought treats by the bucket full, but over the years of owning animals, I have realised that sometimes it is better to be cruel than to be kind. The ponies and donkeys love treats, and the internet is rife with prettily packaged festive biscuits and other treats aimed at equines; however, in my experience, it is best to avoid overindulging animals that are not used to having these kinds of foods in their diet. A simple carrot or apple treat is much more equine-friendly than any extravagantly boxed biscuit treat, preferably cut into pieces and added to a treat ball. I am very strict with the donkeys and ponies because I have experienced the upset of seeing both my ponies succumb to laminitis due to rich grass; therefore, any sugary treat is a definite no.
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The other animals in the smallholding get healthy treats, and Christmas is no exception. The sheep love a digestive biscuit or two, and the pigs and goats enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables, all of which are good additions to their regular diet.
The dogs, all four of them, love Christmas, and since our children have flown the nest, I am guilty of treating them like small children at this time of year, presenting them with stockings overflowing with toys that they proceed to destroy in record time; they enjoy the day almost as much as I do!
It is important to remember the birds too, and not just at Christmas time. I am lucky enough to have a couple of robins who visit the smallholding and stables daily, along with various other birds, such as moorhens, pheasants and bluetits. I ensure they have plenty of mealworms, bird seeds, nuts, and fresh water to nourish them over the winter.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.