Efficiency. A well-structured farm is the epitome of efficiency.

As shown in one of our pics in the Mullerslane Farm Animals and Buildings Part 1 of 3, a chicken is actually drinking the water in a little wading pool. It is thirsty. It goes to the pool and drinks the water. (Quite safely I might add.) It doesn’t have to be watered. It is basically watering itself. So, in terms of efficiency it is to be noted here that these fences are not really needed.

Maybe if the MLF was a production farm then maybe it would be necessary to put the birds in a confined area so that a certain number of birds would be ready for slaughter. Why a confined area? To make sure they ate the right amount of feed. To make sure that they drank water that had a certain amount of vitamins in it. Etc and etc.

mullerslane farm animals and buildings 3

So when one looks at a farm, a person has to make those decisions for themselves. What is best for us? What are our objectives? What is best for the animals? A lot of times, it is a compromise that one reaches.

It is obvious that the MLF is not a production farm so there really isn’t a need to put the birds in pens.

With that being said, they did not let the hogs run wild. The hogs are in a fenced area behind the barn so that you do not see any hogs running around. They could, but more than likely they would do damage as they pawed the ground and used their snouts to push piles of dirt around. These birds do no such damage and we are glad.

Enjoy the pics!

Efficiency. A well-structured farm is the epitome of efficiency. Even though the Mullers lane Farm (MLF) does not have that many animals, it still needs the efficiency to take care of the animals. It still needs a place to keep feed dry – protecting it from the elements and to keep it from the varmints, or the critters such as mice that will get into it and spoil it.

Also whether you have one horse or many horses you still need a place to put up saddles and tack. If you look carefully in the barn you will spy the saddles in one room and outside that room are rows of nails set up for the horse’s tack.

Mullerslane Farm -Animals and Buildings 2

Another aspect of efficiency is: Am I working for the animals or are the animals working for me? Another question that might be asked is: Do the animals need to be confined to pens or will they do just as well feeding free?

In the past years the MLF kept their birds confined in pens. That means that every so often Paul and Cindy and the rest of the family had to clean out the pens and lay down new bedding for the birds as well as the daily filling of the feeders with water and feed. Stay tuned for Part 3 of Mullerslane Farm Animals and Buildings.