Nothing screams poor barn management louder than bad odor. Elizabeth’s got him there; but that just goes along with everything we have seen about Uncle Danny and his farm skills so far. Today he puts “hay down” for the calves by using his pitch fork to throw hay right on top of the calf behind him.
Straw is a stalk, usually a waste product of wheat, that’s used as bedding for barnyard animals. Hay—typically alfalfa or a grass—is used as animal feed. I am going to guess that Uncle Danny really means to say he is putting down straw and not hay, but doesn’t feel the need to correct Elizabeth on the differences between straw and hay. After all, a lot of people use the terms interchangeably.
Aside from calling Uncle Danny on the barn odor, I also like that Elizabeth is aware enough to be staring at pigs; but only discusses cows, chickens and lambs when talking about Jesus.
Pig manure is THE NASTIEST STUFF IN THE WORLD. Most farmers don’t keep them in with the other animals. We had a pig farm a couple of miles from us and when the wind was right – who boy!! It’s the pig manure smell that’s filling her nostrils.
Yes it smelled that bad, but the animals decided to let him Mary and Joseph stay anyway because it was cold outside, Besides the animals figured they could always air the place out after the humans left
We lived in western Kansas: translate cattle feed lots all around on open prairie, thousands of bovine standing in the open on cement slabs, no protection from the elements, eating from miles-long cement troughs filled from feed trucks, and constant wind blowing in any and all directions (gag and double gag!). We also lived (OH) across from an independent hog farmer who allowed his pigs freedom to be outdoors or in the barn, depending on the weather. I’ll take that hog farm to a cattle lot any day. In fact, when I see cattle free to graze in a pasture, I breathe a prayer of blessing on that farm! Also learned that putting a couple of donkeys in the herd protects the calves from marauding coyotes.
Depends on the size of the farm.. Straw was something “we” would have had to buy.. Hay.. came off our field.. Free.. except for our labor. Our calf (1) and cow (2) got hay to bed down in.. or eat.
As to the smell.. nothing nicer than “natural” fragrance.. except chicken poop.. which you only smell if you step in it.. true fact.
Usually you don’t see pigs,and chickens,and cattle in the same barn ( on the same farm for that matter ) but comics are written for comedy not accuracy and most of us don’t give a hoot for the difference between straw and hay.But hey,where are the cats today?
Actually, the barn didn’t smell bad at all. We kept it very clean (the kids thought otherwise). I heard some unhappy comments from folks who reminded me that on a farm, cleanliness is essential!
Given the times of the supposed Jesus birth, no doubt the barn and every village and city smelled very bad. Most likely everyone back then was nose blind. IOW, they all just ignored the smells as it is what it is.
At one time, in Arizona, I co-owned a ranch-cum-riding stable. We had about 42 head of horses most of the time. Those horses, obviously, created a lot of manure.
We had a couple of manure piles on the ranch, which we would allow the public to purchase for fertilizer.
Never ceased to amaze me how many people would come, with their own sacks and bags, shovel the sh*t themselves,( we did provide the shovels ), and then pay us for the privilege !
My uncle’s cattle were kept outdoors but he kept the dairy cows and pregnant cows in the barn overnight. He also kept horses outside too – it is warm in AZ in the winter and in the hot summers, the horses tend to seek shade under occasional trees where my uncle put big containers of water. Cows simply sat down in groups and dozed in the hot summers. They drank water from the irrigation system for the alfalfa he grew. He had 10 labs that guarded the horses and cattle and their pups were kept in the garage. Plenty of animals. He did not raise pigs or fowl. Just horses for riding and cows for milk and meat. Once or twice, I saw the labs chase coyotes away. They could sense a coyote miles away. They would get up, walk towards the edge of the expanse of the farm, ears moving until they zeroed on the direction, and then away they ran to chase the coyote off. It was such a show.
Templo S.U.D. about 7 years ago
even Biff Tannen wouldn’t want to be in a barn
howtheduck about 7 years ago
Nothing screams poor barn management louder than bad odor. Elizabeth’s got him there; but that just goes along with everything we have seen about Uncle Danny and his farm skills so far. Today he puts “hay down” for the calves by using his pitch fork to throw hay right on top of the calf behind him.
Straw is a stalk, usually a waste product of wheat, that’s used as bedding for barnyard animals. Hay—typically alfalfa or a grass—is used as animal feed. I am going to guess that Uncle Danny really means to say he is putting down straw and not hay, but doesn’t feel the need to correct Elizabeth on the differences between straw and hay. After all, a lot of people use the terms interchangeably.
Aside from calling Uncle Danny on the barn odor, I also like that Elizabeth is aware enough to be staring at pigs; but only discusses cows, chickens and lambs when talking about Jesus.
debra4life about 7 years ago
Pig manure is THE NASTIEST STUFF IN THE WORLD. Most farmers don’t keep them in with the other animals. We had a pig farm a couple of miles from us and when the wind was right – who boy!! It’s the pig manure smell that’s filling her nostrils.
Rosette about 7 years ago
Well, the barn was more of a cave, really. And who knows what animals were there. But I digress.
h.v.greenman about 7 years ago
Yes it smelled that bad, but the animals decided to let him Mary and Joseph stay anyway because it was cold outside, Besides the animals figured they could always air the place out after the humans left
Stevefk about 7 years ago
Hope Uncle Danny doesn’t leave his barn door open too long!
Thechildinme about 7 years ago
We lived in western Kansas: translate cattle feed lots all around on open prairie, thousands of bovine standing in the open on cement slabs, no protection from the elements, eating from miles-long cement troughs filled from feed trucks, and constant wind blowing in any and all directions (gag and double gag!). We also lived (OH) across from an independent hog farmer who allowed his pigs freedom to be outdoors or in the barn, depending on the weather. I’ll take that hog farm to a cattle lot any day. In fact, when I see cattle free to graze in a pasture, I breathe a prayer of blessing on that farm! Also learned that putting a couple of donkeys in the herd protects the calves from marauding coyotes.
Shirl Summ Premium Member about 7 years ago
Probably so.
sandpiper about 7 years ago
a down to ‘earthy’ question
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member about 7 years ago
Probably.
joefearsnothing about 7 years ago
Good to see that Uncle Danny’s beard finally received color!
micromos about 7 years ago
No cover ads
Alberta Oil about 7 years ago
Depends on the size of the farm.. Straw was something “we” would have had to buy.. Hay.. came off our field.. Free.. except for our labor. Our calf (1) and cow (2) got hay to bed down in.. or eat.
As to the smell.. nothing nicer than “natural” fragrance.. except chicken poop.. which you only smell if you step in it.. true fact.
Alphaomega about 7 years ago
Usually you don’t see pigs,and chickens,and cattle in the same barn ( on the same farm for that matter ) but comics are written for comedy not accuracy and most of us don’t give a hoot for the difference between straw and hay.But hey,where are the cats today?
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 7 years ago
Lynn’s Notes:
Actually, the barn didn’t smell bad at all. We kept it very clean (the kids thought otherwise). I heard some unhappy comments from folks who reminded me that on a farm, cleanliness is essential!
timbob2313 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Given the times of the supposed Jesus birth, no doubt the barn and every village and city smelled very bad. Most likely everyone back then was nose blind. IOW, they all just ignored the smells as it is what it is.
Linguist about 7 years ago
At one time, in Arizona, I co-owned a ranch-cum-riding stable. We had about 42 head of horses most of the time. Those horses, obviously, created a lot of manure.
We had a couple of manure piles on the ranch, which we would allow the public to purchase for fertilizer.
Never ceased to amaze me how many people would come, with their own sacks and bags, shovel the sh*t themselves,( we did provide the shovels ), and then pay us for the privilege !
capricorn9th about 7 years ago
My uncle’s cattle were kept outdoors but he kept the dairy cows and pregnant cows in the barn overnight. He also kept horses outside too – it is warm in AZ in the winter and in the hot summers, the horses tend to seek shade under occasional trees where my uncle put big containers of water. Cows simply sat down in groups and dozed in the hot summers. They drank water from the irrigation system for the alfalfa he grew. He had 10 labs that guarded the horses and cattle and their pups were kept in the garage. Plenty of animals. He did not raise pigs or fowl. Just horses for riding and cows for milk and meat. Once or twice, I saw the labs chase coyotes away. They could sense a coyote miles away. They would get up, walk towards the edge of the expanse of the farm, ears moving until they zeroed on the direction, and then away they ran to chase the coyote off. It was such a show.
Carito over 1 year ago
I had a friend who had a pig farm. Lots of pigs, but no bad odor! I was surprised.