When the thermometer climbs into the high 80s and the air out here in Old Fort gets that thick, honey-slow feeling to it, the whole farm shifts into summer mode. The animals slow down. The shade gets crowded. And we spend a good part of every morning making sure everybody on four legs (and two wings) stays comfortable through the hottest stretch of the day.
Here's a look behind the fence at how we do it.
Water, water, and more water
Before anything else, there's water. In the summer we're refilling troughs and buckets two and three times a day, because warm standing water in the sun is nobody's idea of a cool drink. Fresh, clean, and shaded is the goal. It's the least glamorous job on the farm and the single most important one when it's hot.
Shade and a good breeze
Every pen has a shady retreat, whether it's the barn, a lean-to, or a big tree doing its job the old-fashioned way. On the stillest, muggiest afternoons we'll set up airflow to keep things moving, because shade without a breeze only gets you halfway there. You'll notice most of the herd parked in the shadows by early afternoon, chewing their cud and waiting out the heat like sensible folks.
Frozen treats (the crowd favorite)
This is the fun part. On the hottest days, the goats get frozen fruit and veggie treats, chunks of watermelon, apple, and berries frozen into ice. It cools them from the inside out, keeps them busy, and it is genuinely one of the most entertaining things to watch. A goat working away at a frozen watermelon chunk is peak summer content, and yes, it's exactly as messy as you'd imagine.
Everybody handles it a little differently
Here's the thing about a farm full of different animals: they all beat the heat in their own way.
The pig has the cleverest trick of the bunch. Pigs can't sweat, so they cool off by wallowing in mud and water. That mud coating isn't just for fun (though it is fun) — it's sunscreen and air conditioning rolled into one. So when you see our pig looking like a happy mess, know that it's working exactly as nature intended.
The ducks and ducklings have it easiest, and they know it. Give a duck a pool of water on a hot day and you've made a friend for life. They paddle, splash, and generally lord their good fortune over everyone else.
The chickens and turkeys you'll catch panting a little and holding their wings out from their bodies to let the heat escape. They also love a good dust bath in the cool dirt under the shade, which does double duty as a spa day and a way to stay comfortable.
The donkey is tougher than the heat and mostly takes it in stride, but still appreciates a shady spot and plenty of water like everyone else.
Our white peacock, ever the showstopper, tends to find the most photogenic patch of shade on the whole property and hold court there. Can't blame him.
The best time to visit? Early.
Here's our summer tip for you, too: the animals are at their liveliest first thing in the morning, before the day heats up. If you come see us right when we open at 10AM, you'll catch everybody at their friendliest and most active — treats are usually happening, the goats are up and about, and the whole place has that fresh-morning energy before the afternoon slows it all down.
We're open Tuesday through Sunday, 10AM to 4PM. Come cool off in the shade with us, meet the herd, and see who's enjoying their frozen watermelon.
See you at the farm.
— The team at Bat Cave Road Farm
4132 Bat Cave Road, Old Fort, NC 28762
