Animals Seek Shade Amid Heatwave
The Antonović family from the Duša Baranje family farm in Bilje reveals how they ease their animals' summer days: changing water more often, setting up paddling pools, and offering chilled fruit.
The Antonović family from the Duša Baranje family farm in Bilje reveals how they ease their animals' summer days: changing water more often, setting up paddling pools, and offering chilled fruit.
Farmers have been battling the summer heat for weeks, and the scorching temperatures spare no one, not even the animals. At the Duša Baranje family farm in the heart of Bilje, Baranja, co-owners Danijel and Sanja Antonović are doing everything they can to make these hot days more bearable for their animals.
On this colorful estate, donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens, and rabbits live an idyllic life, with the farm's guardian being a cat named Miljenko. In high temperatures, nothing refreshes quite like homegrown watermelon. "They all love cold fruit and vegetables; when they get something nice, they really enjoy it-it's like a treat for them, like ice cream is for us," described Danijel Antonović, co-owner of the Duša Baranje family farm, for HRT Magazine.
These temperatures are hard to bear on two legs, let alone four. "Today, they're all a bit sleepy and sluggish, looking for shade. Sheep have the hardest time in summer; they just lie in the shade," said Sanja Antonović, co-owner of the Duša Baranje family farm.
While donkeys are accustomed to such conditions, the other animals on the Antonović family farm require special care during the summer months. "In summer, we change the water much more often because they, like us, like to cool off with fresh, cold water. We set up paddling pools so they can bathe during the summer," explained Danijel.
In the early morning hours and towards the evening, it's easier because the heat subsides somewhat. Therefore, the Antonovićs used their summer break to tidy up the surroundings and prepare the farm for the upcoming season.
"When guests come, we can't do such big things, so we were closed for a month and a half because we had various works on our farm, and we're reopening soon," emphasized Sanja.
Once the new school year begins, young visitors will return, making Duša Baranje a gathering place for children and animals once again. Until then, the best options are plenty of shade, refreshing water, and watermelons.
