Why brown cows don’t make chocolate milk: Funny farm myths uncovered

April Fool’s Day has come and gone, but we are still in a funny mood here at FarmTek! To have a little fun in honor of this goofy holiday, we want to talk about some true and not-so-true farming facts.

Do chocolate cows make chocolate milk?

Let’s get this one out of the way right off the bat. The one and ONLY way to get chocolate milk is to add delicious chocolate syrup to plain old milk! We’re sure you all knew that, but it is still a popular farm myth!

Do cattle lie down when it’s going to rain?

Some cows may lie down before it rains, but then again, you or I may lie down before it rains. It isn’t a very accurate predictor of the weather to come. Cows tend to rest their legs quite a bit. They usually get comfortable in the field to chew their cud and can spend up to 14 hours a day off their feet. When you spend that much time lying around, it is bound to rain at some point!

Will goats mow your lawn?

Just because goats will eat grass doesn’t mean that they will keep your lawn looking pristine. Goats tend to eat the taller grass because it is easier to get to. In fact, some goats are so picky they won’t even eat food that is touching the ground. On the other hand, goats will clear brush out of your yard. Be careful not to mix poisonous brush in with the stuff you want to goats to clean up!

Do goats eat tin cans?

Goats will eat lots of things, but tin cans are not one of them. Some may try, but it will prove unsuccessful, and possibly fatal, for them. A tin can could prove to be a great toy for a goat since it makes fun sounds when they step on it and can easily be thrown around. Here’s a great question though – how would the goats get the tin can anyway?

Do chickens need roosters to lay eggs?

This is a good one, actually. In fact, I explained to my family this weekend why chickens don’t need a rooster to lay an egg because they thought it was true! Chicken reproduction is similar to human reproduction. Chickens naturally produce eggs, just like women, but they will only produce a baby if fertilized.

These are some of the more common farm myths, but if you another one you’ve heard, feel free to share it with us!