Should You Let Your Cows Out in Winter Stardew Valley? A Comprehensive Guide
The short and direct answer is: no, you should not let your cows out during winter in Stardew Valley. While the thought of your bovine buddies frolicking in the snow might be charming, the reality is that it’s detrimental to their well-being and productivity. Winter in Stardew Valley is a time of harsh conditions, and farm animals are not designed to thrive outdoors during this season. This article will delve into why this is the case, and provide you with all the necessary information on how to care for your cows during the winter months, along with other frequently asked questions to ensure your farm is thriving year-round.
The Harsh Realities of Winter for Farm Animals
Unlike the other seasons where your cows can graze on fresh grass, winter brings a complete halt to outdoor vegetation growth. This lack of fresh grass means your cows won’t be able to forage, and they cannot survive on snow. They will not graze on snow. Instead, they will wander and become grumpy. This drastically impacts their mood, and therefore, their productivity. In addition, the cold temperatures are dangerous for animals.
Why are my cows grumpy in winter Stardew Valley? Your cows are grumpy in winter primarily because they are confined to their barn and cannot access fresh grass. The lack of sunlight and space also plays a role. If an animal is left outside its barn/coop, it will also be grumpy the next day.
The Importance of Indoor Comfort
During winter, your cows should be kept inside their barn for safety and warmth. They won’t willingly leave the barn even if you open the door, which will save you from having to worry about them wandering off, but even if you open the door and try to get them to go outside, they won’t. Inside the barn, you can provide them with the necessary care they need to thrive during the colder months. It is your responsibility to keep them safe and warm.
Essential Winter Care for Cows
Providing adequate care for your cows during winter is crucial for maintaining their happiness and ensuring continued milk production. Here are the key steps to follow:
- Provide Enough Food: Since fresh grass is unavailable, you’ll need to feed your cows hay. Make sure you have a sufficient supply of hay stored in your silo before the onset of winter. You can use hay that you collected in prior seasons from grass on your farm or purchase it at Marnie’s ranch. If you don’t have enough hay and don’t purchase enough you run the risk of your cows not producing milk on any given day. Cows that don’t have food for the day do not grow.
- Pet Your Cows Daily: A simple daily interaction can go a long way in maintaining your cows’ happiness. Pet each one of them every day to raise their friendship level, which directly impacts the quality and quantity of the products they produce.
- Purchase a Heater: The game indicates that keeping your cows inside for the entirety of winter will make them sad, therefore buying a heater is essential to offset their unhappiness. This will significantly improve their mood during the long winter months and is crucial for maximizing their milk production. A heater has an effect on animal Mood when the animal is inside a barn or coop past 6PM and the animal has a 150 mood or above.
- Maintain Clean Living Quarters: Keep the barn clean and tidy. Although this doesn’t directly affect mood, maintaining a good environment is simply good practice.
- Keep Them Safe at Night: Close the barn door at night to ensure your cows are safe from any potential dangers, and to ensure they are in the barn before the end of the day.
What to do with Your Farm During Winter
While you can’t engage in traditional crop farming during winter, it is an ideal time to focus on other aspects of your farm:
- Remodeling: Winter is the perfect season to make changes to your farm. You can reshape your crop plots, upgrade existing structures, build new ones, or just add new decorations.
- Wild Seeds: If you are interested in a little farming still, you can grow wild seeds which will produce winter-specific goods. These include winter root, holly, crystal fruit, snow yam, and crocus. Wild seeds don’t require watering.
- Greenhouse Farming: If you have the greenhouse, you can continue to grow any crops you desire without being affected by the seasons. This is a great way to keep making income during the winter months.
- Mining and Fishing: Take advantage of the downtime to go mining for resources or fishing. These activities can help you gather valuable materials for crafting and upgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do animals need to be fenced in Stardew Valley?
Fences are not strictly necessary, but they are useful for organizing your farm, especially if you want to keep animals away from your crops during other seasons. They help you control where your animals graze and can make it easier to find them when you need them.
2. Can cows destroy crops?
No, farm animals will not destroy your crops. They might get in your way, but they will never cause damage to them.
3. Can you leave animals out overnight?
It is generally not a good idea to leave animals out overnight, but the door can stay open all night during spring, summer and fall. In winter the door should be closed at night. Keeping the door open allows them to go out during the day and graze on grass. During spring, summer, and fall they will automatically return to the barn at night. However, leaving them out overnight, especially in winter, can have a negative impact on their happiness. They won’t go outside during the winter even if the door is open.
4. What happens if you don’t pet your animals?
If you don’t pet your animals, their friendship level will decrease. This will lower the quality and quantity of the products they produce. Regular interaction, including petting, is essential for maintaining their happiness and productivity.
5. How do you make money off cows?
Cows produce milk daily. Building friendship with your cows will lead to them producing large milk which sells for more. Cows are more profitable than goats because you get two cheeses for each cow cheese.
6. Do cows need a heater Stardew Valley?
Yes, cows do need a heater during the winter. This helps to maintain their happiness during the cold season and maximize their milk production. It counteracts the unhappiness of being inside all winter.
7. Do animals leave the barn in winter Stardew Valley?
No, animals do not leave the barn in winter even if the door is open. They will stay indoors to stay warm. If you open the door and try to get them to go outside, they will not.
8. Can I give Linus a heater?
Yes, you can gift Linus a heater. This is not a typical gift and is not needed for him, but he will accept it, and it might help him during the winter, but will have no gameplay effect.
9. Can you still farm in Winter?
You cannot grow traditional crops in the winter unless you have the greenhouse. However, you can plant wild seeds to get winter-specific goods.
10. Do dead crops come back?
No, dead crops do not come back after the season changes. Once they are dead, you will need to clear them and plant new crops. Trees however, do come back each season.
11. Does the greenhouse work in Winter?
Yes, the greenhouse works in winter. You can plant and grow any crops you want inside the greenhouse regardless of the season.
12. How many cows can you have in a barn?
The initial barn upgrade can house up to 4 animals, which can be only cows or ostriches.
13. Are cows profitable in Stardew Valley?
Yes, cows are profitable. While pigs that produce truffles can be more profitable, cows offer consistent daily milk production which you can turn into valuable cheese. They are definitely a good way to make money in the game.
14. What crops survive the winter?
Only Winter Seeds and Fiber Seeds will grow during winter. Traditional crops will die at the end of fall. You will not be able to plant traditional crops until Spring.
15. Should you let your animals out in winter?
As stated earlier: No, you should not let your animals out in winter. It’s harmful to their happiness, and the outside environment cannot provide them with the necessary food or warmth during the harsh winter season.
By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to keep your cows happy, healthy, and productive during the winter months, ensuring your farm continues to thrive year-round in Stardew Valley.