Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Minipig Elmar (under the table) and his buddies enjoy their meal in the Hungers' dining room.

A series of photos from the Safiental valley in Graubünden brings farm animals back to where they used to spend the winter: in the farmer's house. Goats, sows and chickens as roommates: what seems contrived and strange today was almost reality in the past. In the Safiental valley in Graubünden, for example, people had to survive particularly harsh winters and therefore brought farm animals out of the barn and into the living room. In this way, farming families not only ensured their survival - chickens in particular had to be protected from the cold - but also had an additional source of heat in the house. The cackling communal animals were also grateful for the one or other egg that they would not otherwise have laid at this time of year.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2019
Date Uploaded: 05.2021
Photo Location: Camana, Switzerland
Camera: IQ1 100MP
Copyright: © Rene Ruis