Don’t worry, I eventually clued into my error about the coop purchase (and although I didn’t daycare the animals I am happy to now know that’s an excellent option!). In the meantime I keep busy with fishing and mining. There’s always something to be done!
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I'm wondering if you have to level up your fishing rod to get some of the fish
This is just an assumption but I think that if an NPC talks about a donated museum item it means they would like it as a gift. Like how Adeline mentioned the starlight coral
You might be better off just leaving your animals inside and keep the troughs filled…I would like to mention, however, that if you hand feed your animals after unlocking one of the ranching perks, they will drop shiny beads. You can then offer those beads to the chicken statue on the map left of your farm for random animal related products and animal cosmetics.
You don't need a fishing uses less stamina. You need a stack of berries. You only need 1 stamina to cast. So, if you plan on fishing for the day, grab a stack of berries and eat a berry, catch a fish, repeat. Unfortunately, I think you may not have berries.
Wow fishing uses a LOT of energy. You went from 34 to 19 with one fish and then to 0 with another. Whew!