Afternoon In The Sun

Can you find the chicken that is a human chicken?

 Sassy one standing in the dish.

 

Standing on one foot.

 

She is one fat chicken.  Some of this is just fluffy feathers.

Only The Best For My Girls

We have had some mighty cold weather over the last week or so. This makes it very challenging. Keeping the girls in thawed water.  The first night I tried bringing the water in and letting it warm up over night.  One night I just took a screwdriver to it and chunked it away.  Yet another night I had to use hot water to thaw the ice so I could get it apart to refill.  Then I check Pinterest for ideas.  Saw one really cool one made of clay pots that would be awesome but the electrical part was a what?  Had no clue.  There was another one made out of a cookie tin that looked like we might be able to make it.  Mark was a no go on that one too. Then we checked retail stores in the area.  Tractor Supply said they had one but when we got there...you guessed it, none in the store.  We weren't the only ones looking either.  Mark went to Carney's after work the next day and bought two of these...we had to have two.  They must have been a little on the pricey side because he ripped the price sticker off.  Nothing to go for my girls is what he said.  And they work great!!!!!

 

We do have a little issue with extension cords all over the back yard.  But crossing my fingers and toes that everything holds out with all the weather that is supposed to be coming our way.

 

The rabbits are another story...their water freezes up just like that.  You should see me in my farm boots, heavy coat, gloves, hat and headlamp around 6AM every morning replacing their water.  I bring it in every night and thaw it our by the vent on the family room floor. This farming is hard work...but that's okay remember Andy says that I am half Amish.  :)

 

And today I talked a little bit to a lady near by that has microgoats!

First Snow Experience

Well, that was a shocker.  Thank heavens we had already hooked up the water heaters in each coop!  We got 5 inches of snow last night.  A day to soon for me.  I love the snow but I wasn't ready for it.  This is what I saw at 6AM.

Got all bundled up and got on my best farm boots and then headed for the chickens.  I hoped and prayed that had survived the snow and weren't cold and wet.

Almost 5 inches of snow on the outside of the run screen and hardly anything inside.  I still haven't figured that one out.  Unless angels spread their wings and let the snow fall on their wings instead of the Big Girls.

I had to get Michael to help with the snow removal and tarp attachment.  I needed some extra hands.  I put his big blue scout tarp in the coop and he took the broom and swept the snow off.  Not much fell on the tarp...again...amazing!

Esthelle and Susie were the only two chickens that ventured out in the snow.  Then they headed for the Little Girls coop where it was dry.  It took both Michael and I to get them out.

It is actually very warm in the run and with the hay I put it I am hoping their feet will stay dry and not get frostbite.  So far so good...and I am still getting eggs...4 so far today...all from the Little Girls.  I think the Big Girls might be a little traumatized and stressed out.

I Think They Missed Me

I am so thankful that I have a 'chicken farmer in training' in my next door neighbor.  All the time we were in WV I got report on how the girls were doing, got an egg count just about everyday, and I never worried for one minute that all the animals on the farm weren't being taken care of.  I am thankful for Farmer Luke (and his parents).

 

I felt bad that I haven't been able to be with my girls so today I cleaned out the coops and runs. added fresh leaves, sprinkled in some of Mark's sunflower seeds and a suet cake for each of the coops.

When I called them, they came running across the yard like it was the last thing on earth that they had to do.  I think I heard screeching sounds when they came to a halt.  I know I saw leaves flying.

You can see me!

Maybe I missed them the most.  We were out in the yard for more than two hours today just doing our thing...sitting and talking to each other.