We awoke this morning to a thermometer that pegged out at a whopping 2 degrees. I know that many of you are suffering far colder temperatures than that (I read it was -40 somewhere in Minnesota yesterday!), but I have to believe that 2 degrees is cold by most standards. At 10:30AM, it was 9 degrees. The chickens have two outside waterers, and I’ve been rotating them every hour or so to make sure they have some water to drink today, should they venture out.
Yesterday our chickens awoke to the first significant amount of snow they have ever seen. It was really only a dusting. But they were not impressed. While they have seen snow before, they had never experienced ground completely covered by it. Normally when I open their chicken door, they come barreling down their chicken plank at full speed, running in all directions. When I opened their chicken door yesterday, however, not one of them came out. I peeked inside and found an opening covered in chicken faces with eyes as big as saucer. After two minutes or so, a brave Phoenix started down the plank, but she high tailed it back inside before reaching the ground. It took a while, but a handful eventually made it out into the yard. Around 9AM I noticed six chickens in the yard, and all the others stayed in the coop. Even though it never got above freezing yesterday, the sun eventually melted off the snow in their run. But the chickens remained in a fowl mood (pardon the pun) for the entire day.
We have no snow today, but the majority of the chickens are staying in the coop. It’s just too darn cold out there. Chickens may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, but they are smarter than most people give them credit for!
Last night I was attempting to squeeze some hair ball medicine out of a tube to give to Priscilla when, quite suddenly, the tube bottom sprung a leak and squirted a 5 inch long blob of sticky, nasty hair ball medicine on the top of Priscilla’s head, over her ear, and down her neck. I would say she was unhappy, but the truth is she was furious. Priscilla does not like anything to drip, plop, or ooze on her. I learned that when she was sitting on my lap one morning while I was eating breakfast and a minuscule drop of egg yolk landed on her head. From her reaction you would have thought it was acid. And she wouldn’t even look at me for the remainder of the day. That cat can carry a grudge like you would not believe.
At any rate, I immediately grabbed Priscilla and wiped off as much hair ball medicine as I could. Then I wet a paper towel and tried to wash it as well as I could. You can not imagine how incredibly angry she was with me. I could barely get her to look at me the rest of the night, and when she did, she would give me the stink eye. Elvis got tired of her complaining about it and eventually decided to try and help out:
“Oh, wait a minute. I missed a spot.”
Ignore the cold weather gear draped over the dining room chairs. They are “on ready” for any ventures outside. Oh, and also ignore the fact that there are cats on the dining room table. If it makes you feel any better, they also get on the counters, beds, cabinets, and all furniture and they open cabinet doors and crawl inside if they are in the mood.
Oh, and wonderful news! My parents adopted a rescue puppy they found on Pet Finder! They are so excited, and I’m really happy for them. It’s a little Dapple Dachshund and it sounds like quite a character. They named him Oliver. I tried to find his picture on the website, but couldn’t. I hope they figure out how to email one to me. I just can’t wait to see this little guy.
And speaking of puppies, you may have noticed that I put a puppy count down on the right side of the blog. Frugalmom suggested it and I love it! Only seven more days until we pick them up! Yay! I’m taking a vacation day next Friday and we’re heading down bright and early to get them. Yay again! They are currently about 235 miles from us, so it will be a long trip for those little babies. We plan to make several stops during the trip so they can get out and potty and stretch their little puppy legs. I’ll be sure to post lots of pictures when they get here.
It has been many years since we had a puppy, let alone two at the same time, in this house. In fact, other than the peeps, it’s been a great long while since there was any baby in this house. It will be an adjustment, no doubt. We’re looking forward to it though. I can not say the same for Elvis and Priscilla.
I just realized this entire post is about nothing but animals. I wish I had some news about the homestead, but the truth is that it’s been so darn cold, we haven’t done much recently. Bernie stays on top of the firewood supply and I stay on top of taking care of the chickens. Other than that, we rarely wander outside during this frigid weather.
We’re gearing up for the Virginia Legislative session and keeping track of the unbelievable amount of bills that are dropping daily. As they say, our rights are only safe when the legislature is not is session. We’ll be headed to Richmond on Lobby Day next Monday. Lobby Day is a great day to meet up with your representatives and let them know what matters to you. That’s something Bernie and I try to do year round, but it’s nice to show up in Richmond as the session starts and let them know we’re still around. If you plan to be there, look us up!
Bee Free,
Penny
7 days???? Thats not very long at all. Have you talked to the kitties to make sure that they are going to be on their best behavior when the little ones arrive???? Im thinking the kitties may have some things to say!
Congrats to your mama on getting the new dog. Im sure that she must be very happy about that.
And cold? Yep, its darn cold. 0 here right now…and thats my high. Blech.
Furgalmom, zero degrees for a high? Or is it zero degree? Whatever it is, that’s freaking cold. I would definitely complain to Mother Nature if I were you. That’s inhumane. And now I’m wondering what you’ve done to piss her off lately……
Unfortunately, we HAVE talked to the kitties about the puppies arrival. And I dare not repeat exactly what they had to say about it. We’ve assured them it will be ok, but just got the stink eye again.
Penny, lots of my posts are only about my pets so you’re in good company with me! And, yes, they get on tables, counters, beds…basically wherever they please. I get a kick out of people who think they can keep their cats off the furniture and counters when they are not home. Those cats probably have a party as soon as the door shuts! Getting puppies is very exciting and I think you will be glad you got two instead of one because they will be good company for each other. Elvis and Priscilla may not be too happy at first, but they’ll come around.
One of these days, when we get to our rural property, I am going to have chickens and I’ve already warned Neal that his shed would make a perfect chicken coop. It does, indeed, look a lot like your coop, doesn’t it? When the time comes, I’m going to need all the advice I can get about raising chickens. They will be strictly pets and egg producers, and I know I will be one protective Mama Hen!
I’d also like to have some goats, but one thing at a time!
Hi Lilla – Elvis seems to be coming around to the idea of the puppies, but Priscilla is firmly dug in. She’s a tough one, but I suspect that she will eventually learn to deal with it.
And I agree – Neal’s shed would be the perfect chicken coop! Your property looks just wonderful and I can just envision it with chickens pecking around. And I don’t think you can know how much sleep you’ll lose over those chickens. Honestly, they just seem to wrap those little wings right around your heart! I would have never believed it……