Wednesday 16 January 2019

Cold Chicken

No, it's not leftovers. Just thought you might like to see that the chickens still actually choose to go outside, even in the winter. They aren't fond of days that are very windy, or if the snow is deep, but if there is a hint of sun, they will spend time outside.


They can stay in their coop if they choose. I just open their little door in the morning and they decide what they want to do.


A handful of chicken feed makes them happy.

Happy Wednesday everyone, we're past the halfway mark to the weekend.

35 comments:

  1. O intrepid chickens! I like your new blog header photo too -- what a luxurious stretch!

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  2. I've heard of Feather Boas, but not of Feather Coats. There's a whole new industry in there.

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    1. Down filled parkas? Not much down on a chicken, however.

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  3. Happy Wednesday! Those chickens really loving the sunpatches is like our pups. They love sun patches, as well. Sunpatches or sun patches. I think it's two words. But I can't say for sure.

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    1. They really do like being in the sun at this time of year. Mind you, so do I.

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    2. Oh yeah, me too. I love when the ground is covered in snow but the sky is bright blue and sunny. So fun!

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  4. Our chickens love to be outside pecking through the snow as well. I think that they are still looking for bugs and I am sure they find some. I know that ours love to be in the cow pasture.

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    1. Yours must be free range? Ours can only go in their fenced in chicken run. Not sure how many bugs they find right now, but they peck at everything.

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  5. You would think that their feet get cold. I know mine would without boots. How do birds do it?

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    1. Scientifically, I have no idea why birds of all sorts can be out in the winter without freezing their little feet off. Something to research...

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  6. I'm always amazed that their feet don't freeze off. My chickens have the same choice - they can come and go from their coop after I open the little door in the morning. I do have a Cozy Coop heater inside to help ward off any frostbite. It doesn't throw a lot of heat, but it does keep the very chilliest temps out of the coop.

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  7. I have a Cozy Coop heater as well. I call it their flat screen tv. It doesn't give off a whole lot of heat, but they seem to be comfortable enough. They have a heated water bucket, otherwise their water would definitely freeze.

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  8. Even though we keep a "yard" in front of the chicken house shoveled for them, our girls (and a couple of guys) aren't crazy about being outside in the winter. Their chicken house proper leads right into what we call their solarium which is an 8 x 8' pen covered sides and top with greenhouse plastic. If there's any sun at all it heats up and that's where they like to spend their time. (There's a door from the solarium to the outside.) We use the deep litter method in there, spread hay on top frequently and they peck and scratch away contentedly in the warmth. They seem happy and yours definitely do, too!

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  9. Half way through the week & half way through January! Not that I'm rushing time (just winter). I think most creatures know that they need sunshine & fresh air daily ... Mary-Lou =^..^=

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    1. It really hasn't been a bad winter so far. If we're already half way through January, I think maybe we've escaped the worst of it.

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  10. I've heard of cold turkey but not cold chicken!

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  11. I will not be a chicken in my next life.

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  12. I can remember our chickens like to be outside year round (unless it was terribly windy or snowing hard). I guess their feathers are good insulators and my dad always said it was good for them.

    Great pictures- xo Diana

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    1. It's better for them to have fresh air, rather than lots of ammonia built up. They fluff their feathers up, just like other birds in the winter.

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  13. I do believe I have a pattern somewhere in my files for a chicken sweater if you are interested. hahahaha. Actually, some folks do make them for their chickens. I love the photos. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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    1. It is a strange trend, I've seen chicken sweaters. The truth of the matter is, chickens are dirty, poopy creatures. A sweater wouldn't stay clean long. As well, it compacts their feathers against their bodies and they wouldn't even be able to fluff their feathers, or groom themselves. My roosters would never allow me to wrestle them into sweaters!

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  14. Nice photos! It's good to know they like winter weather a little bit!

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    1. They lead a relatively simple life. Food? Good. Sun? Good. Perch? Good.

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  15. Love photos of your chickens and of their tracks, too. It's like ancient art!

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  16. Your header! I love it. Ah, the life of a cat :)

    For whatever reason, it makes me ridiculously happy to hear about your chickens! HAHA

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    1. I'm glad it makes you happy! (The cat is an entirely different being).

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  17. My youngest chickens seem not to mind the weather as much as the older hens. Or they are just desperate to get away from the roosters... We have had so little sun, my hens would rather hunker in their coop than go outside.

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  18. I was out in the back yard the other day and noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw a hawk perched on the top of the chicken pen. I started yelling as all the chickens ran as fast as they could into the pen. The hawk flew away and I've seen no trace of it since. But Pete and I went out and stretched wire back and forth along the top of the pen. We've never had a problem before, and hopefully won't again!

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