The State Of The Flock- January 2021

 Our flock of chickens and ducks is in good shape as we head into 2021. The chickens are currently ages 8 months-5 years. The ducks are ages 3-5 years. The pullets have started laying over the winter and we're getting some wonderfully diverse egg colors. The birds in general all seem very healthy and well. They are coping with the cold winter just fine. It's kind of surprising how many older birds we still have, it will be interesting to see if the oldsters are still laying this spring and summer. 

Eggs in so many colors, white, blues, greens, cream and so many shades of brown. 

Speckles is one of our oldest birds. She's a Speckled Sussex hen.

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We have 9 ducks and here most of them are in a row! One of the young hens, Puppy, or Captain Puppy, seems to be giving the ducks a good talking to. Puppy is a Buff Laced Polish hen, She got her name because she always follows me around and gets underfoot, like a puppy. 

Paths in the snow help the birds make the best of the winter, the chickens don't like walking on pure white snow. 

There's room under the covered run to be out of the coop but still in the dry.

The ducks don't mind snow at all!

The coop and run keep the birds cozy no matter the weather.

Work Before Work- Needing to get the farm work done before the paid work starts each day.

 Some days it's very hard to get the farm chores done before my paid work as a para-educator begins. Our school begins early, I need to be at school by 7:10 which means I aim to leave the house for the 20 minute commute by 6:45.  This time of the year it's still dark when I'm doing those morning farm chores on work days. Add in snow and extreme cold and it can be very, very hard to accomplish. Today was a day that I would have considered calling out for a day off but I knew the other two people who I work with the most in a special education classroom would be out today and getting substitutes in these days of Covid....rare. 

Getting the work done before the other work begins.

So I rushed the chores, which one shouldn't do when it is snowing and there are icy patches under the snow. Yes I hit a patch of ice hidden by the new snow and took a tumble onto one side, ouch. No time to worry about it. Animals were all fed and I almost made it to work on time. Many were late this day due to bad roads. I think we should have had a 2 hour delay but I don't get to decide these things! 

Morning farm chores in the snowy darkness.

I do miss the days of homeschooling, so much more time to care for animals and plants and young helpers too! Still working on finding the right schedules and routines as a full time working outside the home/farm wife and mom. Too bad this day I couldn't stay home with a cozy cat or two!

KitKat

Rufus