Keeping Chickens Warm

Even though we live in the South, there is occasionally a stretch of winter days where the weather is unseasonably cold. When it falls to the 20s and below, I turn on the heat lamp in the chicken coop. If you have added backyard chickens to your home site and you live in the South, you may not have given much thought about how to keep chickens warm. After all, it's rarely cold enough to worry about the lower temps. In the spirit of sharing information, I've rounded up some good articles on maintaining chickens in the colder days of winter. I hope you learn something new from them.

Caring for Chickens in Winter

Keeping Chickens Healthy in Cold Weather

Winter Care for Chickens

Happy Roosting during this cold snap!

Love,
TCB

Related Articles:
A Real Organic Egg
Double-Yolk Egg
Strangers in my Backyard

Cookie Time

When you want a cookie, you are willing to do whatever it takes to score the reward.

Hug it out.

Perform tricks for treats.

Happy Hump Day!

Love,
TCB

Double-Yolk Egg

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how large my hens' organic eggs are compared to those I've purchased in the store labeled "large." But sometimes the size changes.

Recently, we added three new hens to the flock. They were only 4 months old when we brought them back to our coop from the breeder, so we knew it would be a few weeks before they could lay eggs. Most hens start laying about 6 months old, and we prefer to purchase them when they are close to that age instead of when they are still in the fragile chick stage of life. This week was the first time any of them laid an egg, and as you can see, it sometimes takes a while for their systems to kick into production mode.

See how little one of the new chicken's eggs is on the left? The one on the right is a little larger, but not nearly as big as the older hens' eggs. That will change in time, I feel sure, as it did with the original hens' production.

Most mornings, I eat eggs for breakfast. I thought I'd crack open both of these this morning since one was so tiny. But no need. See what I found in the larger egg?

Twins!

First time I have ever seen this. Have you?

Happy Day!
TCB

Happy's Shaming Day

Have you heard about the new book (and website) Dog Shaming?

Since we have sooooooo many shameful days around The Country Belle's house (comes with animal territory), I thought I'd share just one mugshot today.

I keep telling her it's gross and she should stop.

I forbid her to kiss me anymore.

Happy day!

Love,
TCB

Flyday Dieting

I'm thankful for Happy.

Even if a diet is in order. She has traded chew bones for celery so she can eat lots on Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Flyday!

Love,
TCB

Halloween Hunting

Hunting Dog. Ready for trick-or-treatin'.

Happy Halloween, y'all!

Love,

TCB

Flyday Relaxation

It's Friday, friends!

Stretch out and relax.

Love,
TCB

Here's a REAL Organic Egg

Here's my organic, home-fed chicken egg on the left, and the grocery store's "organic, vegetarian-fed" chicken egg on the right.

My egg can beat up your egg. Just sayin'.

Is that like birthing a baby with a big head?

Nothing can beat homegrown with a little love.

Love,
TCB

Flyday Fun

Ehh?? What did you say, sonny?

I can't see too well out of these here spectacles.

Happy Flyday Friday to you! It's apparently going to be a little crazy around here today.

TCB

She's a Lover, Not a Fighter

If you love your pets super sweet and super loving, may I suggest you run out and bring home an English golden retriever?

Happy must always be touching someone if she is nearby.

Do you have a shoulder to lean on?

 

Can you give me a hand, mister?

 

Sometimes, the people come to her. She doesn't have to move at all.

 

Sadly, sometimes the people are busy. That's what the monkey is for.

 

Hug your pet.

Love,

TCB

 



What Dogs Do When You're Not Looking

Time for Flyday Photo Fun!

Here's a hint to a particular inhabitant of our home:

Do NOT leave your Fruit-of-the-Looms on the floor. You never know WHAT might happen to them.

Happy Flyday!

TCB

Happy to Wait

Sometimes you have to mark your days with regular highlights, or bright spots of anticipation. It's more than creating your own fun, which we happen to do a lot of in the country. Our pets - and other outside animals - are no exception.

When I open the back door, the chickens come running to the front of the hen yard. They see me as the source of yummy food - you know,  pieces of banana, the cut-off ends of squash and zucchini, and tomatoes (a favorite). Whether I have food or not, they anticipate I will bring something to them.

Happy, our golden retriever, has her own moments of anticipation. When I open the laundry room door, she doesn't see it as a chance for me to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. It's an opportunity to beg for one of her treats stored in a bin there.

Happy has another daily habit. When I go into the kitchen in the evenings to begin cooking supper, she heads to the window that looks out over the driveway and watches for her Dad to come home from work.

It's a nightly ritual she never misses. Boy, is it confusing when Dad comes home late and misses supper. She never runs to the window when it's breakfast or lunchtime, only at the prescribed evening meal.

It appears we humans are not the only ones set on creating a nice, worn rut of activity for ourselves.

It's these little moments that we always look back on with fondness.

Have a happy day.

TCB

Related Posts:
Make Your Own Fun in the Country

It's Flyday!

Here's your Flyday photo of the week.

It's going to be a happy weekend here. A little conversation. A little chowing down. Have the same at your house.

Love,
TCB

Flyday Fun

Every Friday (henceforth known as Flyday), I'll bring a silly photo to you, courtesy of something in our lives. Here's to the first Flyday photo session....

Side view....

Happy weekend!
TCB

Best Friends

Best Friends

Have a happy day. Call or see your best friend!

Love,

TCB

A Present for Me

Over the holiday weekend, our kitty cat, Miss Pitty Pat, brought me a present. I was minding my own business, taking a break on the front porch wicker chair when she decided it was the right time to present it.

Hmmmmmmmmm..........What kind of presents do Pitty Pats bring? (Warning to City Girls: Look away now if you get squeamish easily).

Let me tell you, she just plopped it right down at my feet.


I think I was supposed to show my total pleasure, but I wasn't sure how I should do it. At first, I was a little mortified because as a mother, my first thought was of the poor baby bunny's mother. What was she thinking?

Miss Pitty Pat pretended to show indifference, but I could tell she was proud to bring it to me. So I petted her head and said, "What a great hunter you are! Thank you!"

Then I thought about where I had left the shovel so I could kindly take it away.

After a full minute ticked by, and I didn't pounce upon the little bunny and eat it (well, of course not!), Miss Pitty Pat snatched it back up and ran off with it.

I"d like to say that was the end of the story, but later that night, under cover of darkness, I found her doing what all country cats do with their prize hunts.

I'll leave out the details. Let's just say she wasn't interested in dry kitty food for supper that night.

Oh, my. And I thought mothers developed a tough mind and stomach as a result of what their little boys put them through. Apparently, the pets help out, too.

Happy short week to you!

TCB

More Lessons Learned from Pets

Here's Day 2 of some of the instructions I've received from my number one furry friend just by watching her go about her daily business. If you missed Day 1, here's a link to Lessons Learned from Pets.

Get dressed up sometimes. It will make you feel happy, just because.

Let it all hang out sometimes. (See note above).

When the work (or play) is done, for goodness' sake, take a rest.

We're having a happy rainy day down South. Hope you are having a happy one, too.

TCB

Lessons Learned from Pets

I continuously learn lessons from the animals in my yard and in my house. We treat them like family, and they love us in return (or at least love the food we provide).

Here are a few truths from our pets' perspectives:

Take a break and play several times a day.

Explore and experience fun within reason.

If a friend takes your favorite spot, scoot over a little.

She'll eventually share with you when she realizes it's your favorite spot.

Look outside the box for a little treat every now and then.

I'll send a few more lessons your way on Thursday's post.

Have a terrific Tuesday!
Love,
TCB

Related posts:

What I've Learned from my Pets

Household Critters

Earlier this week, I wrote about some of the country critters around these parts. There are several household pets that act like critters, too. What makes a critter? It's all about the mischief involved.

And sometimes it's just pure love. This critter has to be touching someone most of the time.

The critter in the laundry basket is sitting on my clean clothes!! Argh!

"Bad doggie!" (Kitty's words, not mine).

Ever heard the saying, "Don't wake the sleeping giant?"

"I give up. Chasing kitties takes up too much energy..."

"...and too much nap time."

Have a happy day with your critters.
Love,
TCB

Related posts:
Strangers in the Night
Pet Photos
What I've Learned from Pets

Country Critters

We've had some beautiful days recently by the river, with temps in the mid-70s. Perfect March weather.

My son and I packed up some vegetables and headed to our neighbors' pasture to feed the goats. He has been hankering for one or two of his own, but I don't think Mr. Country Belle wants to spend his weekend afternoons putting up pasture fencing. So we're doing the next best thing.

The animals always come running as soon as my son makes his nanny goat noises. (Next time I'll video that for you).

The Big Hoss always gets fed first. You don't feed him, NO ONE else gets by.

Spring babies on the farm! These are siblings.

Awwwww......

It is so much fun to see the babies grow while I see my baby grow.

Have a happy day!
TCB

Related stories:
What I've Learned from my Pets
Life in the Country