Illinois...

[Justso]

So how are all the spring hatches dealing with their 1st snow? Mine are wimps as usual. I left the run door open but none ventured outside for over 48 hrs. (1-2 birds stepped onto the patio when I cleaned out the coop but they went right back inside their covered run & coop.) Mine are also trying to sun themselves in whatever rays they can get. Today, I saw several hawks soaring above, so it's not all bad that they decide to stay inside.

Mine: ALL WHIMPS!!!!

 

[Faraday40]

Our roo came out for a little bit but didn't like the feel of the snow. He jumped up onto a swing & also walked only on the areas I cleared of snow.






The girls were not so adventurous. I tried to get them outside by offering fresh veggies. A few stuck their heads out to grab a treat & bring it inside.


My youngest pullets (Trouble & Bubbles) took advantage of the sunny roost. They're quite smart.

 

[Faraday40]

This morning my roo walked out into the snow (I encouraged him by shaking the treat bucket.)
................... then he turned around & went back inside the run.



Late in the afternoon when it was warmer, I was able to get the flock outside. My smart pair took a short cut & simply flew over all the white stuff & landed in the tree next to me.


These two crack me up.

 

[cavemanrich]

When I see these pix, first thing to come to my mind is the 1988 movie TWINS Vincent (Danny DeVito) and Julius (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

 

[Faraday40]

When I see these pix, first thing to come to my mind is the 1988 movie TWINS Vincent (Danny DeVito) and Julius (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Yes. I can see it now too.
These BFFs do everything together. I have about 10 shots in a row like the 3 above - where they're mirroring ea other. If I pick one up, the other will always follow & often end up landing on my shoulder or head.

 

[chickendreams24]

The last few days have been quite interesting around here with the flock. We have been having a hard time getting them to go to bed. Night before last we had to carry half the flock to bed because in the sun they had meandered over to the garage across the yard. Well thought out the day the sun melted a rather large slushy puddle in between the two buildings not to mention there was still a rather sizeable drift between them too. Well I went out with treats trying to lure them from the garage to follow me on the shoveled path back to the run. Do you think they would follow? Of course not. Everyone of them went straight into the slushy puddle and decided to go no further. So we had to do a combination of herding and carrying to get them to bed and even then it was difficult and not without protest. Even some of our less than friendly girls(our wyandottes) were accepting of being carried thank goodness. And I did have to save a couple of the girls from the deep snow drift when they tried to follow me by taking a short cut through the drift. Pebbles one of our four EE and probably our favorite EE also our most friendly jumped on my back when I was trying to get them to go to the run. She is the pullet we had that had a soft-shelled egg break inside her so I'm glad that she knows Mommy mean care and safety. She's definitely a Mommy's girl and when I hold her on my arm she rests her head on my shoulder like she's giving me a hug. She's such a sweetie. We haven't figured out for sure what color egg she is laying. We are for sure getting an olive green, a light blue almost white, a brighter blue green(depending on the light its seen in), and may be getting a pink, but I think I have seen a second green color that's not olive, which makes me wonder who is laying the pink if I'm right about the rest of the colors.

Of all our birds the ones that seem to be doing the best with the cold I would say are our EEs, or at least best with the snow. Also our silkies have been doing quite well in the weather we have been having. Although I do make sure to bring them in before the chill hits and we are currently heating the sun porch during the day which keeps it from getting too cold during the night. The heater only runs from just before sun down to bed check as we don't want to risk a fire.

The wyandottes have been doing okay although we did have to corner and catch a girl that was completely panicked and so cold that she layed down in the middle of the thawed wet part of the yard trying to warm her feet, Paisley, poor baby. We've been checking feet and keeping a close eye on them all but we've been lucky. Since last Friday I think we have only had two nights that their water froze solid in their run. So I'm thinking the insulation has been a success.

 

[Justso]

A friend snapped this picture from the news, I missed the story but she said it was someone in England:

Sweater Vests for chickens! Wish I had this much time!

 

[ChicagoClucker]

A friend snapped this picture from the news, I missed the story but she said it was someone in England:

Sweater Vests for chickens! Wish I had this much time!

That rooster looks hysterical. He needs a gold chain amongst all that chest hair! Glad I took a break from cooking and jumped on. LOL

 

[NotAFarm]

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Illinois peeps!

 

[daskhan]

Happy thanks giving to all my Illinois neighbors