Fall Colors!It's been a rainy, windy, miserable day, and to top it off, I didn't get a single egg tonight.
But, I did find this super cool leaf while I was out closing the coops for the night. Neat enough to share.
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But on the plus side, we get to see the sunset more readily. 
Talk about fall colors!
I suppose that evil-eyed glare is what I deserve for bothering her on the perch.
I did get part of the plastic sheeting up on the deck a few days ago when we were having a lot of cold and wind, so it's started at least! What's your winterizing routine up there?That's for sure! It actually was a fairly mild day today, so I probably should have done that while I had the chance, but I was lazy.
I did start too at least. Before when I had a large coop, I didn't do anything to winterize because I had enough birds to keep it all warm. This is my first year using a small coop so I'm adding a covered run outside of it so they can still go outside this winter. I'm also creating something to use as a wind break from the North side so the wind won't go directly against the coop. I also always use the deep litter method to add warmth! I usually stay away from heaters for fire safety reasons (plus the moisture caused frostbite one year). The coop I have is probably insulated better than our house so I'm hoping they stay nice and toasty! What does your winterizing look like?
I also like to bag some leaves to put down occasionally for more bedding / enrichment during the wintertime, and I use some of the plastic cat litter buckets that I have for nest boxes to store dust bathing soil from their favorite summertime spots, since they won't be laying much through the winter anyway.
I adore these birds. Fifi knew to yield to Altair despite the huge size difference, but Altair was fairly gentle for a higher ranking bird. Only a few swats at Fif' when she got her beard too far into Altair's space. It's a zoomed in picture so it's kind of fuzzy, but here they are. Fifi on the left and Altair on the right, obviously. Amazing that Altair is a month older than Fif', isn't it? 
They are doing very well together!Have I mentioned lately that I adore these birds?
Fifi and Altair were foraging together this evening. It was so cute!
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I always worry with such tiny bantams that they'll get trampled or something in the big flock, but they're doing exceptionally well! The only trouble they have had has been very minor; Rigel (another tiny OEGB) flirting and attempting to mate them. Honestly, for a cockerel, he's been fairly gentle about it, so I try not to intervene unless they're protesting a lot. Rigel has also done quite well in the flock and even gotten away with flirting with the older hens a few times without being thunked. The little squirt!
I'll have to bag leaves a bit later, once we've had a decent dry spell so that they dry out nicely, but that's not a requirement for winter prep, so no pressure on that one.
