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This Winter's First Snowstorm
The Willamette Valley of Oregon up into Washington state aren't exactly snow zones (the mountains to either side of us, sure… but the valleys where most people live? NO.) On average, we get 1 to 2 inches once or twice a year. However, sometimes we have a rare REAL snowstorm, and from Thursday thru Saturday we're having one of those! 5-6 inches so far and several more inches to begin falling in about 20 minutes.
Check it out!
First up, my backyard as seen from my deck. I have bird feeders everywhere. The little douglas fir right in front of the camera is a Yule tree still in a pot that will get planted at the far back of the property next to the bigger douglas firs later. In the middle right of the photo you can just make out the chicken coop and pen.
Next up, me checking on the chickens. They really never experienced snow before, so we shoveled a little of their pen out. They also have a heating pad in their coop, and periodically go inside to stand on it to thaw out their feet. The older hens are molting, so most of them are looking a little ragged these days. (Also, I need new gloves to match my new winter coat…)
I can't take bright light, hence the shades.
The red hen here is another of our newer ones, and her name is Rue. She's kind of shy, but she gets along okay with the older white leghorn-rhodie mixes (white) who are small but kind of bitchy as chickens go. There you can see their dust bath tire (we put diatomaceous earth inside and they go in and roll around in it, thus killing any fleas– plus, its good for them to eat.
Our prize chickens at the moment are these two gals. Little Dove (white) and Little Hawk (dark.) Despite their feathered feet and high adaptability to the cold (they were bred for very cold climes) they still minced their way through the fluffy cold white stuff. These are a breed called “Brahma” — and they are very gentle, friendly and curious. They eat out of our hands, will crawl into our laps, and find cats to be fascinating creatures. I love their super fluffy butts and patterned feathers!
A close up of my babies! They're REALLY BIG hens– they just dwarf the standard sized leghorn hens.
More snow to fall soon, but we get it so seldom I really appreciate it rather than revile it. Another view of the area from our Japanese ceder tree, which has tripled its size in the last 2.5 years.
MERRY WINTER EVERYONE!
Source: http://lucretiasheart.livejournal.com/1011972.html
