Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Fraidy Chickens...

You've heard of "fraidy cats" I'm sure.  Ever heard of "fraidy chickens"?

Our chickens have been sequestered in their shed for waaaaaay too long now.  It's a self-imposed sequestration, and it needs to stop.  When the sun shines and it's not too cold, I do everything I can think of to get them outside...

I prop the shed door wide open...I put a couple of their feed tubs just outside the door to entice them...I toss ears of corn or veggie scraps (thanks Allen and Rosanne!) around for them to snack on...all to little or no avail.  Sigh...

This morning I was cleaning out the hutch calves' feed boxes, and I heard the chickens chattering as they watched me, safe under their porch.  I tossed the contents of my bucket over the fence, and they got quite excited!  But did they come running?  Of course not.

They tiptoed slowly along the path I've worn in the snow...


"Is it safe?"

"It's cold!"

"But I really want some of that feed and those alfalfa crumbs!"

(wasteful calves!  That's what happens when they're being weaned.  They don't clean everything up at first.)


A few of them made it to the fence, and happily feasted away.  It seemed like they were thrilled for the adventure...and for a change in their winter diet...


(If you click on the picture above, you'll be able to see another line of chickens bravely making their way along the path towards the feast.)


Temps have been rising here, and the snow is slowly shrinking away.  It's actually raining right now, with the temperature hovering right around freezing.  The rest of the week is to be warm, and we'll be looking at mud replacing the snow before long.

Spring must be on the way!

19 comments:

  1. I was wondering about the chickens the other day. Hope they can get out soon!

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  2. That is too funny how they line up in a row like that... Maybe they are waiting for you to roll out a a little red carpet for them. At least they came out and will probably have a lot to say to those who stayed behind.
    Hugs,
    JB

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  3. If my chickens don't come out of their coop, they don't get fed. I'm a harsh taskmaster. :) Cute images of your fraidy chickens Alica. xo

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  4. oh, they're too cute, tiptoeing out into the white, cold world. :)

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  5. I love the second line of chickens coming out! I know some people who act like this when it's snowy or rainy or anything other than sunny! : )

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  6. They are fed up with winter with the rest of us. I have to shovel the snow away to get my chickens to come out too but they go nuts over the snow when it comes in on my boots. They attack my feet to peck at the snow but they won't go out and step in it.

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  7. When looking upon all this snow I see MUD in the happening!! Come ON WARMTH and mud so everyone can get to dry!!!

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  8. I love chickens...can't wait till mine arrive! Great to see them venturing out into the snow..

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  9. A very entertaining post. I love the first photo. We are baking in the sun over here on the other side. I would be happy to send some over. It's too hot to be outside today!

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  10. haha silly chickens. They look so pretty though. I do hope you get some warm temps to melt the snow. But not too fast.

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  11. Oh my goodness reminds me of our girls on the farm in the winter and yup we called them fraidy chickens to lol that was way back in the 60s and 70s lol feels like it was yesterday . Cute post and photos . It has been warming up here to and snow has been melting rain her for us tomorrow as well . Have a good week !

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  12. Sillly chickens. We hit mud yesterday with tons of melting and rain and then a blizzard in the forecast. Just thought you might like to know what's headed your way.

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  13. Those girls are smart! They now it is too cold to be outside!!!

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  14. Oh, Alica, I had to laugh so hard... mine are the same way. They have been able to get out, finally, this week, and I and they were so glad. The picture of the girls in front eating and the girls in back tip-toeing made me laugh out loud!

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  15. Too funny! I'm glad they finally tiptoed their way out into the snow. :)

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  16. Oh Alica I am sorry but I have not stopped laughing since I seen this:) Hug B

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  17. Loved this ~ we have been having similar chicken chatter about this at our farm ... lol

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  18. How funny to see them cautiously walking in a row...

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  19. I make a trail of straw for ous to walk over the snow

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