Wednesday 7 January 2009

Still cold

Yesterday the temperature stayed below freezing all day. The geese didn't mind too much, once I had removed the ice from their paddling pools they all got in for a bath! I know they have a layer of fat and really thick, downy feathers but their legs are just thin and scaly, you would think they would be really cold. I have thought about making leg warmers for them, but I just don't know what colours they would like and I would hate them to be in an unfashionable colour!

Yesterday just one of the chickens came up to the house in the morning, and left a little trail of chicken footprints in the snow. She was around the house for ages before the others joined her. They all sit under the lounge window in a flower bed. When I went down the garden at 5pm to lock them away, she was still sitting all on her own, poor little thing. I carried her down and put her in with the others.
I have been putting the geese in the coup at night lately as well. Since the fox attack they haven't been sleeping in their lovely, warm, straw filled section of the coup, but have been sleeping in the open up near the house. There has also been some sort of animal burrowing around by the chicken shed door, we are hoping that it a hedgehog and nothing rodenty. By locking the geese in as well I am hoping that their noise will put off any intruders.

7 comments:

dND said...

Is it normal for that chick to be on her own? If not I'd keep a special eye on her. These days I go into near panic mode when any of the animals appear to do something out of the normal.

Sick chick's been giving me a little concern again, lagging behind the others but then she catches up and seems normal but I'm checking her every time I'm near the chickens.

I do hope they all get over the trauma of the fox attack, it must have been so frightening for them.

Deborah

Debra in France said...

Hi Deborah, this chicken is one of the new ones, and they were all up at the house together again today, but just now when I went to put them all in, she was by the house on her own all the others had gone down to the coup. I will definately keep an eye on her. One of our remaining old bantams (our oldest chicken now) has been sleeping about 15 feet up in a pine tree! I was really pleased to be able to get her in the warm coup with all the others this evening. Debra x

French Nanny said...

Make a colour chart of all the colours you have for the leg warmers. Make each section quite big. Cover the chart in the most favouritest food for geese ever known. Check at frequent intervals. The first colour to be completely cleared by pecking is the colour for the first set of leg warmers!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Hopefully yer wee chick is just slow because of the cold and youth. Knit her a wee scarf! happy New Year Debs.

Maggie May said...

Poor little mites......they must be terrified of the fox. Glad they are all being locked away from him each night.
I hate this weather....... surely it has to get warmer soon.

Debra in France said...

Hi Penny, excellent idea! The sad thing is, I am actually seriously wondering if they would wear them!!

Hi MOB, she is a strange chicken, I went to let them all out this morning and she ran straight up to the house while the others stayed in the coup. Mind you, for making all that effort she gets special treats - more cat food!

Hi Maggie May, it was -6.5 when I got up this morning. The drinking vessels for the chickens were frozen solid, 5cm of solid ice. I don't mind nice frosty morning but this is too cold, and it is breezy this morning as well. Fingers crossed for a thaw.

I LOVE FRANCE said...

HI DEBRA
wE WERE OVER IN FRANCE LAST YEAR THREE TIMES .
WE ARE STILL BUYING THE BASICS FOR THE HOUSE TO GET BY.
ITS LIKE ONE STEP UP FROM CAMPING BUT YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET MORE DONE THIS YEAR IF BUDGET ALLOWS. ALTHOUGH I DONT THINK THERE WILL BE ANY GLITTERY TOILET SEATS THERE LOL
ANDREA