last year, we moved into our house a few days before thanksgiving. as i recall, within a week or two, it snowed for the first time that winter and we didn’t see our yard again until march, when at last it slowly emerged from under the white blanket. we thought it was a novelty, but i’m starting to see that this is how it is here. just a few miles away, the snow melts repeatedly throughout the winter, but up here in the “hills” (as we have come to learn the locals call where we live) the snow comes early and stays for good.
the chickens seem to handle it quite well, as long as we keep shoveling paths for them. on days when it snows, they remain huddled under the lean-to extension that mr. smith added onto the coop for shelter, until one of us comes out to shovel. as we do it, they follow single file behind us on the narrow path, finding bits of grass that were buried under the snow. i try not to coddle them too much (i only make them oatmeal on the COLDEST days…) but they know how to knock on the back door and demand we bring them warm water and bread. it’s difficult to ignore them when i know that three seasons of the year, there is abundant food for them and they eat constantly throughout the day, and this is how they thought life would always be. but now it’s freezing cold, the days are short, and the nights inside the coop are long and dark. so although i enjoy many aspects of the winter, on behalf of the ladies i’m eager for spring!
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