More Babies

This morning as I headed out for morning feeding chores it was a nice chilly 20F. I was planning in my mind what I was going to give as treats along with the usual feed to the animals. Then my planning was interrupted by the cry of baby chicks. ANOTHER hen had hid her eggs. She picked this cold morning to bring 8 baby chicks out for breakfast. Feeding was put on hold while I tried to figure out where to put her and the chicks. All the nice warm houses we keep momma hens and chicks in already have momma hens and chicks in them. None of them were planned either! I grabbed a rabbit cage and set it under a heat lamp inside a roosting house. That will do for a couple of days till I can move hens and chicks around and give them their own little house and yard  to scratch in. This is the 4th hen to hatch chicks this month. Crazy winter weather has the animals thinking its spring. This weekend is suppose to bring back high 60 weather again so no telling who will have babies next. I even have daffodils budding in the flower beds next to the house. Surely winter will come to its senses and bring back the cold weather and keep it for awhile. I did finally get the feeding done though I waited till mid morning to water as the waterhose was frozen. I forgot to drain it. Everyone had water to drink till then as I broke the ice off for them. I chopped up collards for the goats as a treat and they ate like pigs. Gave the rabbits apple slices, chickens, turkey, duck, and geese got chopped up spinach. Dogs got a rawhide bone to chew on. I feel sorry for them being out in the cold even with warm beds so I give them a treat to make me feel better. Haven't let the fire in the stove go out all week. Have 2 kettles keeping water nice and hot on the stove top so when I come in I can make a cuppa tea and sit by the fire for a few minutes. Fill the stove and bank the fire before heading to bed each night so when I get up the house is still nice and warm and I just need to throw on a stick of wood to keep it going. I just love winter (when its actually winter temps) and look forward to a couple weeks from now for a extend period of winter temps the local weatherman has promised. I have a huge pot of rice,oats, and barley simmering on the stove to give the chickens as a treat in the morning. Will warm their tummies and hopefully there will be no new babies to greet me. Have a very blessed night everyone!

 This is a picture of my granddaughter Hope. She was here with her mom visiting for a few days when I came back from the mountains. Had so much fun with her at the mall even though she didn't like my taste in clothes.