Winter Eggs

After getting home this evening and letting the dogs out to run around in the woods behind the house to investigate the squirrel and rabbit action they've been watching from the windows all day, I went in to say hello to the girls.  I asked them if they wanted to go outside for a while and they resolutely refused doing an abrupt about face after pecking at the snow right outside the door.  Upon investigating what they'd been up to all day, I found two of the girls had left me an egg apiece.  A welcome surprise after a few weeks of next to no egg action.

Most people don't get many eggs in the winter.  I've been very fortunate.  When my young hens started laying it was already very cold, but they continued to all lay an egg a day until just a few weeks ago.  The one week it actually got to 20* for a few days in a row they stopped.  This is quite backwards!  My gals have been very spoiled compared to some chickens this winter though, inside a little barn with plenty of room to roost and play with a heater that is mostly for the rabbits and has never let the temperature drop below 0* {without the heater my critters would have to had endured multiple days and weeks in the -15* and well below range--not something I'm willing to risk with my rabbits}, and they've even had 24 hour lighting in the form of a strand of Christmas lights.  The lighting--although dim--and the heater {which has actually been switched off for several days in a row!} surely helped keep the girls laying.  And a few days ago two gal, I think probably Pansy and Ida, started laying again after perhaps adjusting to the fact that it could be 40* in their chicken world again!

It felt very strange to be running low on eggs after about 3 solid months of egg bounty.  It'll be interesting to see how things go next winter.  I would like to have eggs through the winter and it wouldn't be too hard to keep them in the barn again.  Three laying hens are very manageable and all I really need right now.  As it is I'm giving eggs away.  Has it been the heaters and the lights or just the fact that they're peppy young birds?  Will my chickens slow down as 2 year old hens and not lay despite warmth and lights?  Things I'm curious to find out. Right now these two eggs mean French toast in the morning.

-22

Yukon air drifted into the area Thursday.  Chilly stuff it is...the snow has stopped, and now things are under deep freeze for the next week or so.  There is nothing like that below zero sensation.  I must say I might have even missed its exhilarating feel during my stay in the Southwest.  So, after the first big storm and the entrance of real winter what is life like right now...?

There is an impressive snow pile in front of the house that is a source of fun for Charlie who likes to try and climb it...

The heater is set for 80* in the bunny barn, where until recently it was a balmy 40*.  Now temperatures are hovering around 20* first thing in the morning {calling for water bottle defrosting} then rising up to about 38* during the day {making for unfrozen water bottles!}.

Baby bunnies are pretty frisky and happy....

Ida is just as talkative as ever and likes to hold a conversation filling me in on all the goings on in the barn that I've missed since my last visit...

Nelson likes to stretch out on his pine shavings and bask in the glow of the heater not far from his hutch...

Eggs are starting to show up.  I'm pretty sure Pansy is my egg layer...at least I think she is after finding two eggs in one of her favorite spots.

I can't believe how big the gals have gotten in the last month and am excited about this egg thing.  I'm sure only one of the gals is laying right now--just wait until all three start.

So far there has been an egg every day this week.  Two cracked after being layed behind a crate on the barn floor.  Only two were found in the nest box, but that's okay for starters!

There has been plenty of oatmeal with some of that summer blueberry goodness to start the day.  Just looking at the little blue jar makes me remember the wonderful summertime and smile.

Then of course the colder days are perfect to take some time to garden plan...an Asian garden this year, I can already envision mizuna in my salad--and I'm not even going to start talking about my tomato picks!

Curling up with a blanket {and seed catalog} has been a great way to spend the evenings.  Jewel is not impressed with the current conditions outside {it took a bit of prodding to get her out the door this morning}.  While Charlie and I played outside this was her spot of choice...curled up on the couch.

Sun coming in the windows is pretty popular.  Scout loves this spot in the mornings because of the sun and also because it gives her a great view of all the birds playing in the pine trees nearby.

And Charlie, after playing hard outside, is finding the sun quite nice as well.

I believe winter is being handled well so far....

Squash, Baby Rabbits, and Happy Dogs

Above you see me getting ready to plant some Pipian From Tuxpan.  I think the seeds look pretty neat.  It will be pushing it for these to be ready this fall, but they are going up by the cabin where they are sheltered and can be easily babied.  Even though I'm in the heart of summer I'm starting to picture the forest ablaze in fall splendor.  I have been without a fall for some time, and this one will be grand, but it also means this garden needs to produce and fast.  These squash are a Mexican winter squash I'm curious to try for carving mostly if I can get some...reviews say they don't taste so swell compared to other winter squash varieties, but I have my candy roasters, TN sweet potatoes, and blue hubbards for that, plus some pumpkins.  In two months time I will be outside, maybe in a sweat shirt, harvesting these fall goodies.

This evening the rain that had sprinkled the day stopped and the skies turned blue--perfect for tending to things outside the cabin.  There are two litters right now and we are all getting settled in the rabbit barn.  I think we're pretty happy in there {and busy making plenty of fertilizer for the tomatoes and squash outside the barn}.

Jewel did errands in town with me today and then was my side kick while I made my rounds between plants and rabbits.  The other dogs will find a shady place to relax, but Jewel is my assistant of sorts.  We're all breathing pretty easy here out in the woods living at a slower pace.  I swear I can see the canines smiling. Tending to squash with happy dogs....

There is one dog who is happy to be on the mend and between chasing dragon flies and lying under the deck I think he feels like he's in doggy heaven {and I think enjoying all the attention our doctoring sessions bring}.  Charlie has been prone to a rash around the area of his collar lately.  Before the move after a long collar break I put his collar back on because for months he had looked fine.  Then the rash came back with a vengeance in the area under his chin.  I felt very bad for the fellow.  Most of the poor guy's fur had rubbed off down his chest between the folds of his skin, and it had to have happened very quickly, because one moment he was fine and the next he needed doctoring.  As of now instead of angry red, oozy, and spreading he has gone to happy pink and healing.  For a few days he lounged around, but now he's back to his overgrown bouncy self.  He has found a favorite spot under the deck steps {and has worn a path right through my zinnia patch}.

the spot