We should have known the weather man wasn’t lying about the coming polar vortex. Yesterday we saw two birds vying for the right to eat the corn off the squirrel feeder….the woodpecker won this round.
I guess the birds know when to prepare for the coming journey into the deep freeze that is an Iowa winter. My husband and I took our cue from their preparations and also spent time yesterday preparing the chicken coop.
My husband rigged up a heat lamp that the girls could roost under at night and he then fluffed the chipped wood bedding on the floor. I made sure they had plenty of water and feed. 
This morning, when I went to see if they wanted to go out on this bitter day I noticed they had already laid a few eggs. I figured I had better take them along to the house with me.
Once I picked a couple of them up; I found I was already to late…..the below zero temps had already frozen a couple of them.
I have a feeling that I will either be baking or serving scrambled eggs for a meal in the next few days!
I have decided that I will also need to gather eggs a few times during the day tomorrow and the next day as they tell us our highs will be -12º tomorrow. They also assure us this will be record setting. I don’t know about you…but that is one record I really don’t feel the need to break!
I kind of have to laugh when I go into the chicken coop during this type of weather….the girls have a distinct grumble to their “talking”. I don’t think they are too pleased with the cold wind and they aren’t pleased with being locked in either.
I try to tell them it is for their own good but I don’t think they believe me or they don’t understand. Even if they do believe me or understand…they are still pretty miffed about it all.
I have a feeling I am the same way with life. So many times I know things are happening because they are good for me but I really don’t want to believe it…. and I really don’t want to take the time to understand it. It is so much easier to just be a little ticked about it all.
If this week finds you in a situation that you know is for your good but you aren’t happy about it….take a deep breath, step back and give it some time. I find that after a bit I am either okay with it or at least over the “grumbly” phase.
May you also stay warm…wherever you are! And if it is bitter cold…may you have made preparations in advance like those very smart birds.
The past is behind:
learn from it.
The future is ahead:
prepare for it.
The present is here:
live it!
Thomas S. Monson
The Chicken Grandma 
Oh bless you. Our cold isn’t anything like your cold but it is cold enough. Our snow was on the trees but very little on the ground which is fine with me. We are just not set up for your kind of winter. Now we have at times had a real winter but I really was praying hard for this blow to be slight.Taking care of the ‘down the hill’ crew will be near impossible in a big snow. I don’t even want to think about it but of course I don’t have an option but to plan and the plan is to have very little snow. lol
Have you ever thought about growing forage for your girls. My DnL grows pans of greens for her girls and they love it. Just a thought .
Stay by the wood heater…it is the best warmth there is.
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I have grown cabbage for them. I also bag grass in the summer and dry it for them to eat in the winter. What does your DnL grow?
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I’m not sure but maybe wheat or something. it looked like which it may be. I’ll check and let you know.
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Im grumbling along with the girls. I so hoped the weather man was wrong. I will be sharing the Polar Vortex with you. I am going to step back and enjoy the time inside. I hope you all stay cozy warm .
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Unfortunately the weather man was NOT wrong about yesterday! It was so cold my outdoor loving husband only ventured out once. We did not even get mail in a lot of the Midwest states. I did stay in (other than chicken chores) and stay warm!
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It was wheat. She used plastic dish pans and grew them like sprouts. Just water the seed and watch them grow. she stopped when she started having mold and couldn’t figure out if the seed was bad or not enough air flow. ???Said she will start again in the Spring. She works full time so doesn’t have much daylight to do anything.
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I am going to have to try that!
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It’s already 19F here, and I think we may go down to 12. That’s cold for the South! We had chicken corn chowder for supper to warm our innards.
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Your chicken corn chowder sounds perfect for cold weather Anne! And yes it all depends what a person is used to for what is bitter cold or just cold LOL. We had above zero today and no wind and thought it was great!
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It’s a matter of degree, isn’t it?
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Faye,
Happy cold days ahead. We are losing out to summer fast.
I hope the girls don’t grumble too much and then play truant. Glad they are all warm.
I grumble, a lot. Also fret and throw tantrums- more now that I am older( ashamed).
But it is what it is.
Susie
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I still throw tantrums also Susie….just about different things than when I was younger! I had to laugh at the guy on the radio yesterday when he reminded us that it was only 50 days till Spring…now that is hope!
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i hear y’all get BRRRRRRRRRR COLD up there! please do stay warm!!!
my late Mentor would always say, “Take your two steps back.” wise advice 🙂
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This year has been colder than normal….we are still waiting for that global warming stuff around here….
You mentor was wise! My mom always told us the same thing. She seems to be getting smarter the older I get.
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The girls don’t like of the cold? What are they, chickens? Oh wait, they are, aren’t they…. (just kidding). Hope they stay huddled together and safe. The same goes for you and the hubby. This too shall pass (we hope).
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They are so chickens Al!!! In more ways than one. It is funny to see they know to get as close to the heat lamp as they can. They kind of jostle around for position.
Before you know it we will be complaining that it is too hot! I fear we have short memories.
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What a great analogy, Faye! Good reminder for me in my current circumstances. Even without major things going on, I grumble and complain. it does me no good, except to make me more miserable. We too are getting the Polar Vortex. It is already -20 degrees outside on our thermometer. My sister had chickens years ago, but she lived in Paso Robles, CA. They also had goats. She now lives in TX, still gets some cold days, but always better than what we have here. Stay warm and take care of those girls. They can be so fragile, especially in this weather.
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I am surprised my girls are still laying eggs in this weather. I think this Polar thing is overrated!
I hear you on the complaining does no good. I wonder why I still do it?
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I cannot imagine your cold. At 80 plus I have never seen snow close up. The nearest I’ve been is to see it on the alps from a train in France. Keep warm and well, Faye.
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I don’t know if I quite understand how cold it is either. I just know that by the time I get back from doing chicken chores my fingertips are tingling and it seems to take a long time to warm up.
It was above zero today and sunny and felt really nice! I guess it is perspective….
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Whew, I never thought about eggs freezing. It sure is cold.
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I just let the frozen ones thaw in a bowl on the counter and then we eat them the same day. I was kind of surprised to find those frozen ones though. I thought I had gotten out there early enough.
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I understand completely how those chickens feel..:) Stay warm..:)
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I think that is why I like chickens…..they really do remind me of myself and those around me. We are staying warm by the woodstove! Love a warm fire on these cold days.
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Beautiful words to close this post out with Faye! The poor girls get a rude awakening with this cold and snow – I’m with the girls and looking forward to the warmth of Spring which feels like a loooong way off right now.
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I am with you and the girls! I am so ready for Spring. Today we had a taste of it as it was warm enough to start melting some of the snow! It was fun to watch the girls run all over the place like they were let out for recess.
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That’s a great way to describe the girls running all over Faye. I feel like that the first day you can run out of the house without a hat and coat on. I follow a blogger who lives in Richmond. She has a lot of chickens and they had it so cold recently in Virginia, their rooster got frostbite on its comb. You see her happy chickens in the 9th and 10th pictures here: https://reddirtcottage.com/2019/01/31/no-plumbers-crack-a-farmhouse-renovation-update/
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I will go check that one out! Thank you for the head’s up.
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If you go back a few posts Faye, she has some cute pictures of some chickens sharing an recliner with her husband. Kim follows Anne Mehrling and Ruth Soaper as well … all one happy family sometimes, isn’t it?
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I have thought about you and wondered how the storm affected you.I have never gathered a frozen egg! Of course, I loved this post and this was good for me to remember. I feel like I have always known you, when I read your post. thank you and love, Michele
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I think some people just have souls that know each other. If you lived closer I have a feeling we would spend time on a porch together, drinking tea and just watching grass grow.
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that is a lovely thought. love Michele
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