Despite a warmer start to the month, right now it is looking like a real December in the mountains of Pennsylvania - a world of white! The 15 or so inches that we got this week is more than we had all last season, so maybe this will be a proper winter (despite global warming/weirdness).
On Wednesday when the snow started, the three big chickens sought shelter under the edge of our shed as they often do when it is raining. However, as the snow accumulated, the three ladies probably realized that they were stuck (not really, but they HATE the snow on their feet) and began to get a bit worried as the afternoon wore on. At about 5", I went out and shoveled a path for them back to the coop, and along with words of cheery encouragement, they made it back home safely (a distance of 8 feet). The smaller two bantams are housed in an Eglu that now looks like an igloo, so I assume they are keeping pretty warm. We have many rabbits that roam the yard, but there is one in particular that lives under our deck and is rather friendly. After we shoveled some paths for the dogs yesterday, the poor thing came out and looked rather confused at all of the white (this is her first winter). She hopped along the dog paths, actually came right up to the back door, then ducked back down under the deck through one of several openings that we helped to uncover. I left her with offerings of bird seed, rabbit food, and hay (Flora, the Angora, can share her rations with her wild outdoor relative). This morning there was rabbit poop all over the deck and more paths made, so I think as long as the snow is around, she is officially a deck rabbit.
Take care,
Katie
If you happen to be looking for a last minute holiday gift, I have a couple of warm woolen knits left in my Etsy shop, including this older toddler organic Merino wool bonnet in two shades of purple, a chunky wool infinity cowl in a beautiful Autumn shade called "fox", and a feminine lightweight alpaca and Merino wool bandanna style small shawl. They are all ready to ship and are light enough to go first class and arrive at a US destination before Christmas.