Last night we had a blizzard.  I was often woken during the night hearing the hail and sleet hit our skylight.  We had it all; snow, rain, high winds, sleet and hail.  We awoke to a winter wonderland and a snow day for the kids.  I went out today at 7:15am.  I shoveled my way to the coop.  The chickens were very quiet.  For a moment, the crazy thought that they might all be dead danced through my mind.  No, they probably had a rough night too!

With neatly shoveled pathways, I brought their morning fresh water and scratch.  I opened the door to the coop and no one came out.  Usually, they can’t wait.  I tried sweet talking them.  Still, I could see them poking their heads out but they did not want to come out.  I went back to the garage and grabbed some extra scratch.  I purposefully threw some into the run while the chickens observed.  They didn’t move from the coop.  Finally, I went to the end of the coop where there is no plastic tarp.  It was covered in a blanket of snow.  Maybe this is what the chickens feared.  After all, they are snow blind.

I gently brushed off the snow, did some more sweet talking and out Feathers came.  For one of my littlest girls, she sure does love to say good morning.  Usually, I expect the larger breeds or the rooster, Tilly, Oyster Cracker, Sunshine or Chocolate to come racing out.  Funny, I think they were too chicken!  After, brave Feathers gave everyone the okay, they all came running out to begin their morning routine.  Today, they were not happy about the snow, nor was I. But I know that they still must be happy overall.   I had a warm egg waiting in the box for me this morning.