Well it had to come.
The first blizzard of the winter caught the field totally unawares this morning, and in just a few minutes has deposited ( and is depositing) tons of wet, cold,unwelcome snow.
The old hens, led by veteran Stanley all disappeared undercover leaving the new girls and the crackhead whores forlornly hunched at the field borders......already I have endeavoured to bring in the stragglers, especially the bald hens who have no reserves when it comes to being cold AND wet....but faced with this sudden downpour of cold stuff...some of them seem transfixed to the spot
....hens can be so stupid sometimes.
Already I have given the pigs extra feed.......and now I am off to check on the turkeys.....being more dense than a block of concrete, god knows where they will end up in this weather!
Oh gawd. None here yet but windy and wet. My 3 French hens don't seem to mind.
ReplyDeleteWe've got acres of water. It has been storming with very heavy rain all night and the ground is completely waterlogged. The cats have been issued with lifejeckets...
ReplyDeleteSnowing here too, John but not settling at present, except a bit in the valley. Paddy couldn't get home quick enough when it started - such a wimp, that dog!
ReplyDeleteDamn. I suppose that the ruddy trains have stopped runnin' and the motorways are jammed with jacknifed Smart Cars?
ReplyDeleteOur four turtle doves seem to love it though I am a little worried about the partridge, he seems to be frozen to the old pear tree.
"Shit" is right! I may not make it through this Winter.
ReplyDeletem.
the joys of Winter no snow here in my part of Canada.......
ReplyDeleteGill
"The old hens, led by veteran Stanley all disappeared undercover leaving the new girls and the crackhead whores "
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up!
Good luck finding them, John. Hope they are not far.
ReplyDeleteYou can keep it. We're still good here in the colonies, although the weatherman are threatening for Sunday (which usually translates into a warm, sunny day).
ReplyDeleteyes they don't call them bird-brained for nothing.
ReplyDeletePoor baldies. Maybe you could knit them winter woolies?
ReplyDeleteTime for you to light a fire in the fireplace and sip a hot toddy. Still cold drink weather here. Not to rub it in, but it was seventy degrees here yesterday. We're enjoying it while it lasts, too, because no matter how much we wish otherwise, old man winter will eventually come and have his way with us, too.
ReplyDeleteSnow here today too. BLECH.
ReplyDeleteJane x
It's a balmy 10 degrees here! But we know the white stuff is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone is tucked away safe and sound by now!
That is one chilly sight. Poor little crack heads...frozen to the spot.
ReplyDeleteYou do seem to be in a fowl mood this morning. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHens are not the brightest lights. I find ducks to be considerably smarter, which isn't saying much. Hope your snow melts soon! I am starting to worry we won't have a white Christmas. We set a record here yesterday with 50F weather!
ReplyDelete"Crack head whores hunched forlornly" only john gray could say that with a straight face xox
ReplyDeleteOH goodness...I hope you didn't have to spend too much time out there looking for the turkey! Hope we get that white stuff next Saturday :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing the range of intelligence in fowl? Even though we've been back in the city for a year now, every time it starts to rain or snow, I have an immediate "I must go round up the idiot birds" reaction. It was always the same ones. Bird Brains indeed! :)
ReplyDeleteKatie in MN
LOL I know its not funny ewe I am not a fan snow so sorry you have it. I have to agree about the hens. I swear they will sit 2 foot from a warm box full of dry hay, blocked from the wind rain and sleet. Will they go to it, nope they will sit in a freezing icing rain till they literally freeze to death. You just have to wonder about them...
ReplyDeleteWe guessed it was coming when none of the birds came out for the food we'd left out for them. Obviously huddled up a tree somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWhy mess about with your menagerie? You could have been having fun on your field building a snowman to delight your neighbours while singing that Aled Jones Christmas song. "We're walking in the air..."
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm sorry that the weather is causing you trouble and worries on the allotment, I am awarding you with the "Postheader of the Year Award"! It was blunt and true.Say it as it is!
ReplyDeleteSunny but cool here - mildest December in decades. Chrissie house lights are up on the front of the house. Will post a piccie tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteCheers and stay dry and warm.
I don't know John - you cossett those birds, give them everything, let them live in the lap of luxury and then complain that they can't do anything for themselves. I expect by now you have provided electric blankets for tonight.
ReplyDeleteMine are standing in the rain looking through the kitchen porch window. Once in awhile one spots me and tries to fly through glass. The term "bird brain" comes to mind
ReplyDeleteBe careful in that weather. I take my most epic falls in frozen chicken and duck poo.
First time my girls saw snow (and there's a whole new batch of first timers this year) they flew about 50 feet over a 9ft high fence to avoid setting foot on it. Who said chickens don't fly?!
ReplyDeleteThis year (if I get five minutes before the snow) I'm gonna make a timber roost for them with a roof for them to hang around on (like a smoking shelter!)
Snow shovel needed for you John - to the hardware store my man!!
Here are you some patterns for hen jumpers!!
ReplyDeletehttp://littlehenrescue.co.uk/jumpers.aspx
I guess this means that 'you're the brains in the outfit!' :-)
ReplyDeleteooooh looks cold. We've only had a light dusting of snow on the top of the hills here.
ReplyDeleteiris
ReplyDeletedo I get a certificate?
x
Sneaky snow...the chickens and turkeys have you to keep the flock warm and fed and safe! So fortunate they are!
ReplyDeleteNo, John, worldwide fame has to be enough. Let's not get greedy! Hehe!
ReplyDeleteShit indeed. Hens, stupid? I don't believe it.
ReplyDeleteIt's been unbelievably mild in my neck of the woods, too, although i'm guessing the colder weather will arrive very soon. Still, it's funny to see greenish grass in mid-December.
ReplyDeletemegan
With you to shepherd them home...they will be just fine...I have every confidence in you.
ReplyDeleteI love snow!
ReplyDeleteTHere! I've said it! Now, you can all hate me. ;)
Read in this morning's Sydney Morning Herald (also known as 'Granny') that the Slieve League cliffs were hit with a 20.4m wave - the highest wave on record to hit Ireland.
ReplyDeleteOK..your post was right after someones very sentimental post about Christmas and some anniversary lovey dovie post. I snorted all day whenever I checked blog lists and your Title stood out hysterically. I have a blog roll of all sorts of characters..and your blogposts always crack me up. Although your storm looks pretty tame for our neck of the woods, I know the dread of crappy weather. I found if you complain though...it sticks around for way too long...
ReplyDeleteQuickly turned to slush here in North Herts ~ and I almost fell over twice, just on the way to the Common which I thought would be the best bet for dog walking yesterday! I'm a tad paranoid about taking a tumble as I had a prolapsed disc a few years ago ~ can't say that virtually doing the splits did me much good either LOL Living up a hill has it's good points when 'tis pissing down with rain but is definitely not good when its snowing, icy, etc!
ReplyDeleteSharon,
ReplyDeleteSnow cleats can be helpful. I used them religiously all winter long after breaking my leg, and i always have a pair in the car and a pair in the house, just in case.
The ones i like best are called 'stablicers'. 'YaxTrax' work well, too, but they're better when it's all snow that won't be removed.
megan