Hen on Ice

I have been distracted lately.  My job situation changed just as I thought it was settling.  Last night I joined friends to see Inside Job, the documentary about the 2008 financial meltdown.  It's quite upsetting.  We stopped at a local bar to discuss the film, and an actual barroom brawl broke out!

So when I got home last night, all I wanted to do was go to bed.  I stopped in the barn to make sure the ducks had come in, closed the hatch door, and the dogs and I retired.

Imagine my shame this morning when Ulani announced there was a chicken outside.

This morning's clear blue sky should be some indication of how cold it was.  And there was a light covering of snow on everything.  And poor Ms. Wyandotte spent the night outside.

After putting Ulani safely indoors, I raced back and scooped up the chilly hen.  She squawked at first, but as soon as I held her tight to my jacket she snuggled in.  I brought her into the barn and put her in a nest box.  A little cracked corn and she seemed much happier.

You can see all the ice crystals on her feathers.  (Her back is a little bare from the roosters mating her, but on the right you see the ice.)

Generally speaking, the chickens do not like to go outside when there's snow on the ground.  The ducks, however, have been eager to get out and muck around.  So for the past couple of weeks they've been going out alone.  I know that hens have not been out, because I see all the footprints.

But I will be much more vigilant about checking to see that everyone is indoors from now on.  I guess it's another sign of spring!