In the Beak Midwinter

I play the flute in an area community band and there is a music piece that occasionally makes the repertoire called “In the Bleak Midwinter”. It’s a very moving, melancholy piece and reflects the feeling of icy, bleak winter days. That moment after the lights from the holidays fade and everything is replaced with white, brown and barren views.

As of late, my actions at the farm have felt a lot like that piece. It takes about 5 minutes to get prepared to go out to the coop because I never know what I’m going to find that will cause a 5 minute task to become over 30 minutes. Waterers that need refilled (birds drink a lot in the extreme cold weather), birds that need extra tending, collecting eggs that sometimes are frozen and cracked and working with birds that are just as frustrated because they can’t get out in the yard and search for tidbits amongst the dry grass. It’s a definite mind game.

Flock Block

To help with bird boredom, I purchased a “flock block” for my birds so that they’ve got something to peck at when they’re coop bound. A flock block is a compressed block of seeds that causes the birds to have to work to get at the treats. Hopefully this block will stop some of the overbreeding the roosters have been doing and will just allow them to have something to work for while they’re waiting for the warmer weather to come. Believe it or not, birds actually do get bored and need mental challenges! So much for a bird brain, right? 

I have lost two birds already this year; an olive egger hen and a lavender rooster and are just praying that these are the only ones.  Though my realistic mind says that there might be others if the weather continues the way that it has been. Sadly, I had to put the rooster down on my own and that was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do since I’ve been at the farm. Anyone who says it’s easy to take a life probably has no heart. I’m not saying that I’m the most compassionate person, but to suddenly realize that you’re the one that took the light from a living thing is something to never be taken lightly. I question my ability to be a good executioner – whether I did it as quickly and effectively as I could. When the bird opens its eyes to look at you before it gives up its spirit – that’s tough.

All is not bleak though in my own little “Beak Winter”. I’ve started to collect eggs from my flock to put into the incubator in the next week or so to hopefully add some chicks to the flock which I have lost and also to increase the number of egg layers I have. It’s amazing how many eggs I need. Eggs for the Brew Master who gives me the grain, eggs for the owner of the brewery, eggs for the biscuits, eggs to sell and eggs to give to people as gifts. Not to mention, I’m ready for the cute factor in having baby chicks. There’s something so warming about having babies in the brooder, nice and toasty warm and fluffy as the winds blow outside and the snow flies. It’s what gives me hope when all seems dead and barren.

As I’ve spoken about so many times since moving to the Farm, I know that I’m reminded constantly to just be patient and this is just another test. If I can make it through this Beak Midwinter, I know that I’ll be rewarded soon with blooming trees, a new garden, more animals and better understanding of what works and what needs reworking. I just have to learn to allow what’s going to happen to happen and accept it no matter what.