Clucker Clocks - Times Changing

We had the time change two weekends ago and although I don’t want to get into the debate on how awful it is, how beneficial, etc., I just have to say that it takes me a few weeks to get back on track. I have a constant feeling of running behind, not having enough time to get everything accomplished and grumbling about the fact that when I go to the barn to do my morning check and let the birds out – it’s pitch black again.

The animals don’t seem to mind the time change from the fact that it means that they get fed a full hour earlier. Anytime any change involves getting food earlier, they’re more than willing to accommodate it.

It is more difficult for me with the chickens and the time change because it means that daily eggs are not laid until later, the birds don’t want to go into the coop until it’s dark or, if I want to put them up before heading to evening events, having to have a chicken round up and coerce them into the coop, protesting and squawking like children being told that they have to go to bed while it’s still light outside.
All that being said, I do like when the weather turns warmer and I can stay outside until later with sunlight. There’s something to be said about doing farm chores in either the dark or with light – especially when collecting eggs from the dark nesting boxes. I can’t count the number of times I’ve reached into a box in the dark and ended up with a hand in chicken poo instead of the warm/cool hardness of a freshly laid egg. 

I tend to work more on farm projects when the time springs forward and find myself out way beyond when I usually retire for the night – thinking I can fit “one more thing” in. As of late, however, it’s been too cold to want to stay outside for very long at all. I get frustrated with myself that I grumble so much at this time of year. While the animals don’t seem to mind the time change – this mama does. Honestly, it’s not even the “springing forward” time change either, it happens when “falling back” too. I like to think that I’m a person who rolls with anything, but I guess I’m a creature of habit and just like things to stay as usual as possible. 

A True Mama C!

We’ve got chicks everywhere! 6 week olds in the larger brooder, one week olds in the smaller brooder, a baby chick (or possibly two) about ready to hatch in the small coop outside with the silkie/cochins and in one more week or so – more day-old chicks arriving from the hatchery! I’ve gotten quite used to the peeping noises and trills that newborn chicks make and can tell pretty quickly when everyone is happy and well taken care of.

The other evening, however, I came home from work to feed all the dogs and cats in the house and then went down to the big coop to check water and food and collect eggs. Once those tasks were finished, I proceeded back to the house to go down to the basement to check on the two brooder boxes. The month old chicks were chirping loudly; protesting that their waterer was completely empty and they had managed to sling most, if not all, of their chick feed crumbles about the floor of the brooder. The other brooder box, made from a Sterilite large plastic container with the top cut out, was silent and DARK! Oh my gosh! Dark!

Fearing the absolute worse, I walked over to the dark brooder and timidly listened for some sort of sound before I turned on the overhead light, looked inside, and witnessed what I was afraid would be deceased birds. Thankfully, the little ones had followed instinct and huddled closely together to keep warm while the “outage” was happening.

The culprit of the darkness was nothing more than a burned out heat light bulb and thankfully I had spares (a result of an impulse purchase last year). Once the light was restored, the chicks huddled beneath the red glow for a few minutes and then began to wander about their brooder again – kicking bedding up, scratching at feed and doing what happy little chicks do.

I then took care of my “teenager” chicks (the one month olds) and peace was restored amongst the flock again.

It's been an interesting year so far with this year’s additions. First there was bad luck in not having any chicks develop in eggs in the incubator after trying with 3 separate clutches. Then, there was the good luck in getting 6 additional chicks from the box farm store (something I swore I would never do, but had a weak moment this year) and then finding out that my silkie/cochins were being broody for a developing egg (or two). Then, back to bad luck in having a chick that I purchased from the 4H sale die and then back to good luck that the remaining birds are alive, well, and thriving. 

If there is one lesson that I have learned with farming it is that there is always balance in everything and that if you don’t have a steady sense of patience – you’ll never make it. I had allowed myself to fall into a “get it done and get it done now” and that just doesn’t fly on the farm. I’m grateful for that – it’s more of who I am. I'm a happy Mama Clucker when my birds are well cared for and I do allow myself some pride in knowing that they are doing well because I have put the effort in to make sure that they are well fed, cared for and peaceful.