Sweet chicks.
Love at first sight. If one were to use the modified meat chicken’s theory for sexing this would be a female on the left and a male on the right. Do you see the longer feathers on the wings of the female? But the chickens that follow this theory were genetically created by Tyson (I think it was Tyson – I need to check) for easier feather sexing. And these are a mixed bag of heritage chickens so we will have to see. Though I quite like the idea of sexing using the feathers. 
The sun was out so I took the gates down and immediately Tima took the dogs for a walk.
And Tane followed along. Like a good wee piggie. No running off down the lane. These pigs run to fat so they need a lot of exercise.
But they were all slipping and sliding on the ice. It was treacherous yesterday. A little melt then a lot of freeze. then last night was terribly cold. Awful. Today will be more of the same but slowly rising then SOON it will warm up. Or I am hunting down that weather man.
Sheila did not even get out of bed yesterday except to eat. She has had Quite Enough of this winter.
Of course some animals do not care at all. They find the sun and play there. Cats are a glass half full kind of animal.
Good morning. Others of us are observers.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Love your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
57 responses to “ice and chicks”
It looks beautiful and the sunshine makes it look warm… almost 😉
I wonder if the weatherman has an armoured car and bodyguards – surprised somebody hasn’t popped him/her off long ago. Good to see the sun is at least making an effort though. Laura
We had more snow, sleet and freezing rain yesterday and the place is a frozen mess this morning! I am hoping that is the last of it though. I am so behind in starting seeds in the Green House, and I haven’t seen my veggie garden in months as it is buried under snow! Like you I so need the warmth right now!
Your chicks are so cute!
It’s true. The colors are so bright and warm that it looks warm. I don’t know anything about sexing chickens. But I had to guess based on facial expression I would also say left is female, right is male. Funny. They are so cute.
We watched a show called “Dirty Jobs” that had an segment on “Sexing Chickens.” I won’t go into detail, but the lesson I learned was to gently squeeze the poop out before going in to look for balls. ahem. I’m horrible at sexing chickens, so I wait until they look like a cockerel or make that cockerel sound. Then, it’s a batch of Cock Stock.
That is how I do it too, I usually look for those long tail feathers, they come through pretty early.
That last chook shot is especially gorgeous! I do love the three amigos taking off for their morning trot. Ton has a thought bubble over his head. I just need to put my glasses on so I can read it.
sheila is not ill is she? love the colour of the chicken feathers Have a great day Miss C
Sheila hates the cold, which is weird as she is such big pig – as son as the freeze releases the new huts from the ice I will shift her into one of those, and with the sun she will be toasty warm again.. c
thats ok then… xxxx
Love the chicks. So glad they came through the crash! And it looks like a good thing your pigs have their winter coats. I’m ready for warm weather myself!
I love Tima taking the boys for a walk! She looks so furry and cosy…
My mother could tell by the shape of the eyes.
wow.. she must have studied a lot of chicks, now I am going to go back and check out those eyes.
Beautiful chicken pictures! Ice – yuck!
Update on Gracie: She ate like she was starving last night. We got 3 servings of chicken/rice/chicken water down her last night, heaping tablespoon of pumpkin plus some prescribed biscuits for tummy soothing and she cleaned up after our terrier Peggy. Peggy is a messy eater and leaves crumbs everywhere!
This morning however, back to only wanting chicken water and a biscuit or two. They increased her pain meds to 3 a day, so we are hoping that she will be more comfortable and eat more with the change.
Very good that she ate though, and then cleaned up after peggy.. thank you for the update.. every little bit will help.. much love.. c
Chicken water doesn’t sound very nice! Lovely, lovely pictures – I have saved a couple for haiga inspiration. Will credit you, of course. It’s marginally warmer today, and forecast better for the weekend. I hope you get some of that, too.
A couple of rather feeble haiga on my blog: https://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/suspicion/ I just loved those pictures.
A hint for the chick heater—I put a shoe box over the top of the entire thing. Kept the chick poo off the top and sides. They can still hop off and on, but it keeps you from having to scrape concrete chicken poo off at the end.
Carla you are a star! I shall do that immediately.. good tip.. c
I know just how Sheila feels.
We keep a selection of Marran hens; their chicks have a spot on their head if male, no spot if female. Maybe this rule applies to some other species too. Any spots on the Farmy?
Christine