 Deep and crisp and even.  Black Sumatra rare breed hens love a cuddle when it's below freezing, who says chickens are stupid! | Stepping out of the door this morning to -14 degrees Celcius (7 Fahrenheit), gently stung. Crisp cool air brushed my face and rushed my lungs. It invigorated me while the sunshine blinded me.
It's the first real cold we've had so far this winter and a reminder of all the still, freezing cold days we've had the last 5 years here at Skeffling Lavender Farm. In the distance, from the barn, I heard my chorus of roosters. They know the sound of the house door slamming closed on its spring.
The aroma of sweet maple woodsmoke greeted me after a second. Burning in our wood furnace, white smoke curled out of the central chimney. It smelled like summer campfires, cosy warmth and a stack of maple syrup drizzled pancakes.
The barn smells better in winter, less ripe, and more of the animals than their manure. Chickens held close just have a clean dusty smell like a cat or dry timber. Nothing offensive or acrid, just comfortable.
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_The days above freezing smell of moist rot and decomposition as the microbes get conditions to thrive in. All necessary processes of course, but I love that the crisp cold is quiet and peaceful and even the microbes take a break.
I am looking at the most beautiful bright winter landscape this morning, for a few minutes, then another squall will roll in! Coming from England, I find the snow mesmerizing, fascinating and I love it! It is quiet as hubby is back at work, Christmas holidays over for another year.
So I took some pictures of my Euskal Oiloak chickens (the basques) the other day. My young ones and they are so cute. The boys have some innate self-preservation cuddling gene and are handsome fellas!
I learned a new trick for photographing poultry, and I used it to get the great pics below! Withhold their morning scratch til you are done taking pics and will you ever have their rapt attention, even the black penedesencas! Check it out. I can't wait to have better camera that takes closeup shots of nosy chickens. Most photographs taken of Euskal Oiloas are blurry closeups or of them pecking toes, laces, or snow off boots!
Enjoy today's gallery!
Tags: Euskal Oiloa, partridge Chantecler, black penedesencas, rare breed chickens, friendly heritage chickens, skeffling lavender farm
 Blondie (Euska oiloa), one of my Partridge Chanteclers, Black penedesencas, Lavender ameraucanas rare breed hens  Speckled Jim my Euskal Oiloa rooster! See how big he is, the hen is a Lavender Orpington and is one of my biggest hens! He is a gentle sweetheart.  Rare Black Sumatra hen "#5" wanting a cuddle. These calculating but endearing chickens are only affectionate in the winter when it is cold! |  Three woodgrained (Partridge) Chanteclers, cold hardy and awesome winter laying chickens! Looking for food!  This is Sonny Jim, Specky's 18 week old Euskal Oiloa rooster son and he loves to cuddle. Definitely a keeper.  Partridge Chantecler rooster dancing for the girls. These young chickens are 22 weeks and the pullets are just laying. |
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