pastured hens

Most early mornings the hens are moving about, scratching in the earth, clucking and squawking.

Mornings like this, when the sun is shining and the temperature reads in the teens, there is a dramatic reduction in activity.

There was a light dusting of snow on the farm last night.

The hoophouses have a light dusting of snow on top. As the sun climbs higher this will melt right off.

The girls are still on the roost. At dusk they all jump up there, spending the night protected from any precipitation. This morning they will wait a little later than normal to jump down and start scratching the ground.

It's not just the farmer who hates subzero temperatures.