Sorry about the layout issues in this post...blogger and I are having differences of opinion about photo layouts.
The Americaunas started laying. They were raised this spring from chicks. They grew into beautiful chickens, that have a semi-wild look and temperament. Chuck saw one in the nest box, but we did not expect them to start laying in the middle of winter- but that bluebird blue egg is definite proof... somehow it actually seems like a little dose of springtime. Chickens' laying schedule is determined by length of day; our girls have a lot of daylight exposure, so we actually have not had a laying break this year as is typical of chicken farming. The fridge is always full of eggs!
Animal husbandry is much different from season to season. It becomes much more difficult at the exact time you want to be out the least. But with an open mind, there are ways to adapt. The whole herd came in this week for hoof trimming and wormer. They love exploring the house, Winter loves having the goats indoors, and it is easier to work on everyone. It is worth sweeping up a few piles of goat pellets. Orion is particularly curious- he likes to try to climb and nibble pretty much everything.
There were not many great Christmas photos, but here is Winter on her new horse, which she loves, displaying her new kitty cat clock. There is also a video of her out with her goats. They get grain piles in the snow while the chickens get cream and bread inside the barn.