We were given a replacement rooster by our friend Sarah of Mac's Rainbow Nigerians yesterday evening.   Junior as he is currently known (the children seem to be intent on finding a new name for him) seems to be enjoying having a whole flock of hens to himself.   He hasn't graced us with a crow yet, so we have no idea what he is going to sound like, but he sure is a handsome fellow.   It's hard to see it in the picture, but his feathers are actually iridescent and Bekah says he looks like a stained glass window.

We suffered our first loss to predators last night.  I don't know for a fact it was a raccoon, but the killing style was consistent with what a coon does.   Sadly our rooster Fred-the-Red and one of the Black Australorp hens I got myself for my birthday last year were killed.

Bekah did her chores before dark last night so the chickens hadn't gone to roost yet.  I told her I would go out and shut up the coop after dark, but I forgot all about it.  I've forgotten to close up in the past without any problems, but obviously this time was different.

Fred-the-Red was the only named chicken in our flock, and he was a perfect fit for us.  He was not overly aggressive with the children, although he would chase them if they messed with his ladies.  And while his crow wasn't the most melodious I always enjoyed hearing him.   He was such a handsome fellow and is going to be missed, as will that beautiful black hen and her lovely brown eggs.

Hay!  Its whats for breakfast - especially when the temps are in the teens!  Most of the year I don't feed any hay at all since they have plenty of pasture.  But icy grass and cold water don't keep a goat warm.  The long fiber in grass hay stimulates rumen wall contractions, which in turn creates body heat and keeps the goats warm.  

So on those rare occasions that we get freezing temperatures I feed them hay in addition to their usual alfalfa pellets and haul hot water from the house out to the various watering troughs.  Last year, when we still had the cows I hauled over 80 gallons of hot water in two, 2 gallon watering cans in a single morning.    The watering can spouts allow me to pour water into the trough without having to go into the pasture and they are easier on my back than using 5 gallon buckets.   Plus I'm less likely to get water on myself.

The chickens also benefit from the warm water, and will come running when I start pouring.  It helps to keep their egg production going, just like it helps keep milk production up.