A Holiday for the Hens
Winter weather has yet to arrive on our farm in Iowa. The temperatures this week are reaching as high as 70° F, making it feel more like we skipped right into spring. This unseasonably warm weather has allowed us to spend more time outdoors, exploring the land again, like we used to when Tad was just a toddler. The farm is new frontier for Dean, which is wonderful to witness again. Everything feels familiar and new to me, as well, now that we have settled back into the farmhouse. I am sad to return when the natural world around us has gone down to rest for its winter nap, but I know that will make spring that much more sweet.
We decided to make a few evergreen wreaths for the few little farm outbuildings we have, including the hen house. We currently have 10 chickens who have been laying beautifully the past few weeks, generally a time when we would be getting around 3-5 eggs per day. Since the sun has been shining and the weather is warm, we are getting closer to 8 eggs per day. Hens need longer daylight hours to produce an egg each day, so many farmers will leave a light on in their coop to increase production. We choose not to do this and allow the chickens to live out their natural cycle. They need rest, too!
Have you ever noticed that many of the Christmas traditions we associate with an old-fashioned holiday tend to fall into the 19th century? Of course, when I picture an old-fashioned Christmas, I tend to draw up the image of Bob Cratchet and Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, set in the late 19th century. Roast goose and figgy pudding, brown paper wrapped packages and candle lit trees, top hats and frilly ladies’ bonnets, are just a few of the things that come to mind. Though this is story is set in the city, it has always made me wonder what the holidays might have been like for those with a country lifestyle.
One thing that I learned recently is that the Victorians were altogether romantic about the lives of their farm animals, especially during yuletide. It was common practice to decorate the barns and hang up little sprigs of holly and evergreens in the stalls. Christmas was the one day the animals could feel special as well, a day to relax and rejoice in the light returning to the world. In fact, this was a time when many of the old traditions of Yule, an ancient solstice celebration, were brought back to life. The church’s holiday was rather pushed aside, bringing about the many traditions we now use today such a Christmas tree, gift giving, burning yule logs, and wassail. It seems there is always an ebb and flow in the course of history, but that is an argument for another day.
We felt that it was a sweet and honorable way to celebrate our animals by hanging up some decorations for them on the darkest days of the year.
Our trusty barn cat, Scout, had to join in on the fun. Rather, he played in my skirt hem and tugged on my bloomers the entire time I was hanging the wreath. Our kitties are overly friendly, always begging for a pet from our customers at the little shop on our farm. We currently have four, as many wander off or are sometimes unfortunately hit on the road, and are hoping to welcome more kittens in the spring! Scout is a far descendant of our very first farm kitty, Poppy, and he is incredibly plump. I often affectionately call him Garfield. He is quite possibly the fattest cat we have ever had on the farm but is an excellent mouser!
I do believe I failed to mention here on the blog that I am expecting again! Again. A rather fun surprise, though! In the early morning hours of our wedding anniversary, I decided to take a pregnancy test and was completely shocked to see it come back positive. Kyle came down the stairs shortly after and I squeaked, “Well… happy anniversary!” and we both started laughing. We are expecting a little girl in June! That will make for three sweet children on our multi-generational farm. We cannot wait! What a happy Christmas season it has been so far. Go decorate your chicken coop and toss out some mealworms for the hardworking ladies of the hen house!
xoxo Kayla
