Chickens Like Snow Cones

It's not that they don't have plenty of fresh water, they just seem to like the crunchy coolness of snow.  We first noticed it when we went into the pen to collect eggs.  The would gather around and peck the snow off of our snow boots.  Now they raise a fuss when we come through the door.  They insist that job one is to give them a handful of snow.  Particularly the hard top crust.  And we thought the piggies could get vocal around meal time..

Jo-Ann smoked a beef brisket  and made baked beans for new years day supper.

The Before

The After

 We used my son in laws rub recipe. Perhaps a tad too much  Cayenne for some but I think it's just right.  A fairly long process - like twelve or thirteen hours at  225C or so.  It was cold enough that I had to put insulation around the smoker to keep the temperature up.  We also smoked a bone for the doggies.

  They know something wonderful is in there but we haven't given it to them yet.  First I have to cut it in half to avoid any disagreements.  We didn't put any rub on the bone of course, not that Cleo would mind.  She is a true Omnivore and will eat anything from Bananas, through ju-jubes to moose meat.  With an occasional tidbit of pig poop thrown in. It's all good.

They piggies are growing like crazy.  They seem to like their diet- especially warm meals cooked on the heater.  Yesterday they tried freeze dried chicken with rice and cracked wheat hot off the griddle.  I can tell when it's especially good as they won't interrupt the repast for a nose scrooch through the bars.

Yesterday I hadn't latched the gate to their pen and when I returned later in the afternoon the gate was open, a garbage can I use to hold pig feed in, knocked over with lid still intact.  And both pigs still inside the pen demanding supper. The force field obviously doing it's job.

"Dad, I'm bored.  I need an iPhone so I don't have to listen to those yappy chickens all day!"

Hope your not bored this week.