Don't Wear Fur

Whaaaaat?   First, let me explain.   Yesterday Joel and I "went to town" to run a few errands.   One of those errands involved looking for some farm appropriate outer wear for Joel to wear while tending to the animals during the cold months of winter.   Translation:   clothes that you don't mind getting poo, mud and other gross stuff on.

He found a pair of awesome bib overalls that are quilted inside and will keep him cozy warm on those blustery days.   He had already bought some lined work gloves that he loves to wear, but he still needed something warmer for his head and neck.  Wearing a scarf is not an option as it whips around in the wind while scooping out feed, etc. so we were looking for some kind of hat other than a knitted one that would better protect his head and neck. 

 Voila!   We found the perfect hat, one that has ear coverings that can be worn down during those really frigid days, or up when the temps are milder.   It even has a furry lining to keep the cold wind off his neck.  The front of the hat also has fur and can be unsnapped to help shield his eyes from pelting sleet or snow.  

It was pretty cold here yesterday and we almost always have a wind blowing on our bluff, so when the thermometer reads 35 degrees, it usually feels more like something in the 20's.   Joel was excited to try out his new hat when he went down to feed the pigs and chickens late in the afternoon and he donned his coat, gloves and new hat......now he was ready for the elements.   Bring it on!

Twenty minutes later he came back inside the house and was laughing, grinning from ear to ear.   Here's his story.   He walked down to the animals, fed the pigs first as he usually does.   Man, this hat is really keeping me warm(he was thinking).   Then he walked over to the chicken coop, scooped out some scratch for them as a treat and proceeded to open the main door of the coop.   In his words, "All hell broke loose." 

As he walked in he was startled as chickens that were sitting up high on the roost almost knocked themselves out trying to fly out of the little chicken door on the opposite side of the coop.   He said they were climbing over each other and flying into the walls in their frantic attempt to escape the coop.   What the?????    Oooooooh!   The fur on the hat!    It freaked them out because they thought he was a predator.   Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!  He had to take the hat off to finish taking care of the chickens and laughed all the way back up to the house. 

I guess he will be able to wear the hat to take care of the pigs, but will have to remove it when he gets anywhere near the chickens.   He says he probably scared them out of egg production for a week, they were so frightened.   The moral of the story is:  Don't wear fur around chickens.

The End,
Debbie