Water For Wild Birds In Winter

 

Water For Wild Birds In Winter
Little Utah Farm
Photo by Deborah Moen


Feeding birds is also a form of prayer Pope Pius Xll

Yesterday it was 6:30 am and the outdoor thermometer reads 20 degrees. 

The little birds are hopping on the ice in the bird bath and some are sipping at the edges hoping to get a drink. 

The  night brought 4 " of snow. 

Water for wild birds in winter.
Deborahslittlegems.blogspot.com
Photo by Deborah Moen

I heat up a pan of water on the stove. While the water is heating I put on my shoes and a coat. When the water is warmed I take it outdoors. The birds see me coming and fly away. I pour the warm water over the ice and it begins to melt. I rather enjoy feeling the cold hard ice under the warm water. 

Water for wild birds in winter.
Photo by Deborah Moen
deborahslittlegems.blogspot.com

I can even slip my fingers under the edge and pull up the whole circle of. I have discovered if I break off a piece, I can use the rounded edge to scoop out the old water and debris. I fill it with the remainder of warm water and make my way back inside. 

The birds come back one by one lining up around the edges. It does my heart good to see them sipping and enjoying a nice drink of clean water. 

We give the birds water and they give us such pleasure watching them drink and take baths. We get lots of different birds. 

• house finches
• doves
• house sparrows
• golden finches
• robins
• northern flickers
• starlings

Soon the orioles and hummingbirds, western king birds, and sometimes a red winged blackbird will come by. In spring we get out the feeders and fill them with homemade sugar water. 

Little Utah Farm is a small oasis for wildlife. It is rewarding to provide fresh clean water for our wild birds in the winter. 

11 Birds on a Bird Bath

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Deborah Moen
of Little Utah Farm

Caring for wild birds feels like a prayer.

Is written inside our 11 Birds Sitting On A Bird Bath greeting Card.

You can customize this card to put your own text in. Card comes in different sizes and we recommend using Semi Gloss Paper.  

 

11 Birds On A Bird Bath Greeting Card
by LittleUtahFarm

The Hens Get Winter Care

It snowed last night, a light dusting of Utah powder, glistened under the porch light as I opened the door to let the dogs out in the wee morning hours.  

 

In the morning when I feed, I love how the ice crystals , the hoar frost, glistens like bright silver stars on each branch and twig. The cold can be a wonderland if ice and steaming breath coming from the nostrils of the llamas. The air is crisp and invigorating provided you are dressed right. There are no wet puddles at this time, just frozen water and crystals. Lot's of crunch underfoot.

There is much attention to the well-being of our fur and feathered friends. Even the wild birds get their water renewed and new seed to eat. We look for steady bodies, clear bright eyes, a good appetite. during feeding, each dear family member is greeted with a smile and a blessing. Anything that needs tending to is done.

Florence has a large comb. We spotted some black spots on the tips. www.facebook.com/littleutahfarm

I saw that a few of the long combed hens had a slight touch of frost bite which blackens the tissue on the tips. After dinner I tippy-toed out to the coop where all 9 girls were nestled side by side on the roosts. I stepped into their sleeping den and passed the flow of infrared red waves from the lamp hanging just so, in the far corner.

It was cozy in there and I always breathe a sigh a relief* knowing they are safe and comfy. They look so big with their down and feathers fluffed to keep them warm. I took out my trusty tube of Vaseline out of my pocket and laid it on the north wall on the shelf.

 Florence was close by and I took her, gently wrapping my hands around her wings and body. She didn't seem to mind. Then I applied a bit of Vaseline to her red comb and wattles. She shook her little head a bit and that was that. I am sure it felt good to her. 

May our black Jersey giant has a large comb that flops over like a ladies hat. www.facebook.com/littleutahfarm

 I searched the line of roosting hens and saw that May was next. Her and Florence have the longest combs. By this time the hens were murmuring to each other. I leaned over and picked up May from the top roost and brought her down. She is our black Jersey giant. Her large powerful wings flapped against my face and I set her down on the shelf and brought her close to my chest and secured the other wing gently against her body with my hand. We both took a deep breath then I began to apply the Vaseline to her comb. I loved the texture of the combs and how pretty they looked with their treatment under the infrared lamps. Their heads are so tiny and to think that God desired a red rubbery comb to jut out right on the center top is an wonder to ponder. 

The hens bodies are full and soft yet you can feel some dominant 
 bones like the breast bone. I set her back on the shelf so she could find her way back to her roost. "Good night, sweeties" I cooed. I made my way past bun bun's rabbitat then ducked under the sharp long icicles at the doorway. The door shut and I latched it.

The white fields of snow crunched underfoot as I walked back to my warm house. I dreamed of an attached barn like a Noah's Ark filled with animals and connected to our home where I could feed them all in my leggings and socks and there is a large solar window to let the sun shine in and on and on the dream goes.

I am smiling as I walk up the back porch and off goes the light.

All is well on Little Utah Farm.

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Wishing you and yours a happy New Year 2016,

Until next time here is a quote:

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Deborah Moon Moen of Little Utah Farm

 

Ice Bird

I found a treasure this morning. I was lifting the wheel barrel up off the hay and I heard a crack* I looked down in the ice and snow and spotted a beak and the head shape of a bird. I lifted the piece of ice up and it had the wings, body and tail of a bird. It was sturdy about 1/2" thick and almost a foot long.

I found this piece of ice and as you can see it looks like a regal bird.

I held the ice up to the sun and saw two willow leaves frozen inside it. I noticed how it had feather like details and a tail.

I wondered if it would sit on a branch so I took it to the backyard and place it on a snowy blue spruce branch. It balanced perfectly and I was able to take the photograph.

Ice Bird Treasure found under the wheel barrel.

This Ice Bird was as beautiful as a precious jewel. I placed it near a log and allowed the water and elements to take their course.


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Deborah Moen
Farmgirl, Nature Lover, Photographer, and Writer