Temps here finally dropped to close to normal for time of year, had to clean snow off rig to come home from work (no snow at home, but had it most of the way).
Half dark and the rock keeping the hatch from closing had been nudged....birds everywhere.....got mobbed when went out to get it sorted. Took lantern out and had the Pied Piper effect going as they followed me to the coop, begging to be let in. Ended up with a Reverse Clown Car as they went popping back inside. And couldn't open the big door so they could go in faster as they crowded in too close. The push died and I had to herd Matilda who was hanging back.
I followed her in for a head count....came up short by several. Found a spot in the coop to hang the lantern so they could finish getting themselves settled while I went back out to see if I could figure out where the rest decided to roost. 2 whitish ghosts on the woodpile answered at least part of that. Grabbed one of wood splitting area lanterns and took a closer look: Arabel up high, PITA on the pile restraining wall......and Nellie and Pippa blending in in-between.....oh, boy. NONE are willing to be handled....and Bijou in also climbing around on the pile, wanting her dinner....
Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is to climb about on a woodpile with a lantern in one hand, a reluctantly perching chicken sitting on the other and while attempting to spit cat tail plumes out of your mouth as the cat weaves through all of that????
All 4 perched....if only briefly, and launched from my hand to make their own way to the coop where the other lantern was still lighting the roost options for them.
All settled and accounted for in the coop, no eggs (not surprising under today's circumstances), coop closed, lanterns put away and I had to gargle the fur out.
