It’s January in Minnesota, which means the days are dark, bleak, cold and completely and utterly blah. It’s like this every year, but the older I get the more the change of seasons impacts my own state of being. I find myself bemoaning the fact that January — without a doubt the worst month of the year — kicks off the entire calendar and we’re left scouring the barren landscape for anything remotely uplifting. (January and March, am I right??)
Interestingly, we’re not the only creatures physically impacted by the change of seasons. Maybe we all are, but we humans are the only ones bummed about it? Case in point, my chickens. I love my girls, but they have done virtually nothing for the last six weeks plus. I open the coop door every morning, but they rarely brave the snowy ramp to venture outside. If I gently place them on the snow, they quickly return to the coop. They seem perfectly content to stay put and wait for better days. And the eggs? There aren’t any. Well, that’s not entirely true, but I’m averaging about one every two or three days, and that’s probably a generous estimate.
I’ve read a lot about how to avoid the winter egg slump. The two most basic plans involve supplementing light in the coop and changing up the girls’ diets. Both seem reasonable and I know many good chicken owners who subscribe to one or both ideas. But I read a very interesting perspective recently, which really resonated with me. A fellow member of one of the many online chicken groups of which I’m a part commented that it’s best to leave the girls be and let the natural seasonal cycle play out. Fascinating. A simple and practical perspective, packed with wisdom for all species.
It’s January in Minnesota. The landscape looks completely different and so do I. The air feels different and so do I. I’m not advocating that we completely give into the doldrums, but it may be wise to stop fighting against the natural order and embrace the January-ness of it all.
What’s your January game plan? Leave a comment below or on my Facebook page. I’d love to hear from you.
