Everything is coated with ice and snow. Ice looks pretty when the sun hits it, but is treacherous to walk on. People and livestock are stuck inside and quickly develop cabin fever.
Chickens
These birds hate snow making it an easy decision to keep their door closed. Now, the chickens could flock out to the goat barn, but it’s locked up. They would try under the goat gym, but there isn’t much to do there.
In their room, the chickens have feed and water. They can stand around on the roosts, the floor and the nests.
One day, maybe two, the chickens are okay with this. After that cabin fever sets in and they squabble.
Goats
My herd is used to walking all day. They do this even on winter days when there is little for them to nibble on.
Hay is not as good as fresh grass, even winter grass. Ice or snow covered grass is another matter. Hay is now top of the menu.
Since the herd is much smaller, there is room for them to wander around. There are favorite spots and that leads to arguments. The door is closed, so the arguments soon involve more goats.
The only goats without cabin fever in a day or two are the kids. They run and play or curl up and sleep.
People
We are outside people. Walking, gardening, work take us outside much of every day. Ice and snow make trips outside occur on an as needed basis only.
It’s not that we don’t have plenty to do inside. The bookcases are loaded with books. Housecleaning is a never completed item. Cooking is an option. I could even get a lot of writing done.
Cabin fever isn’t about having something to do. It’s about being stuck inside.