Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

Well, it's 11 pm and 28 degrees outside at my place. They were predicting a low of 24 in my part of town tonight, but I think it's going to get much colder than that. Great night for testing out the new brooder (no chicks yet). Wish I could crawl in there - it's a toasty 89 degrees under the heat lamp!

Yes, brooder is outside. Brrr...

 

[rufus]

Brrrr! It is so cold. A homeless guy came to the door looking for a blanket. I have a blanket I could have given him, and a coat as well. It belonged to my father; he died in 1976, so I guess he will never need it.

But I was afraid to open the door to give them to him. So much bad stuff has happened in the neighborhood. Now I feed bad about it.

 

[pastrymama]

it is 7:20 and 20 degrees at my house.

what happened to 29??????? shoot, i have some basque juvies outside, hope they are ok and not popscicles. i can hear the ducks so i KNOW they are fine, but their water may be frozen. my silkie juvies have been in the garage in the duck pool for 2 days

it's a bit cramped in there.

 

[Demosthine]

Brrrr!  It is so cold.  A homeless guy came to the door looking for a blanket.  I have a blanket I could have given him, and a coat as well.  It belonged to my father; he died in 1976, so I guess he will never need it.

But I was afraid to open the door to give them to him.  So much bad stuff has happened in the neighborhood.  Now I feed bad about it.
 

We had an overly crazy guy stop at our house a few years ago for the same thing. I am always armed, but I told him to go sit on the curb so that I could set the blanket outside and that he had better stay sitting until I had closed the door again. He was really twitchy the whole time, but he followed directions.

It's hard to find a balance between your safety and helping someone in need.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

it is 7:20 and 20 degrees at my house.

what happened to 29??????? shoot, i have some basque juvies outside, hope they are ok and not popscicles. i can hear the ducks so i KNOW they are fine, but their water may be frozen. my silkie juvies have been in the garage in the duck pool for 2 days

it's a bit cramped in there.

I was out at 7 this morning...BBbrrrrrr Got everyone fed and watered. Here is what the spare bedroom looks like:
The little ones have outgrown their brooder so they were introduced to the silkies. They all get along pretty well.

 

[MagicChicken]

It was 19 degrees here this morning. They had predicted 24. Supposed to be several degrees colder tonight... yikes!

There was 1/4 inch of ice on the rubber dog bowl in the run, and the drinking part of the metal fount in the coop was totally solid. The pond is ok - left the pump running and put a big plastic tent over it (it's a small pond). The goldfish are okay. All the plant covers are stiff with cold. As I was checking stuff it sounded like it was raining - soft pitter patter all around. It was the leaves falling off the mesquite trees.

But the new brooder hung in there - it was 83 degrees! No way can I keep that same lamp in there when the outside temps go over 50, or I'll have baked chicks!

The bright side of this extended cold spell is being able to test different brooder equipment in extreme conditions. My Sweeter Heater arrived yesterday. Think I'll install it today and see how it does in 20 degree temps. It says it's only for use in ambient temps of 50 degrees or higher.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Brrrr!  It is so cold.  A homeless guy came to the door looking for a blanket.  I have a blanket I could have given him, and a coat as well.  It belonged to my father; he died in 1976, so I guess he will never need it.

But I was afraid to open the door to give them to him.  So much bad stuff has happened in the neighborhood.  Now I feed bad about it.
 

We had an overly crazy guy stop at our house a few years ago for the same thing. I am always armed, but I told him to go sit on the curb so that I could set the blanket outside and that he had better stay sitting until I had closed the door again. He was really twitchy the whole time, but he followed directions.

It's hard to find a balance between your safety and helping someone in need.

I sure understand, I spent years as an over the road driver, ran into a lot of them. Most of them can not really work do to mental illness. My husband & I spent about 18 mo. Homeless, sort of, we did have a camper, when my home and business burned. I got a wonderful education, in site on reality and people, but that is another story. We worked hard, took any job, we did not stay homeless.

Got out this morning to check out my girls, brought them warm water, they sure were thirsty. I hope my plants or ok. I should, could have, but didn't, put lights under the cover to insure. To much work to see them die, I feel like I was just being lazy. It had been a long day, my nephew had a few hours to help me, he came in fresh, so no rest. Grateful for the help.

 

[Billiam]

I *THINK* my blue Marans finally laid her first egg! I didn't catch her in the act, but I found a darker brown egg this morning.

Here's a picture next to an egg from my production red:

Either your hands are tiny (no offense) or those are some gigantic eggs! Congrats!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

it is 7:20 and 20 degrees at my house. what happened to 29??????? shoot, i have some basque juvies outside, hope they are ok and not popscicles. i can hear the ducks so i KNOW they are fine, but their water may be frozen. my silkie juvies have been in the garage in the duck pool for 2 days it's a bit cramped in there.

I was out at 7 this morning...BBbrrrrrr Got everyone fed and watered. Here is what the spare bedroom looks like: The little ones have outgrown their brooder so they were introduced to the silkies. They all get along pretty well.

Ya! Sure, chickens are not pets........ . What do you think 1900 farmer would think of us? Dogs were once outside only animal. They are such pets, loved and cared for, eat 100% better then typical chickens of 100 yrs ago.... 50 years ago....

 

[maryhysong]

Well, it's 11 pm and 28 degrees outside at my place. They were predicting a low of 24 in my part of town tonight, but I think it's going to get much colder than that. Great night for testing out the new brooder (no chicks yet). Wish I could crawl in there - it's a toasty 89 degrees under the heat lamp!

Yes, brooder is outside. Brrr...

what sort of brooder set up do you have? would love to see pics!