Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

Quote: My outdoor max/min thermometer bit the dust last night so I'm not sure how cold it is here this morning. Ice was thicker than yesterday's in the chicken's water bowl so I'm guessing it's 15-16 degrees. Brrrr. The brooder stayed toasty. Didn't drop below 78 under the Sweeter Heater with the 250 watt infrared chicken-blaster lamp on. Gotta find a lower-wattage heat lamp before tomorrow afternoon!

 

[Arizonachicken]

I've had good luck using a milk crate for a nesting box as well.

Gallo, I'm so happy to hear about your cat being found safely.

The chickens are doing fine, I put some extra straw in the coop, and the cold isn't bothering them at all.  I've been using supplemental light, and I'm getting five or six eggs a day out of eight laying hens, which is pretty good.  My plants seem to be handling the cold ok.  The leaves on the passion fruit vine are a little cold nipped, but there doesn't seem to be any other damage to the vine, and that is the most delicate plant I have.  My orange tree was still putting out new growth, which is now starting to yellow, which isn't terribly worrying, and it seems to be doing ok other than that.

In other news, I had my 'big' ultrasound, and I found out that I'm having a girl! I'm really excited, and also kind of nervous, because its going to be a a big change after 3 boys.  Everything else looked really good as far as her development, which I was very happy and relieved to find out.  Related to that, if anyone knows someone who needs boy clothes, size Newborn through 24 months, let me know.  I just finished going through my baby clothes, and pulling out all the clothes that are just too boyish to put on a little girl.

CONGRATULATIONS! I didn't know you were pregnant! When's your due date? I had 3 boys and my 4th was a girl, same as you! I'm so happy for you!

 

[Fuzzybird]

Getting dang tired of chopping through 1 inch or better of ice in the goat water buckets! I hope tonight is the last of the deep freeze! I haven't been this cold since leaving Omaha in 1995!

 

[Vics Chicks]

I'm so happy that you found Rocket. What a horrible experience for you both and such a happy ending. And goes to show that there are still so many wonderful people in this world!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I'm so happy that you found Rocket. What a horrible experience for you both and such a happy ending. And goes to show that there are still so many wonderful people in this world!

Thanks Vics Chicks! Yes, there are still so many wonderful people in this world.

 

[maryhysong]

it was 19 again this morning and I waited until it was 28 to go feed and water; birds thought they were starving to death and I know I was freezing! Will be glad when it warms up some.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

It was 21 degrees in my backyard this morning. This is WAY TOO COLD! There is a reason we live here, and this weather is not it! Looks like it will be another cold night tonight. We are always at least 10 degrees colder than is predicted for our zip code. Not really sure why...

Gallo, I am SO very happy that Rocket was found safe and sound. Just wish he could tell you his tales.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

In other news, I had my 'big' ultrasound, and I found out that I'm having a girl! I'm really excited, and also kind of nervous, because its going to be a a big change after 3 boys.  Everything else looked really good as far as her development, which I was very happy and relieved to find out.  Related to that, if anyone knows someone who needs boy clothes, size Newborn through 24 months, let me know.  I just finished going through my baby clothes, and pulling out all the clothes that are just too boyish to put on a little girl.

Congratulations!  

Congratulations, how exciting.
My niece and her husband have two boys, they desperately wanted a girl. They adopted a girl, for several reasons (personal). It looks a little strange, she is 6', husband 6'4", boys 7'2" & 6'4" (still growing) and she is 5' 4" or 5".
:yiipchick

I fear I lost my new navel ornge tree, the cover blow off night before last. I uncovered it this morning, it looks so sad. My lemon tree dose not look great eather, but I think it is still just alive. I think I have lost only about a dozen veggies in my garden. My girls are doing great, I let them out for about 2 hrs this morning. I found them at my glass door tapping tapping let me in. When I opened the door, the marched rift in, of course. Then right out, back to their run. I had the reast of their breakfast/treat. Grits again this morning. Clare is such a love, she wants to be picked up and held close (I think she wants to get warm).

Rezia I am using sand on the native dirt. So fare it seems to be ok, but my girls are still growing, and pop is getting bigger. Right now it is easy to rake out, then I add more sand. It's early yet for me to really know if it is a good floor.

 

[Mahonri]

23 yesterday in my back yard, 24 today. Perhaps it's because we put a fire in the fireplace... I don't know... still killed all of my peppers and half of my tomatoes. All would be gone but for the lights we put under them before we cover them.

 

[desertmarcy]

I'm spending the day fixing plumbing leaks. Two of my brass ball valve shut-offs to turkey waterers failed. They were insulated and under cover, but that wasn't enough with this last bad freeze. I'm replacing all the brass fittings with steel, but the steel ones are hard to find, I had to special order from Grainger's last time this happened. I hate those brass fittings. They always crack when it freezes. I have already been to the plumbing hardware store once to get a galvanized plug to replace a plastic one that broke then when I turned the water back on to test it, saw the other valves spewing water everywhere.