Arkansas folks speak up.........

[jenjscott]

For the first time I can remember since living here almost 19 years, the creek is frozen.

 

[coltsdad]

My ponds were froze about 4or5 inches , thick enough I could walk out on them a little ways .

 

[urban dreamer]

How do ya'll keep your birds warm without heat lamps? It is a violation of my building permit for me to have any kind of electricity in my coop. I can't help but wonder if they are freezing thier little tail feathers off at night. The coop is locked up good- Just some vents at the top and the door to the run. I patched up some holes with old phone books. They have plenty of shaveings on the coop floor. I just worry about them everytime I chip ice out of thier water pail. They don't have any signs of frostbite, but they are getting some petroleum jelly anyways. Just wondering what ya'll suggest.

ETS: We just got in from the coop and Zoii did have two little black dots on her comb that look like frostbite. I will keep a close eye on her. She has the biggest comb of my four birds.

 

[juliechick]

I've never had any heat in my coop. Down here in South Arkansas, this is the coldest winter we have seen in years, so I haven't had to. But, even years ago when I lived in North Arkansas, we didn't have any heat in the coop. They always survived the winter just fine. I do feel sorry for them, though.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
If it were me I'd run an extension cord anyway, just for the coldest nights. Roll it back up and who's gonna know???
Honestly with a good coop out of the wind they will be just FINE!
If you have holes big enough to put phone books in then I would be more concerned about predators getting in!!!! In cold weather the preds are sometimes more "desperate" Be sure to secure any holes with hardware cloth to keep the preds out!

Black dots might be scabs from pecking. Frostbite is more likely to start on the pointy tips of the comb.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Here is what my run looked like after it had warmed up to 8 degrees F Saturday. The low was 3 that morning. The rooster was inside when I went down but came out to put himself between me and the girls when he heard me. Two pullets stayed inside but the others were already out in the run when I showed up. I do not provide any heat in the coop. My ventilation is above their roost height.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Here is what my run looked like after it had warmed up to 8 degrees F Saturday. The low was 3 that morning. The rooster was inside when I went down but came out to put himself between me and the girls when he heard me. Two pullets stayed inside but the others were already out in the run when I showed up. I do not provide any heat in the coop. My ventilation is above their roost height.

Editted because Jenjscott can read better than I can type.

Thanks.

 

[jenjscott]

look ridgerunner, its so cold you are stuttering

 

[juliechick]

Quote:

Good one, Jen.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Jen!

Good morning Arkansas.

That was a short and fast weekend! I accomplished loosing my BCM with my CM and the two cochin/ee hens. Poor Stinkerbeau is still in jail, it's a very large jail though. He's had a 3 day sentence, so now we'll see how he does this evening when I let everyone out for ranging.