calling any one from missouri

[OhZark Biddies]

It’s -11º this morning! I haven’t checked any chickens, it’s still dark.

We only got to -2 ... I didn’t get to the coop yet, but I broomed off the sidewalks and the garage pad, and heard some crowing... but it sounded a bit like “it’s cold-da-cold-da-coooooold!”

 

[SueT]

They won't be acclimated to the extreme cold since they were in the "warm" basement.

Well considering that it’s going to be in the 40’s this coming weekend, I can just wait a few days. So glad we don’t live in the far north.
Ok, just got in from opening the coops. I smiled when I heard the rooster crowing as I approached. Dozens of wild birds swarmed nearby waiting for me to feed them too. I swept off the snow from their area and gave them a liberal serving of crumbles plus scratch. The chickens were all alert but not as eager to eat as the sparrows and juncos.

 

[jthornton]

We got about 4" of powder snow last night and none of the chickens are coming out of the coop...

JT

 

[SueT]

We got about 4" of powder snow last night and non of the chickens are coming out of the coop...

JT

What was your morning temp?

 

[jthornton]

What was your morning temp?

5°F, it's halfway to the high today of 7°F!

JT

 

[SueT]

My pullets are restless in the basement. Finally I attached a plastic milk crate to their cage, it’s much like their nest boxes in the coop. They immediately went in and started scratching around. I hope we get an egg or 2.....

 

[jthornton]

I put water and food in with the hens in the roost box and water in the coop with the pullets. Changing the water each hour and collecting any eggs from the pullets.

JT

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I had a half bale of straw that I'm about to spread over the snow by two coops so they can walk out. I knew we were going to get a lot of snow today and more Tuesday and Wednesday so I bought a couple more bales of straw when I went for feed Saturday.
I usually only take water out about twice a day, sometimes 3 if they go through it really fast.

 

[SueT]

My heated pet bowls are just outside coop doors. I spread shavings around the water bowls, and the chickens did come out to drink. Not sure if they all did, but anyway, they can do it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I was tempted to pick up a heated pet bowl at the feed store but I have way too many Pene roosters in each flock. Dipping those 4 inch wattles into water to get a drink in these temps would freeze all of them off.
Everything being frozen solid, I can't muck out the coops so all I can do is spread a couple inches of shavings over the floors, and maybe a couple more inches by Thursday. I don't think the coops will be shovelable till next Wednesday. I have 2 new bales of stall shavings too. Spreading straw and shavings and carrying water will be occupying my time this week.