Chickens in the ice storm

[greenmulberry]

We are in the middle of a major ice and sleet storm.

I can spy on my hens by looking out the window, they are all under the coop hanging out. I made them a "chicken bowl" of chickens friendly leftovers and brought it out the them and put it under the coop. They seem fine! It's so funny they don't want to be IN the coop, according to my thermometer in the coop, it is 30 degrees F, but outside it is 28F.

We built our coop about 20 to 26 inches off the ground, because the ground was so uneven it was easier this way, and under the coop is the chickens favorite spot when it is hot, weather is nasty, or they just want to relax. In bad weather they come out the pop hole in the morning and go right under, where it stays nice and dry. I never close them in the coop since the run is secure, and even in a rainstorm they like to be outside, just under the coop.

 

[picklespickles]

i love that they choose where they want to be. mine are like that too. i even took one, the boss, when it was cold once and put her where i thought they outhgt to be. as soon as i sat her down in the "better" place, she went right back to where she was. so i just pretty much leave it alone now. it was so bone achingly windy that i started to do something similar this morning and then i thought, well, let them be. they're where they want to be.

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

LOL! That's funny!

My ladies are a bit ruled by the "dictator", my 1lb roo. He will herd the girls back into the henhouse if he thinks the weather is too rotten.

BTW, keep your ice storm. Those things STINK!

Meghan

 

[buc]

We are on the edge of the ice storm, right now we are too warm.
We are getting plenty of rain.

My girls are staying in the dog houses we have for them, heck I have only been outside once today to do the feeding and collecting the eggs.

 

[greenmulberry]

Quote:
I would love to have all this precipitation as nice white snow instead. I worry so much about the power going out with the ice storm. We do have a generator and a heater that can run off it, but what a pain that would be. Need to get a nice wood stove installed, then I would worry less about loosing power.

 

[buc]

Need to get a nice wood stove installed, then I would worry less about loosing power."

I really do believe that more of us should heat with wood, I do and have for many years. The feel of wood heat is wonderful a even warmth instead of the uneven on again off again of forced air heat, and the piece of mind that come from knowing you can keep warm no matter the weather.

 

[joanc]

We're on north of the Iowa border by 200+ miles so we've been getting the snowing and blowing for several hours. My chickies are staying in the coop for the most part, though a couple of the usual busybodies came out when they heard me by the gate.
The coop is well-insulated and it is staying about 40 degrees inside. Outside the temp is in the teens. Tonite we'll be getting some of the sleet/rainy stuff on top of 4-8" of snow. Makes for interesting driving, right?
Oh well, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

We haven't had a good winter for snow sports for a few years so it's nice to see it so early in the season.

 

[jkcove08]

My birds are all snug in the barn and the chicken coop. I had one little roo that came out with me when I went to get thier feed but he was quick to get back in since he almost was blown away..lol I also caught my call duck pair and put them in the funny pen chicken coop. There is plenty of room and it is warmer for them. I have all my silkies, NNs and frizzles in there. It is starting to warm up which is not good since that will make rain and rain will make ice. I wish we would have just gotten 2 foot of snow and been done with it. Oh well, what comes will come... Jenn

 

[apbgv]

I don't think any of the girls have ventured out today at all, guess they didn't want to see this white stuff, snow and sleet come back., put a bunch of corn in there for them to scratch at that is about all of their activity today. YUCK, gotta love the midwest in winter NOT

 

[Olive]

I didn't let my chickens or turkeys out of the barn today. It is very icy here, sleeting and blowing really bad. They weren't very happy with me. Tomorrow is suppose to be better, I worry about them slipping and hurting their legs, especially the turkeys.