Colorado

[hispoptart]

-3 here this morning BRRRRRRRR! My girls are still coming out to play. I told them they best quit showing off how warm they are with their down coats, cause I might just have to skin them LOL

 

[airmechreed]

-4 here this morning and my chickens stopped at the coup door, looked around and decided that there was enough scratch on the ground to come out.........Driving to work the geese were in the lake near the house I have no idea what they were thinking.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Our low was -13 at 8600ft. Thankfully there is no wind!

 

[wattsjadajoe]

Quote:
I live on 40th Lane, You are more than welcome to see my setup! I just got started lately..been slow since I just moved here last year. Let me know when you would like to visit, I send you a number to call.
Someone is always home....I'm at work sun to sun...so It would have to be the weekend if you want me around. LOL

Joe

 

[OwensMom]

For all of you mealworm farmers out there read this:
This seems like a good point in the thread to discuss humidity. It's not that they prefer 55% humidity, but that most studies use 55% to reduce problems unrelated to what the scientist is studying. The mealworms will perform somewhat better at higher humidities, but as humidity increases above 55% (especially as it exceeds 70%) the likelihood of infection by mites and entomopathogenic fungi also increases. Under very high humidity levels it is only a matter of time before catastrophic infections wipe out much of a colony. Indeed, mites are everywhere in the environment as are fungal spores. Under lower humidity levels these pests usually never become a problem, but higher humidity is one of the most important environmental factors that trigger reproduction or sporulation. The scientist studying T. molitor isn't really that concerned about maximizing reproductive rates and their mealworms will develop and reproduce just fine at 55%. Consider the dreaded grain mite-- it is unable to survive at humidities lower than 55% but reproduces at explosive rates as humidity approaches 90% (http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/flour-and-grain-mites). As hobbyists we have to trade off an increased reproductive rate with almost certain calamity as we increase the humidity. We can do things to limit grain mite exposure to our colonies (e.g. freezing, baking, microwaving), but we can't easily eliminate them entirely from the environment.

I live in one of the driest places on the planet, our humidity is low and measured in single digits for much of the year. I don't add any moisture to the colony beyond that contained in the vegetables I feed them. It's more important to me to have a constant production rather than a slightly higher rate of production punctuated with periodic disasters. I've raised them long enough to have experienced all the disasters that can befall a colony. The vegetables alone will increase the humidity at the level of the substrate. If your ambient humidity is 70%, adding vegetables will further increase the RH at level of the substrate. This effect can be exacerbated as air flow in and out of the colony is limited (e.g. with a lid or drawer system). For this reason it may be safer to keep ambient humidity down but occasionally add moistened cotton balls from which the mealworms will obtain moisture. If you're still worried about them getting enough moisture, consider the special talent our mealworms possess. They have a strange ability to pull water molecules out of thin air directly through their rectum.
Strange, but true

 

[OwensMom]

The above info is taken from Gallo de Cielo's post. I had observed that as people in th mealworm thread increased their RH or lived in a humid climate The scourge of mites plagued them. Then I read somewhere else that higher humidities lead to mite infestations with no explanation.Well now we know. Good luck with your farms!!!! Lynn

 

[ShysCreations]

Just a heads up for those showing or attending the poultry show at the National Western Stock show in January. Deadline for entries is 12/13. The poultry will be on exhibit Jan 15 & 16.

 

[Mommato5]

Quote:
Where do you buy wheat that spouts?

We grow our own and have a bin full. Want some to try?

I would LOVE to try some! PM me and let me know what you need from me! Thank you!!

It is -8 outside right now (8:30pm) and -4 in the coop. My girls have never had it so cold and I'm worried for them! I did not buy a heat lamp yet because it's not usually THIS cold in Dec! Finger's crossed they do alright! It's a small coop, about 12sq ft with 4 chickens in it so their body heat should mean something, and the humidity tends to stay pretty low. Their roost is wide, a 2X6 wide side up, so their toes should stay warm. They've tolerated single digits just fine overnight so I would assume they will do ok but it's just crazy to me to leave a pet outdoors in these sub-zero temps! But I have nowhere to keep them indoors....Oh, please don't let them be blocks of chicken flavored ice come morning!! Maybe I could put them in a bathroom with the door closed and lights off? It would at least be easy to clean......Hmmmmmmm

 

[hispoptart]

I know just how you feel Mommato5, it's -3 here right now to (9:30pm) I too am praying my chickens will be alive in the morning. This is my first year with them.

 

[Mommato5]

Quote:
It's my first year with them, too, and it has to be sooooo cold sooooo early in the season! What's up with that??