Consolidated Kansas

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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I like the fact that it can be any maple tree. what intrigued me was the other trees, I have a lot of big Walnut and a couple of sycamore trees.

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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It was -2 up here also. My coop was 14 with out any heat lights/lamps, I have 18 birds and my coop is 12x16.

Last night I finally started using a heated watering system. I have a 5 gallon bucket with a 250watt stock tank heater and 3 water nipples on the bottom.

 

[Myabcs3]

Just got done feeding the girls and boys a warm breakfast. It went quickly. We have been shoveling our run or chicken yard and laying down leaves and hay, so they have been wandering in and out over the past three days. Yesterday with the wind, they weren't out so much, but this morning they are all out the door once the warm mash was devoured. I do have to say the heated dog bowl was worth the money!

I have to keep reminding myself that the cold is harder on me than on them. Afterall, they are equipped to deal with it! Just take a look at the heavy coats they have on! Also the walk down to the coop is good exercise for me and gets me a dose of vitamin D when I would normally be sitting in the house!

Have a great day! Enjoy the tranquility and peace in the snow!

 

[mikeksfarmer]

I have to say I am suffering such guilt! Warm mash, heated water buckets, thermometers in the chicken house.
I have a reflective 100 watt bulb on the water can, and in this weather it keeps a small spot melted. coop is nice keeps out most of the wind, lots of hay on the floor and attached to a fully wired enclosed run. I take them a 5 gal bucket of warm water each day so the ducks at least can play some. I am glad to know such people who heat up food or water to make their friends feel better. In short most chicken peole are good people!

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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The heated water is not to make them feel better, its to make me feel better (does that make me a bad person).

I feel better knowing they will have water when ever they want it. I feel better knowing that my kids who take care of them in the morning wont need to accidentally on purpose forget to water them.

Actually my oldest son is good at his morning chicken chores, its just breaking ice can be a pain in the bahookie.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Well it was -6 this morning here in Ozawkie.
Listend to the sound of my Serama roo crow and it sounded like
"Buuurrrr iiiitttssssss frrrrriccckkkin colllllllllllddddddd"

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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[ck_dunham]

Heck, It was cold enough over night that my Heated waterer had ice. -8 when I got up.

 

[Ivywoods]

Anyone ready for spring? BBBBBRRRRR! I'm really tired of dumping ice out of water pans every day. I have several pens, but only one heated waterer. I've been going to make a "cookie tin" water heater, but I never seem to get everything I need gathered up to get it done. I'm just going to break down and go buy some heated water bowls. I saw some at Wal-Mart. They were $14.95. They held 1 quart. I think I will get some of those. That would be just about the right size for my little pens.

Once it warms up at least a little bit I'm going to start working on my breeder pens and housing. I've decided to use some of the siding from the old hay barn we have. It's a neat old barn, but unfortunately it's too far gone to restore. The windstorm we had last June took a major chunk out of the north side and leaned it a bit. We moved here in 2006, and it was beyond repair then. Too bad. I just hate to see the old barns tumble down due to neglect, and this one had been neglected for many years. I'm going to try to put some of it to use for my chicken pens, and then there is a local guy who wants to salvage what he can out of it to use in building a church and a house.

 

[Naughty]

About the maple syrup thing - I found some of the taps on ebay - and a cool website about it - http://tapmytrees.com/

I only have 2-3 trees so it won't make much - but sounded like a fun idea to try. The taps are pretty cheap - so won't be a big cost if i don't like it. I am under the impression that february and march are the times to do this in Kansas but would love more info - : )

My chicks seem to be okay so far - but the water that is in their coop at night still freezes - so I am hoping that they are still warm enough. I have one of my new girls that was pretty peck when i got her (felt sorry for the runt... couldnt resist her) so i am hoping she is warm enough as those feathers row back - she seems to have learned that my big girls are good blankies... she crawls under em

I don't love my chicks as much at 6 in the morning as I did during the spring and summer... lol