Consolidated Kansas

[22qZoo]

Hechicken -I love my coveralls ! I wear them all the time . They make me look like an "umpa-loompa"but that's ok, helps keep your other clothes from getting dirty too.

 

[Trish44]

Coveralls. That's what I need! I've never had any but this year I may get some - for the first time I really feel like I need them.

Trish, you're lucky you haven't had freezing rain yet. We already had some this afternoon and I almost couldn't get into the feed room end of my coop when I went to do evening chores this evening. In fact, I'm so worried I won't be able to get in there in the morning that I pulled the goat/sheep ration of grain and brought it up to the house. I fill the chicken feeder in the evening anyway so by having the goat and sheep feed already pulled, I won't need to get in tomorrow morning so it won't matter if I'm frozen out.

Everyone was in the coop way early this evening and I had completed evening chores about 45 minutes earlier than usual. I guess it felt good to them to get in out of that cold north wind, too.

These overalls were some that my DH got when he worked in the test cell at G.E. They gave them to the guys because at times they had to work in an unheated cell. These are so warm that when I get them all on & that's a task in itself & zip up the legs & all I actually sweat in them no matter how cold it is outside. They're down filled & then I put my down coat over the top so the top of me is warm too & I'm pretty cozy in there. I don't think I could stand it this year going out in that weather if I didn't have those things. I wore them all winter last year & it sure makes it more pleasant to go out there than it would otherwise. I think they came from Cabelas or somewhere like that. Anyway, I probably look like the Michelin man by the time I get my gear all on, but I don't care what I look like, the chickens sure don't care as long as they get fed.

I'm kind of worried about getting to my pens tomorrow too. If it gets really slick it's going to be real fun trying to get down to my pens to feed. I almost slid in the mud this morning as it was, let alone having ice all over the ground. HEChicken you have seen how my yard slopes all the way down & I have to watch it going down there to do anything when it's wet.

I didn't even let any of my birds out this morning, they didn't look that interested in coming out in the rain & I didn't have the time to mess with them since we had an appt. in Wichita at 10:45 today. They were perfectly happy to stay in actually I think today & probably will be tomorrow too.

 

[ashncarson]

so my 40 watt cookie tin heater was able to keep about about half a side of the waterer from freezing...will they be smart enough to go to the other side if one side is frozen? It only stayed liquid right above where the bulb is...is this how they work?

 

[sharol]

Hmm... We have ice on everything . Oh joy. Birds are cozy tho, got all of the outside yard stuff done yesterday and today. Having company come for Thanksgiving is making us get a lot done, like- today was trash day, so while the rest of the family was gone I made a pretty good haul to the end of the driveway. (What they don't know won't hurt them).DH's family would hate to think we were going out of our way for them but it truly is a good motivator .
One of the diva weather guys made his winter weather "forecast ". He seems to think that it will be wetter than normal with a couple of arctic blasts, maybe even an ice storm. Apparently he needed his own half hour show to share that info.

Those weather guys really get excited about severe weather, don't they? I remember the KFDI weather reporters and tornado weather back in the 70's. You could almost see them dancing the happy dance that something was happening.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish, those I buy are Glacier Ice Bay fishing gloves. Just got a new pair in the mail yesterday. I have a second pair on back order right now. I ordered two different sizes. You can't beat them for keeping your hands warm and dry. I have some overalls and some coveralls both. But I like to wear those ski pants on top of my jeans to do my chores. I guess for one thing I can get them off quicker if I have to run in the house to go pee.

They tend to shed the water a little as well. I can't feed and water without getting wet. It's just impossible. I have a heavy dickies jacket I wear on top and if it is really cold I put a sweat shirt under that. I also wear a scarf around my neck that really seems to help keep the cold drafts out. And I put on my big ole heavy muck boots. I look like a black michelin man but I stay warm unless I'm out there for a long time.
We got lots of ice last night. I was thinking it was going to be awful today but the wind came up and it kind of freeze dried every thing. What a blessing.
They were predicting snow last night for today but it looks like it's been taken out of the forecast. I'm not disappointed. Now if they would take the cold out of the forecast I'd be happy.
Ashncarson, my bulbs sit more toward the middle of the container so it could be a difference in what kind of fixture your DH used. At any rate all you need is a place for them to gain access to the water. The less water they have to choose from maybe the less mess they will make. Lots of people use those drip waterers and the chickens figure them out so I am sure they'll find the water. I've seen my chickens out in the yard in winter picking on ice instead of going back and drinking the thawed water at the coop.
I have a regular heated water base that was priced way too high and was made to keep big waterers thawed. I have seen it totally iced over before but the chickens will go along the sides where they can get the water from under neath.
I put a water bowl out in the old garage area for the sex link chicks cause their gallon waterer wasn't keeping up with them. I didn't have a heater for it so I guess I'll see if the garage kept enough heat in for it to stay partially thawed. If not I may have to make another cookie tin heater. They are still kind of short so I didn't want to raise it too high.
Sharol maybe we should ask Lizzy how it is to be married to a weather guy!! I don't think I'd share any enthusiasm about bad weather however.

 

[cherwill]

I have a nephew who was born in Germany. His Dad is a German doctor. He is 26 years old now and has never had an antibiotic in his life. He is probably the healthiest kid I know. He has also not been sick like most kids were.

I'll bet. Don't get me started on one of my pet peeves ....

Back when I used bagged feed I didn't use as much when I used pellets. First I don't think my birds liked it as well so they ate less. And second there is less waste. I guarantee if you are feeding scratch too they are going to go for that first. I've been considering whether to buy my own pelletizer. A major expense. But I feel I may end up saving money in the long run if I made my own pellets.

Sometimes you do have to spend money to save money. The problem is getting that initial money together!

LOL on the old lady ears. I think my tri-colored may be getting a little hard of hearing. She is only 7 but at night when I call them to come down to the chicken yard for the night, she used to always be the first to run down to me. The last couple of weeks it seems she doesn't hear me calling and I have to walk up and get her. I keep calling as I'm walking and about the time I get halfway up the yard, she will come racing around the corner to me. I don't think she's being "naughty" - I think she just really doesn't hear me until I'm closer these days.

My birds are too young for that, but my older dog doesn't hear very well any more, and she has cataracts so she doesn't see very well either. We don't often give it much thought, but the critters age right along with us, don't they!

Hechicken -I love my coveralls ! I wear them all the time . They make me look like an "umpa-loompa"but that's ok, helps keep your other clothes from getting dirty too.

I'm laughing about the "umpa-loompa" because I hate to think what I would look like in coveralls.

On the once or twice a year occasion that we have to dig out from heavy snow, I always wonder why I don't have coveralls. DH has some and he's always toasty warm.

Those weather guys really get excited about severe weather, don't they? I remember the KFDI weather reporters and tornado weather back in the 70's. You could almost see them dancing the happy dance that something was happening.

LOL! I don't know about the happy dance these days, but they do seem to think every spring storm will result in the tornado of the century.

Wow is it cold this morning. I'll be running out every couple of hours to make sure the water isn't frozen. Fortunately, I don't have to run far. Try to stay warm, everyone.

 

[HEChicken]

Those weather guys really get excited about severe weather, don't they? I remember the KFDI weather reporters and tornado weather back in the 70's. You could almost see them dancing the happy dance that something was happening.

Even after only a few years living in KS, I was quite used to the extremes of KS weather and I'm still amazed, not just by the weather guys but by the population in general, how surprised everyone seems when we have extreme weather.

I finally had to break down and plug in a heated water bowl this morning. Everything was frozen solid. I added a tank heater to the sheep/goats water tank and a gallon of water to a heated water bowl for the birds. Fortunately most of the ducks flew down to the pond first thing so they aren't there to splash water out like they usually do. I'll have to go and add a gallon every couple of hours throughout the day today as the high is supposed to be only 30. It seems early to me for it to be this cold - I hope it is just a cold snap and not a harbinger of the winter to come….

In good news though, the hay shelter/wall is working extremely well. It was biting cold out in that north wind but then I stepped into the shelter to deliver the morning's grain ration, and the wind just….stopped. I know its still cold out there but once you're protected from the wind, its tolerable - and feels 20 degrees warmer.

 

[zigzag45]

@HEChicken - thanks for your comment about birds doing what they feel like. I've noticed one of my brahmas seems to prefer sleeping on the floor of the coop, while the rest vie for space on the top roost. A couple birds end up on the lower roost, but why the brahma is on the floor was puzzling me. I'll take it she just prefers being down there. She's definitely not bottom of the pecking order so there's no reason she couldn't get a spot on the roosts.

Water question.... I bought some nice poultry nipples and made a heated bucket watered for them. The power to the coop is working and everything was going to be just great I've spent 10-20 minutes each morning, for the past three mornings, out by the coop trying to encourage them to drink from it. Last night they had it all night, the previous nights I brought the bucket watered out with me after having removed it late, the evening before (after they were bedded down for the night).

If I mess with the nipples, I've been able to get two birds to come peck/kinda drink from it. Otherwise, I've seen no interest. After waiting for awhile I give them access to another source of water and they all run over and drink like they haven't had access to fluids in two weeks.

This page (https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/678722/dehydration-symptoms-cure-and-prevention) talks about dehydration indicators, but it appears to apply to hot weather. I don't think they would be panting in the cold.

Do I assume that even if I don't see them drinking from it, that they are? It's not easy to make marks inside. Or, should I be concerned and find another system. I could buy a heated dog bowl, but I know they will fill it with grime and sawdust and make a muddy mess out of it. I like the bucket because it has a lid, stays clean, and really, they should be grateful I was willing to take my time and make it for them (cough)... the least they could do is express appreciation and glug water from it....

Thoughts?

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Geez, I've missed a lot!! Not sure I'll be able to catch up with all of the posts lol. Man on man it's cold today! Because of the rain we had yesterday I had to pour hot water on the ramp coming out of the coop this morning so the chickens didn't turn it into a slide

Bought the stuff I need to make a cookie tin water heater last night but unfortunately wasn't able to get it together, can't seem to figure out how to change the bits on the drill

 

[chicken danz]

@HEChicken - thanks for your comment about birds doing what they feel like. I've noticed one of my brahmas seems to prefer sleeping on the floor of the coop, while the rest vie for space on the top roost. A couple birds end up on the lower roost, but why the brahma is on the floor was puzzling me. I'll take it she just prefers being down there. She's definitely not bottom of the pecking order so there's no reason she couldn't get a spot on the roosts.

Water question.... I bought some nice poultry nipples and made a heated bucket watered for them. The power to the coop is working and everything was going to be just great I've spent 10-20 minutes each morning, for the past three mornings, out by the coop trying to encourage them to drink from it. Last night they had it all night, the previous nights I brought the bucket watered out with me after having removed it late, the evening before (after they were bedded down for the night).

If I mess with the nipples, I've been able to get two birds to come peck/kinda drink from it. Otherwise, I've seen no interest. After waiting for awhile I give them access to another source of water and they all run over and drink like they haven't had access to fluids in two weeks.

This page (https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/678722/dehydration-symptoms-cure-and-prevention) talks about dehydration indicators, but it appears to apply to hot weather. I don't think they would be panting in the cold.

Do I assume that even if I don't see them drinking from it, that they are? It's not easy to make marks inside. Or, should I be concerned and find another system. I could buy a heated dog bowl, but I know they will fill it with grime and sawdust and make a muddy mess out of it. I like the bucket because it has a lid, stays clean, and really, they should be grateful I was willing to take my time and make it for them (cough)... the least they could do is express appreciation and glug water from it....

Thoughts?

Zig Zag, first using the nipples you need to be sure they aren't freezing. Even if the water stays thawed the nipples could freeze. What I have done is just set a pan under the nipple waterers to catch drips for a few days, then hit the toggle a few times so the birds know the water is there. They are obviously going to go for the easiest water they can so don't put the extra water in there. They will find it. However I do know most people who use the nipple waterers put them up for winter because of the freezing factor. If you have a drop in heater that keeps the bottom where the nipples are attached warm it could be okay. You may have to just delay that system until spring if not.
ChirpyChicks thanks for the laugh. Your reference to a slide gave me a mental image of chickens doing a fast slide ride that made me laugh.
Can you post a picture of your drill and the type of bits you would be using? I can help you.