Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

We have an inch or so of snow and it is still snowing. I don't think it's going to be any big deal.

I had 4 chicks in the hatcher when I got home and one fully zipped and just about ready to pop out of the shell. I got one batch of chicks moved out to the new brooder. Good thing. It was going to be pretty crowded in here with this new hatch. The chicks I took out to the new brooder were freaking out. I don't think they liked the wire floor at all! I worry about them and have checked on them several times. I think the way my little brooder compartments are the 125 watt heat lamp is a little too hot, so they are not underneath it, but in a circle around the outside of it. As you move to the corners or ends of the brooder it is much cooler, especially with that wire floor.

Yesterday when I checked on the chicks in the stock tank it was SO COLD outside. They were all hanging out pretty close to the heat lamp and I couldn't believe it when I noticed my waterer in there was FROZEN! I moved it closer to the light, and it started to melt right away. All the chicks seem to be doing well in spite of the extreme temp differences within their little world.

DH just went out to check on the woodstove and the two goats that are STILL hanging on! Surely you would think this snowstorm would cause them to have their babies! They usually manage to do it during the worst weather.

 

[tweetysvoice]

I think we are at a couple inches right now (7:45am) and it's still coming. Driving wasn't horrible, just painstakingly slow. So, Tell me - how does everyone's chickens do in the snow? I've heard that some just ignore it and others won't have a thing to do with it hehe Sounds like my two dogs. Fritz (the old man) will walk like he's got tar on his feet in the snow, whereas Darwin will shovel is mouth in the snow - eating it as he walks. He rolls in it and creates doggy snow angles. LOL.

Ivy - I wish I could have goats. That's something I've always wanted, but unless we move out of the city that won't ever happen. You'll have to share pictures when they decide to come

 

[Hawkeye95]

We have an inch or so of snow and it is still snowing. I don't think it's going to be any big deal.

I had 4 chicks in the hatcher when I got home and one fully zipped and just about ready to pop out of the shell. I got one batch of chicks moved out to the new brooder. Good thing. It was going to be pretty crowded in here with this new hatch. The chicks I took out to the new brooder were freaking out. I don't think they liked the wire floor at all! I worry about them and have checked on them several times. I think the way my little brooder compartments are the 125 watt heat lamp is a little too hot, so they are not underneath it, but in a circle around the outside of it. As you move to the corners or ends of the brooder it is much cooler, especially with that wire floor.

Yesterday when I checked on the chicks in the stock tank it was SO COLD outside. They were all hanging out pretty close to the heat lamp and I couldn't believe it when I noticed my waterer in there was FROZEN! I moved it closer to the light, and it started to melt right away. All the chicks seem to be doing well in spite of the extreme temp differences within their little world.

DH just went out to check on the woodstove and the two goats that are STILL hanging on! Surely you would think this snowstorm would cause them to have their babies! They usually manage to do it during the worst weather.

Wow Ivy-- how the heck are those does still pregnant?? I hope they didn't kid last night in the middle of the night. Sounds like a great set up with your brooder. I can't believe their water was frozen! Yikes! I have my cookie tin running in the big coop which is doing GREAT!, and Seymore and the little Harem in my garage are doing well with their water. Not frozen yet. But I do have a heat lamp running over them, because their water was freezing up over night a while back. My DH is a real energy freak and he kept unplugging their heat lamp! I kept waking up to frozen water. We had a little chat and he isn't unplugging my lamp in there anymore. Sheesh.



Welcome Marty to the Kansas thread!


Well, I'm going to start collecting eggs again. It might be hit and miss on fertility right now.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I think we are at a couple inches right now (7:45am) and it's still coming. Driving wasn't horrible, just painstakingly slow. So, Tell me - how does everyone's chickens do in the snow? I've heard that some just ignore it and others won't have a thing to do with it hehe Sounds like my two dogs. Fritz (the old man) will walk like he's got tar on his feet in the snow, whereas Darwin will shovel is mouth in the snow - eating it as he walks. He rolls in it and creates doggy snow angles. LOL.

Ivy - I wish I could have goats. That's something I've always wanted, but unless we move out of the city that won't ever happen. You'll have to share pictures when they decide to come

I'm about to find out how they do in the snow... Going to let them out when I get ready to leave here in about 30 mins. We probably only have a couple inches of snow, too. Deeper in some areas due to the wind. I hope the roads are fine, I have to drive clear up north this morning which usually takes me about 40 mins. So I'm guessing it'll take me an hour with the slow driving conditions. Sigh.

 

[HEChicken]

Marty1876 - glad to have you with us.

Ivy, I can't believe those does haven't kidded yet! Sounds like you are keeping busy with your various batches of hatchlings.

As for how my flock does in the snow - most of them hate it. I have a BSL who is something of a loner and last year I was amused to see her wading around in very deep snow for hours at a time, but the rest of them just sit and grumble about it. They have plenty of space in my current coop and it is dry and draft-free, if not particularly warm. Their feeder is in the coop. Normally they have to walk across the yard for water but this morning I dragged out the heated dog water bowl, plugged it in and filled it with water, placing it right outside the pop door. So they won't have to venture far to lay eggs, eat or drink. My guess is they will spend most of today in the coop.

 

[chicken danz]

Welcome Marty! We're practically neighbors. I live in Coffey Co about 40 miles from Emporia so I spend a lot of time over there for shopping. There's at least one other Lyon Co BYCer on here that lives in Admire. Jump in and join the conversation and tell us about yourself.
I have 3 chickens out wandering around this morning. The rest of them are using their heads. I can only guess at how much snow we have since it blows around so much out here. I'd guess an inch and a half. But now we are getting some light freezing rain and that worries me. It's 29 here right now.
I'm sure not anxious to get out and feed today.
I have all of my water bowls and waterers plugged in so there should be water for everyone. Most of them have to go outside to drink though. I guess they'll go out and get a drink when they get thirsty enough.
My little brooder bin in the house is over full. I have a batch of Seramas in the middle of hatching and hatched. It is getting way too crowded. I just moved a bunch out like 3 days ago so these left in here are a little young to be moved yet.
Since I sold that pair of pheasants yesterday, I have another outside pen open, and can move the few pheasants I had in the brooder outsidee. But today is not the day to move them. Once that is done I'll have a whole other slot to put chicks. It will just have to wait a day or two. I need to reroute some electrical cords cause I'm about to the max amperage on that line. I sure don't want to trip the breaker and have everyone get cold.
After such a mild winter this is a slap in the face! DH is working today so I have to get out and do my own feeding and watering too.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Danz -- I have asthma too, so annoying. So okay, you've been there, done that, so I'll relax. Glad you're feeling at least a tiny bit better.

Welcome Marty1876!

 

[pikeman94]

Got back from a fishing trip this weekend to find one of my girls gaping. So, this am I separated her from the rest of the flock and put her in the garage in a kennel. So far I haven't see any more gaping, but her droppings don't look right at all - very runny. I will give her some Ivermectin during my lunch break and watch her over the next several days. The good news is that none of the other hens are acting "odd", but I will keep an eye on them.

Pikeman94

 

[cherwill]

Danz, the cat and duck are darling together!

Hawkeye, I get lots of blood spots on my eggs, mostly in the whites. All of my hens are just about 2 years old. It's happening less often now, but in the beginning it probably happened in 50% of the eggs. I always crack my eggs into a separate bowl first. Most of the time I can just pick the spot out. Once in a while there are streaks of blood across the yolk. Those go to the dogs and contribute to their nice, shiny coats.

 

[justinwrites]

Been a while, popping in to say hi! So busy lately.