Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

Feedroom is 12C (54F), barn is now around -4C at the west door, likely colder at the other end.

-5C is where I find my gang doesn’t do so well. Today I noted that they didn’t eat even half their feed (porridge or pellets), and far less water consumption. This is what worries me, I made sure they had a good feed of scratch grain and oats before they went to bed.

I am going to start getting Mr P and his gang sleeping in the Hen Houses, not sure how I will get them separate in the morning, but I think I will get them all into the Hen House B and put a heater like I have in the feedroom and set it for 10C.

This way at least they will have a warming space at night so they aren’t stressed. And still have the Sweeter Heaters during the day to hang out under.

I like this idea. Execution may not be easy but it would be good for them all to be warmer.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Smart girl! These Polish are very clever it seems!

Mr P snuggled under the heat panel - looks kinda creepy actually!
View attachment 4288361

And Betty and Petra near the panel in HH-A.
View attachment 4288360

Smart Polish!

I don't know if I got the smart strain of Polish. We wrapped the north and west sides of both runs for protection from the wind. I then went out yesterday and poured out pine pellets wherever water had seeped in at the edges on the two open sides. They have the coop to go under and a massive amount of straw to get into. (I removed wet straw.)
I went out yesterday to check on the big girls, who spent the rain storm hunkered down under their coop, and to put away the Polish. Martina was wisely on the roost inside the coop. I have to leave the big door propped open for her to get in because Jamie blocks the pop door. Still. In 39 degree weather. Y'all advised me to cut another pop door, and DH actually laughed when I told him. So it's still on the to-do list. Meanwhile I enjoy putting them on the roost every night and they've gotten much more comfortable with me handling them again.
It turns out not only was Jamie sitting in the entrance with her head out in the 30 degree weather, both of their floofy heads were wet. They apparently thought it would be fun to sit on their ramp and watch the icy rain fall. I couldn't let them go to bed with wet floof so I had to go get towels and dry their heads. I worried all night that I should have brought them in and blow dried them, but we seemed to get them pretty dry and their coop is warm.
So not only is Jamie not that smart apparently (DH has pointed out that Mirabel actually caused brain damage to Jamie when she attacked her for having been broody - it rung her bell because Polish don't have skull protection for their brains I think. So Jamie has an excuse.) Both Polish don't seem that smart for getting their heads wet at bedtime in this weather.
Good thing I love them.

 

[BY Bob]

Not due here until 6am and I think it is coming up from the South (strangely).

Yes, the big ones come from the south and the winds blow in from the east northeast. Hence the term Nor'Easter.

Looks like it is under performing. Only about 3-4 inches last night.

 

[knoturavggrl]

Yes, the big ones come from the south and the winds blow in from the east northeast. Hence the term Nor'Easter.

Loss like it is under performing. Only about 3-4 inches last night.

View attachment 4288422

Thank goodness, over here in Ohio it seems to not be dropping the predicted snowpocolypse level of snow either. I am just fine with that, hopefully it stays that way for us all.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Feedroom is 12C (54F), barn is now around -4C at the west door, likely colder at the other end.

-5C is where I find my gang doesn’t do so well. Today I noted that they didn’t eat even half their feed (porridge or pellets), and far less water consumption. This is what worries me, I made sure they had a good feed of scratch grain and oats before they went to bed.

I am going to start getting Mr P and his gang sleeping in the Hen Houses, not sure how I will get them separate in the morning, but I think I will get them all into the Hen House B and put a heater like I have in the feedroom and set it for 10C.

This way at least they will have a warming space at night so they aren’t stressed. And still have the Sweeter Heaters during the day to hang out under.

Feed and water too far from the warming areas hindering their ability to eat?

 

[Ponypoor]

I like this idea. Execution may not be easy but it would be good for them all to be warmer.

I had hoped having the horses in overnight might warm up the barn, but it's at -5C at the east end of the barn where the horses stalls are, their water buckets again had ice forming.

I think I am going to treat the whole barn as an 'outside' area (like a run), and the Hen Houses as the 'inside' area. I think if I put up some of those plastic curtains they use in grocery stores, and cold storage plants, etc - like this:

Or maybe one of those magnetic door curtains like this:

Rather pricey for both these - bet I can make something from heavy poly... If I can get something like that put up and put one of those oil filled radian heaters in the Hen House, it will be a warming location for the chooks (help keeps eggs from freezing also!).

This needs sleeping on, I still have poor Mr P's harem in the Summer house but I guess I can remove the IR panels in the Hen House and put in with his harem. It's just annoying that those bratty hens keep picking at him, I could just let them all run together if it wasn't for him being picked at. Brats all of them I tell you, brats!

 

[Labsandchickens8]

If they're children of my white Sapphires (color and build make that likely) and inherit their penchant for screaming until desired box is empty, then Bang and Clang would be appropriate!

Today's BFTP: this was so funny!
We lost Internet for a while and my biggest concern was that I would lose BYC.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I had hoped having the horses in overnight might warm up the barn, but it's at -5C at the east end of the barn where the horses stalls are, their water buckets again had ice forming.

I think I am going to treat the whole barn as an 'outside' area (like a run), and the Hen Houses as the 'inside' area. I think if I put up some of those plastic curtains they use in grocery stores, and cold storage plants, etc - like this:
View attachment 4288432

Or maybe one of those magnetic door curtains like this:
View attachment 4288435

Rather pricey for both these - bet I can make something from heavy poly... If I can get something like that put up and put one of those oil filled radian heaters in the Hen House, it will be a warming location for the chooks (help keeps eggs from freezing also!).

This needs sleeping on, I still have poor Mr P's harem in the Summer house but I guess I can remove the IR panels in the Hen House and put in with his harem. It's just annoying that those bratty hens keep picking at him, I could just let them all run together if it wasn't for him being picked at. Brats all of them I tell you, brats!

Quick fixes:

Tacking up old blankets.

Shower curtains, plastic and cloth (or both, staple them together!), whatever's on hand. Already have hanging grommets built in. Magnet things on bottom help them hang without blowing around.

Taping together garbage bags with packing tape. Put pebbles in the bags and tape them together so those bags hang upright. Packing tape sticks very well in the cold but may have to be applied in the warmth of the hosue.

 

[Ponypoor]

Feed and water too far from the warming areas hindering their ability to eat?

Nope water is right next to the overhead panel, and porridge also. Textured feed near by.... They insist upon going into the stalls to pick through them and then get cold and just huddle together all fluffed up.

I am thinking of limiting their access to the whole barn, just keep them up near the Hen House - that is problematic though as it involves putting up a wall of sorts.

Currently I am keeping the doorway to HH-A&B opened just enough for the hens to get in to lay eggs, help keep any warmth in there. That is where I want to install some plastic panels and put a heater in to keep around 10C.

The water and food is set near the IR panel.

This is looking the otherway down the barn alleyway, and already I count 5, the rest are likely in the stalls.
I used to have lovely clean brick paver alleyway hahahaha, chicken poop is slippery, and ankle turners when frozen! Dangerous crap!

Reenie's stall - 4 in there...

Truly's stall - 4 more...

The rest are 'who knows where' in the barn. And they roam about so much hard to count them hahaha.

Well I guess I better go and do chores, empty the horses' water buckets so they don't freeze solid!.

 

[Ponypoor]

Quick fixes:

Tacking up old blankets.

Shower curtains, plastic and cloth (or both, staple them together!), whatever's on hand. Already have hanging grommets built in. Magnet things on bottom help them hang without blowing around.

Taping together garbage bags with packing tape. Put pebbles in the bags and tape them together so those bags hang upright. Packing tape sticks very well in the cold but may have to be applied in the warmth of the hosue.

Yep that was my thought, but with the heavy poly. Cut to fit door, then cut strips so the chooks can come and go as they wish.