fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[Wyorp Rock]

Yee-haw!!! Not looking forward to greeting the girls tomorrow morning:

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Today the chickens got some collards, BOSS, and later in the afternoon some grape bits. The flocks have been eating a lot of feed, so the feed/supplement ratio is fine.

I put a flake of straw in each run, and the chickens obligingly spread it all over. The runs don't get muddy, mainly because I add litter such as leaves or straw.

I collected two Sussex pullet eggs, the OEGBs are slackers!


Checked the coops after dark, everyone is up on the roosts, yes!

Temp is 28°, wind blowing so feels like 19° at 10pm.

Low of 16° expected...wondering what the wind chill will be at that point!

The wind chill will be = COLD

Pretty much the same temps here as @Mother of Chaos I agree, not looking forward to 5F, I think I saw wind chill will be -2 or something. Does it matter when it gets in the minus?

 

[fuzzi]

The wind chill will be = COLD

Pretty much the same temps here as @Mother of Chaos I agree, not looking forward to 5F, I think I saw wind chill will be -2 or something. Does it matter when it gets in the minus?

Cars don't start.

Pipes freeze.

And it takes 15 minutes to get dressed in your winter outdoor gear!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Cars don't start.

Pipes freeze.

And it takes 15 minutes to get dressed in your winter outdoor gear!

I agree!

Oh my goodness, all those layers! I still haven't put on any socks (yet!) but am wearing my fake fur lined bootie things (doesn't count as socks!).

For our vehicles, we try to put trickle chargers on all of them in cold weather, that helps a lot. Buy the cheapo $9.99 one at Harbor Freight, it will work in freezing temps. I've tried various ones over the years from expensive to cheap. The more expensive stop working when it gets to around 32, so what good is that!?!

Oh and do remember to take the charger lead OFF the battery before you crank the vehicle, if not, well...you'll find out like I did

 

[fuzzi]

I was raised in Connecticut, experienced some very snowy winters. In the winter of 1987-88 there was an unusual cold snap, -20°F for several days. I had inherited my grandmother's '68 Buick. Every morning it cranked, and started, though it shook very hard at first. The door hinges screeched, and the vinyl seat cracked when I sat on it.

I DON'T MISS THE COLD.

 

[Molpet]

The wind chill will be = COLD

Pretty much the same temps here as @Mother of Chaos I agree, not looking forward to 5F, I think I saw wind chill will be -2 or something. Does it matter when it gets in the minus?

Yesterday morning it was -5f out of the wind. Today it is 14 above. Big difference when I opened the door to let the dog out.

 

[1muttsfan]

14 again today, a little breezy but the trees really break that down a bit, so the pop door is open again today and everybody seems to be happy to get out and stretch their legs a little. Bitter cold weather supposed to continue until the end of next week.

 

[fuzzi]

The outside temperature at 8am was 16°, wait, 10°, no...it was 25°. I have three, which thermometer should I trust?

I broke the ice on the water tubs, about 1/4"-1/3".

Then I offered mash made with crumble and hamburger drippings. Yummy. I found one Sussex pullet egg, it must have been an early lay as the boxes were empty just before dark. When I checked the boxes a couple hours later I found two OEGB eggs, and a larger Sussex egg. I think one of the hens started laying!

OEGB above, Sussex below.

The darker pullet egg is the first one I gathered, and as I put it in the spoonrest for a photo I noticed it had a hairline crack, it probably froze (look closely, you can see the crack in the photo). I put the cracked egg in the refrigerator, planning to use it first. In fact, I made a loaded omelette for supper, and used that egg.

Esther is acting normal.


Forecast for this weekend, very snowy!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

The outside temperature at 8am was 16°, wait, 10°, no...it was 25°. I have three, which thermometer should I trust?
View attachment 4289619
View attachment 4289620

I broke the ice on the water tubs, about 1/4"-1/3".
View attachment 4289621

Then I offered mash made with crumble and hamburger drippings. Yummy. I found one Sussex pullet egg, it must have been an early lay as the boxes were empty just before dark. When I checked the boxes a couple hours later I found two OEGB eggs, and a larger Sussex egg. I think one of the hens started laying!
View attachment 4289622
OEGB above, Sussex below.

The darker pullet egg is the first one I gathered, and as I put it in the spoonrest for a photo I noticed it had a hairline crack, it probably froze (look closely, you can see the crack in the photo). I put the cracked egg in the refrigerator, planning to use it first. In fact, I made a loaded omelette for supper, and used that egg.

Esther is acting normal.


Forecast for this weekend, very snowy!
View attachment 4289624
View attachment 4289625

I can’t believe how you’re getting all this wintry mess, often colder than us! I know that every night for the 10-day forecast has us well-below freezing and the days barely above freezing, but your area has had so much more than “just cold.”

 

[Shadrach]

... and I'm complaining at anything below +10C.
I'm not happy in the cold unless I'm doing something physical. When it's cold and damp I'm tetchy to say the least. When it's below freezing, damp and windy I sort of seize up.

 

[fuzzi]

I can’t believe how you’re getting all this wintry mess, often colder than us! I know that every night for the 10-day forecast has us well-below freezing and the days barely above freezing, but your area has had so much more than “just cold.”

We had two winters with not even a flake of snow, or drop of ice (2022-23, 2023-24) so I shouldn't complain.

January 2022