Had a rough day ... thanks for the verbal hugs!!

[Mrs MIA]

Didn't sleep well last night... woke up at 4am dreaming about chicks frozen stuck to the floor, swelling up like balloons...

I feel like I was out partying all night, without the fun. Still -26F this morning, too. But, on the bright side, we haven't had our pipes freeze up once this winter so far, thanks to the extra insulation we put in this past summer when we replaced the septic system.

Something comforting about a nice hot shower when it's so cold out.

 

[kodiakchicken]

Tori - so sorry about your bad dream. I had one the night before that I went out and found three more of my little chicks in the big brooder, all beat up and bloody. Guess that shows how much we care about them, huh?

How are your hands today?

We're down to 12 degrees today, which is about the coldest I think I've seen it here since we arrived in '01. Stay warm the best you can and keep those birds warm. Can you put a milkhouse heater out in their coop or would it be like trying to warm the arctic with a candle?

Everyone else in the frozen north - stay safe and warm and let's get through this cold snap!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Hi Erin...

Yeah, the dreams can be rough. But so far everyone is fine this morning. I do have one of my ameraucana chicks in the garage that definitely has swollen hot feet. I'll need to attend to her a little more closely, but the rest of the birds are doing well. I am considering putting a smaller lamp in each of the breeder pens so they have direct heat to huddle under, instead of trying to heat the whole thing. I like the "warming the arctic with a candle" comparison... that about covers it! LOL!
My hands are ok... a little reddening around the knuckles, and they feel a little raw, but I don't think they're damaged, thank goodness. I kept my big gloves on this morning, and that helped.

 

[Mrs MIA]

I'm sad... we lost another mallard today... just too dang cold for too long. Hubby finally broke down and ran an extension cord out to the house with a lamp for them. We have one male and 6 females left. Almost lost a female today, too... good thing I did a beak-count. I found her crammed under the feeder... only the smallest part of her tail was showing.

We had a high of -14F today... it's back down to -21F at 8pm. And the wind is picking up...

 

[kodiakchicken]

Oh darn it, Tori! I'm so sorry!

Did you lose another duck earlier this winter? I didn't realize.

Geez, what a horrible winter. At least you've got a lamp going out there now. That should help. A friend actually asked me tonight if I had noticed any frostbite issues with my girls yet. She thinks one of hers might have a spot of frostbite, on a peacomb no less! I gave her the vaseline tip.

I wish there was something I could do to help. I'll be thinking warm thoughts for you at least.

 

[Mrs MIA]

We lost the first of our three drakes back in November while I was gone. I don't know why he passed... it wasn't cold yet. So we're down to one last drake. If something happens to him before Spring then I will likely scrap the duck project.

I just don't think ducks do well confined to small spaces and small water bowls. Or -30F.

I'm ready for a little good news... and I got it with your little chickie!!

 

[snowydiamonds]

This winter seems so long and cold, more so than any other in my half a century here. I'm thinking of leaving home and living where its warmer for the farm. I got my heaters on separate outlets just before this long cold started. I'm sorry about your troubles, this cold can't last much longer, can it???

I put Falcon and Hawk out in the small coop near the door, for the 3rd time...my lighter blue boys that have so much fun practicing the crow every morning. I miss them but needed their big cage for the big banty hatch I've got going right now. The white banty hen has adopted them, she is one great hen! They are as big as her and she's their big lil mama. I'll try to get a pic of them w/her but have to finally go back to work tomorrow.

I've only got a heat lamp over the water for my Cayugas and Magpies, they are laying eggs now and all the eggs have frozen except four. My biggest coop is holding at 30 degrees w/the heater on full blast. The water is freezing in there, too, so I keep spare buckets inside to switch every day. The BO's, RIR, GLW, BLRW and Black Ee's are doing well at that temp so far since I dubbed Brewster. I can see I'm going to have to put some skirting on the biggest coop next year.

I think the way to go for here is many smaller coops with windows, those two coops are nice and warm and the heaters are not on full blast, either. That means banty birds or fewer LF. Or sheep in one half of the big coop and one LF flock in the other half, that'd be warm. We'll have to keep coming up with ideas and what works!
Once it warms up here, you can be it'll be a blizzard...those are always warm.

 

[speckledhen]

Please take care of yourself, Tori! I've experienced 25 below zero while living in Ohio and really dont miss that at all.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Today is day 10 of waking up to -30F. There's talk of snow in the forecast for Thursday, but usually when they forecast out that far it gets bumped a few days. I'm not asking for much... just above 0F, please?!? Maybe +10F? *sigh* I'm tired...

Cheryl, I don't know how you do it out there with all those animals. My heating bill would be $500+ a month if I tried to heat everyone here.

And none of my ducks EVER laid an egg this year. I just hope our one last drake doesn't give up on us. Stupid ducks... they like to dance in the water before it freezes up, and then sit there all miserable.

Thanks Cyn... I don't know that I've ever been this cold this long involuntarily. I had to do these temps for a job once, but I was a little more prepared for it. And this isn't bad, considering the rest of the state is -50 to -60F...

 

[Lunachick]

I'm sorry you lost your Chip and the duck & bunny.

I truly hope it warms up for you and you get to feeling better! Take care.

I don't want to tease you, but we should be having more of a winter here and it's only 35*....wacky weather...