That's a beautiful picture NorthChicken!
Thank you!! We are blessed with a beautiful view of the Aroostook River.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
That's a beautiful picture NorthChicken!
Mine eat twice as much during our cold weather (-25) last night than normally. Like you no heat. They survive not always happy but only two more months of extreme weather here in Western Maine. LOL I am counting the days until spring 2014!When it gets cold, you have to feed more. It is cold here tonight, I fed the scratch and cornmeal at just before dark. No added heat, good ventilation, and dry, they will be fine.
Mrs K
I am counting the day until spring too!!!!! I live on LONG LAKE & BRANDY POND in Naples Maine. The lakes look pretty with all the snow covering them. But the wind chill factor YUCK!It is usually in the -20F degree range here, but we are hitting -40F below zero tonight (that is without windchill, BRRR!!!). Days are anywhere from -20F to 10F for a high. I have 6 chickens in a 4x6 coop that is not insulated and I do not use any heat, I just have it stuffed with shavings and hay. They have a covered run sided with clear tarp, and they are always happy to go out to their run every morning. They go about their normal business all day, although I usually see them doing the flamingo with one leg tucked into their bellies when they are standing. Wouldn't say they are very happy about the cold, but haven't seen any frost bite issues. I am looking forward to spring, that is for sure.
I use gallon plastic milk jugs to fill my waterers. It is easier to carry the milk jugs than the full waterers. I have changed to heated plastic dog bowls. I have been very happy with them. Nothing has frozen yet and we have had -9 degrees. I just take out the water dump what water is left into an empty bucket wipe out the dog bowl and replace with new water. So much easier than last year when I was using cookie tin heaters with the red and clear plastic waterers.Trying to find a watering system that is easy. Feed is no problem, just have to carry all....
ok, go one step further, and use a liner bowl/bucket inside the dog bowl. I use plastic ice cream buckets, and it is so much easier to lift the bucket and empty it then to wrestle with the stiff cords on the heated bowl. I also use the milk jugs, and yes. soooo much easier.I use gallon plastic milk jugs to fill my waterers. It is easier to carry the milk jugs than the full waterers. I have changed to heated plastic dog bowls. I have been very happy with them. Nothing has frozen yet and we have had -9 degrees. I just take out the water dump what water is left into an empty bucket wipe out the dog bowl and replace with new water. So much easier than last year when I was using cookie tin heaters with the red and clear plastic waterers.
Sounds like my husband!!I was asking my husband if there was anything else I could do to prepare the birds for -20 to -30 degree temperatures (-50 windchill), his only smart @$$ answer was "a good marinade".
But again after reading your responses, I feel much better that the girls will do just fine. thanks for this great post. it is really helpful to us newbies. At least now I know next year I will not use the heat lamp at all.
Fass