Idaho?

[BeccaSmith]

It briefly snowed here yesterday, it was all just a show, it stopped as quickly as it started, you know how those kinds of storms are! It was fun to see regardless, but dang it is cold here this morning, 18 degrees! I feel bad for my SLW that are molting currently but I know there isn't anything I can do for them to help keep them warm!

 

[mbleily]

Hi all, I am here in Parma and it was cold this morning here. I am going to have to break out my old winter barn coat! The ice was thick enough on the water that is still outside for now, that I had to use the pen door prop 2 X 4 to break it. I have dog dishes in the big pen inside for water but havent got them set up yet. My son is making me a water warmer for the little house with a cement block with two holes in it. We will use just one hole for the light though. He has bent a piece of metal to cover both holes and will put a enamel refrigerator drawer on it. I want to cover half of it so the birds wont get into it with their feet. Seems they love to wash their feet summer and winter. LOL I am not sure how to do it so they wont sit on it and poop in the water but I am working on it. I also want to secure the pan somehow. It is still all in the works. If I ever get it finished I will take a picture to post. Son hasn't had time to work on it with me yet. I have two dog waterers in the other house and have big wine bottles in them that keep the birds out of them. I fill the wine bottles and fill the dishes almost full then turn the wine bottles down into the water laying on the side of the dish. They slowly let the water out as it gets below the mouth of the bottle. works great. I might do that with the other one but it would take two of them criss crossed in that pan. I also have a crate sitting by the water for them to get up to the level of the water.

I still have about 9 or 10 roosters to get rid of before too long. Some are interesting looking but I don't need them. One has a funny little top knot right above his eyes. Almost like a Mohawk.

The one I am keeping looks like a Moran. He has white legs but has a beard and ear puffs. They are all mixed with Americanas. I plan on getting some of the super blue eggers next year. I love hatching. I got carried a way this year........

 

[pawtraitart]

We've had a dusting of snow, but nothing stuck. It sure is cold, though! So far, I've identified 3 supposed "freezeless" hydrants that have FROZEN. Grrrrrrr! Here we go again.

Soooo not fun.

 

[Scott H]

Yep, we got snow up here, also.

 

[Daloorashens]

I think I"m going to have DH make some of those cookietin heaters to put under my waterers, which are on bricks... I had to put some boiling water out in the waterer this morning to get it cracked open.. I used to use big crocks, but I don't want them getting their feet wet, maybe I could wire over it with the big spaces or something...

 

[BeccaSmith]

Well I just have to vent, hubby picked up some chicken feed today from the Meridian Feed Mill, the prices have seriously jumped! Recently the prices were around 12.99 or 13.99 for a 50lb bag, he said today they were $16.00 for a 50lb bag! Ouch! It really adds up when you are buying multiple bags at a time! I heard the price of feed had been going up, but that was a couple of months ago I thought so I wasn't expecting the prices to go up when we went back to get more feed! Also, does anyone know if the Meridian Feed Mill feeds are Non-GMO?

 

[Daloorashens]

Yeah, feed prices have gone way up!! The mill that I buy from here went from $21 for 80# to $24 for 80# within a couple of weeks, sheesh!

You should check out Michelle's thread she started on fodder... It's really interesting and can help extend your feed bill... I'll edit and post in a sec...

So DH helped me make the heaters today, HALLELUJAH!!!!! I HATE dealing with frozen waterers, it just drives me crazy (no passion whatsoever on this topic) We will use them here (layer flock) and at my mom's place, which is where the breeding pens are at... He also hung a light in their pens to run on a timer for the daylight hours, and he said they got all chatty when he turned it on.. poor things have kind of been in the dark for a few days, we stacked up a bunch of straw for insulation around the pens and it blocked a lot of the light before the snow came, but didn't have time to hang the light... but now it's DONE, woo-hoo!!

 

[pawtraitart]

Well I just have to vent, hubby picked up some chicken feed today from the Meridian Feed Mill, the prices have seriously jumped! Recently the prices were around 12.99 or 13.99 for a 50lb bag, he said today they were $16.00 for a 50lb bag! Ouch! It really adds up when you are buying multiple bags at a time! I heard the price of feed had been going up, but that was a couple of months ago I thought so I wasn't expecting the prices to go up when we went back to get more feed! Also, does anyone know if the Meridian Feed Mill feeds are Non-GMO?

I'd have to read the label. If there is soy protein in it.....guaranteed GMO. The corn may or may not be GMO. Yes, the prices are painful!

 

[Daloorashens]

Here's the link to the fodder thread...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/713334/growing-fodder-for-chickens

 

[BeccaSmith]

Here's the link to the fodder thread...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/713334/growing-fodder-for-chickens

Thank you for the link! I have actually been following it a little here and there, but in all honesty, I really don't have any sunny spots in the house to grow it in. I live in a older house that has the skinniest window sills so there is now where to put any trays and the the window in the kitchen is North facing, so not much light comes through for something sitting on the counter. You may suggest using lights, but to be honest, I have an entire bedroom devoted to orchids that are all growing under T5 lights and the racks are so crammed full I have orchids sitting on the floor crowded around the grow racks, so there is absolutely no room under those lights, nor is there any money or much space to add and an additional rack and a new light....but it is something to look into down the road....however, I am sure my hubby wouldn't believe me if I said I wouldn't use it for more orchids...lol.