Illinois...

[Molpet]

I had just over an inch of snow, better than mud.
Found a dead 4 or 5 yrs old CX mix hen. Looks like ascites but of course my first thought was avian flu

 

[SnootyHen]

I don't mind the ground freeze because it beats mud. I'm just sick of shoveling!

 

[Faraday40]

I don't mind the ground freeze because it beats mud. I'm just sick of shoveling!

Unfortunately, much snow melted, flooded my main run, then the sand froze.

Most of the time, sand is so easy to sift clean. It drains quickly after heavy rains. Low odor & less flies, because the poop dries out. In winter, it's usually even better because frozen poop clumps up for speedy removal. Yet now..... I can't sift frozen sand!!!! At least the coop and extra run area are dry and sift-able.

 

[Justso]

Take heart, the National Weather Service comes to our aid:
"A stretch of dry and milder weather is in store for the area from this weekend into much of next week. With mainly sunny skies and southwest winds temperatures will rise above freezing this afternoon"
Even reading this makes me feel better

 

[Molpet]

Take heart, the National Weather Service comes to our aid:
"A stretch of dry and milder weather is in store for the area from this weekend into much of next week. With mainly sunny skies and southwest winds temperatures will rise above freezing this afternoon"
Even reading this makes me feel better

 

[Molpet]

Unfortunately, much snow melted, flooded my main run, then the sand froze.

Most of the time, sand is so easy to sift clean. It drains quickly after heavy rains. Low odor & less flies, because the poop dries out. In winter, it's usually even better because frozen poop clumps up for speedy removal. Yet now..... I can't sift frozen sand!!!! At least the coop and extra run area are dry and sift-able.

I hear ya about frozen flooded ground

In the main coop they dug dust baths in the corners, dirt floor.... where the water seeped in. I used a whole bag of pine pellets to soak up the puddles and probably could have used more. Poultry yard is still ice covered in straw. Path through the garden is mud with straw. So I guess I have a brick path

 

[Molpet]

 

[Justso]

When I went to the farm store last week I bought three bags of feed so I wouldn't have to go near any Chick days for a good while

 

[cavemanrich]

Ran across this info on another thread,, and thought of posting the link to that thread for chickens owners to inform themselves. I just see more as Government control May not include small backyard flocks initially,,, but as things go,, eventually reaches the lower denominators eventually.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...is-trying-to-regulate-chicken-owners.1512886/

 

[BReeder!]

Alright, so who bought chicks over the weekend? LOL.

We managed to avoid buying any. I think the only hens we will add this year is a very small number of crested chickens: either Spitz, Polish or Silkie. Having a broody (I hear Silkies especially love to go broody) wouldn't be a bad thing for my duck egg hatching either.