It's cold out, and I need to adjust to bird #s & problems

[jtbrown]

You have taken all of our advice in stride, you haven't yelled back, you have listened and appear to be considering all that was suggested. I wanted you to know that advice and criticism are hard to accept even when asked for. Many adultshave problem accepting advice even when solicited. You may be struggling with the tasks in front of you as you admitted, but you showed great maturity in your responses.

I have no doubt you can do this. Hang in there, love your birds, do what they need you to do -- you can do this, and you will do it well!

 

[alaskafarmgirl]

m.kitchengirl :

I am a GIANT wimpy baby about cold. I am also perpetually cold, no matter what (frighteningly low blood pressure). My biggest concern when I moved to Maine was how I would do on these winter mornings, lugging water buckets to the ducks (lots - have to fill that pool), and getting the birds fed & watered everyday.
I have been lucky, so far I really enjoy it. I get up 30 minutes before the kids have to get up for school (I am NOT a morning person either, not by any stretch of the imagination), start the coffee & head out to the coops. By the time I am done feeding & watering everyone, letting the cat in & out 900 times, and giving the boys their first wake up call, the coffee is ready & I can relax for about 20 minutes before I get ready for work. It takes about 15/20 minutes.
I kept my flock small - 4 chickens, 3 ducks - just in case I wasn't up to the task.
Some things that make it easier - MY MOUNTAIN GEAR DOWN JACKET & DOWN PANTS, a nice pair of fingerless gloves, a hat, and --- I put (on very cold days) a couple of well sealed ball jars of hot water in my pockets. (Like the warm potato that Laura Ingalls Wilder's Mom gave them to keep in their pockets on cold winter mornings.) I also bring the feeders & waterers in on cold nights, so I just have to fill them & deposit them in the morning. (I still usually end up out there chatting with the flock for a few minutes, and watching to see that everyone is acting their usual selves.

But, I think the thing that makes it easiest (aside from the fact that work has been so gosh darn busy I have been more focused on not wanting to be there than on not wanting to be outside with the chickens/ducks) is leaving for work in the morning knowing my ducks & chickens (cat and kids) have enough warm water to get through until I get home, have been fed & are laying gorgeous eggs, even on cold, dark days. FOCUS ON HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO DO THE RIGHT THING for your pets.

Again, I am not trying to scold, but it is a CHOICE we all have to make, like anything else. You need to choose to listen to that voice that says, "I should go water the critters again". Maybe that would be a good New Year's resolution. Remember - it only takes 5 weeks to make a habit of something. (Unfortunately, it takes fewer days to undo that habit.)

I LOVE THIS!!!! Great advice, you go!​

 

[alaskafarmgirl]

Quote:
From another friend, Alaska Farm Girl, you are doing GREAT! You're making adjustments to keep your flock alive and happy, so keep up the good work! I feel the same way, but the needs of my chickens drives me out of bed and out to the coop; and it's dark (until 10:30 a.m. here), COLD (minus 15 f. tonight BRRRRR for the chickens!), and I trundle out there twice a day, before work and after, to make sure my girls are okay. The eggs are mostly frozen (I get one out of twom maybe, if I'm lucky), but those hens are so loyal in their laying, and such nice animals -- they are WORTH IT. EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO YOU! And look at how hard they work to give you food....

They try; and you're trying, too. xoxoxoxo

 

[DinosRBirds]

Quote:
From another friend, Alaska Farm Girl, you are doing GREAT! You're making adjustments to keep your flock alive and happy, so keep up the good work! I feel the same way, but the needs of my chickens drives me out of bed and out to the coop; and it's dark (until 10:30 a.m. here), COLD (minus 15 f. tonight BRRRRR for the chickens!), and I trundle out there twice a day, before work and after, to make sure my girls are okay. The eggs are mostly frozen (I get one out of twom maybe, if I'm lucky), but those hens are so loyal in their laying, and such nice animals -- they are WORTH IT. EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO YOU! And look at how hard they work to give you food....

They try; and you're trying, too. xoxoxoxo

Thanks.
So far, most of the advice that i can afford to use has worked, though... i don't know where to get sand, or if it'll work...
now, at least my hands aren't freezing

 

[DinosRBirds]

Quote:
From another friend, Alaska Farm Girl, you are doing GREAT! You're making adjustments to keep your flock alive and happy, so keep up the good work! I feel the same way, but the needs of my chickens drives me out of bed and out to the coop; and it's dark (until 10:30 a.m. here), COLD (minus 15 f. tonight BRRRRR for the chickens!), and I trundle out there twice a day, before work and after, to make sure my girls are okay. The eggs are mostly frozen (I get one out of twom maybe, if I'm lucky), but those hens are so loyal in their laying, and such nice animals -- they are WORTH IT. EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO YOU! And look at how hard they work to give you food....

They try; and you're trying, too. xoxoxoxo

Thanks.
So far, most of the advice that i can afford to use has worked, though... i don't know where to get sand, or if it'll work...
now, at least my hands aren't freezing

oopz... scratch that... i live near a lake...