Maine

[suzMEchicks]

Yes some of us are getting older for sure. I'm gonna try to do a lot of projects so the time will go by- I hope. There's got to be more to life this winter besides shoveling!

 

[buckabucka]

Oh, yes. There's always chipping ice.

Here we go: NWS predicted low, -14. It's only 8:30, and we're at -17. If I use the subtract 27 rule, we'd be at -41. DH is predicting - 34. I'm going to be afraid to look at my birds in the morning! I hope I can sleep. We have a clock that projects time and temperature on the ceiling. I'm likely to be watching it all night long.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

I don't have any photos of my rooster's comb, windy bay. Perhaps this weekend I'll get a chance to take some. I'm bracing myself for tonight's brutally low temperatures. I'm so glad we'll be getting a little break from this shortly, but freezing rain on Monday could lead to a whole other series of power outages. What a crazy winter!

If you happen to get any, post them please

I honestly don't know how they're surviving out there.  I don't remember a winter like this in over 40 years.

I'm only 33 and I can't for the life of me remember a winter like this either !! My folks are saying it has been a good many years since they have seen weather like this, especially so early in the winter ! I HATE it with a passion and my poor birds hate it even more I do believe ! Bring on Spring

 

[suzMEchicks]

You are my children's age. We had some crappy weather last year- snow and freezing rain. I drive to Boston area once a week so I remember some harrowing drives last year. But it's the continuous cold that seems unusual. Hopefully they snuggle up and make it through the night and we dont have any more frozen pipes as well.

 

[quailtrail]

Good grief this cold is making me panic!!!! I heard them in the coop today as I set off for work early this am. The family gave them water and food but I NEED to be able to see them myself and I am home after dark. I peek in and see them roosting so I know they r ok...but its soooo cold. I've only been in Maine 5 yrs but haven't had a winter like this!!! I seriously want to bring them in!

New years eve I was chatting with another chicken owner. He was laughing, telling his wife I am worse than him, since I make them hot oatmeal and treats. I told him they come right up to my door waiting for treats! I think its so cute!!!!

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Mine definitely are eating more with this cold, so I don't think you are imagining it! They are going through a lot more water, too.

I just went out to check the girls. Is it my imagination or are they more hungry on the colder days? They have a feeder with organic crumble and water all day plus I gave them a spaghetti squash and lots of treats this morning. They just looked crazed when i went out with a few more things. Like no one ever feeds them!!! We had a frozen pipe in the upstairs bathroom today so I'm really worried about tonight. Good luck and keep warm everybody.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Oh, yes. There's always chipping ice.

Here we go: NWS predicted low, -14. It's only 8:30, and we're at -17. If I use the subtract 27 rule, we'd be at -41. DH is predicting - 34. I'm going to be afraid to look at my birds in the morning! I hope I can sleep. We have a clock that projects time and temperature on the ceiling. I'm likely to be watching it all night long.

NWS says it's negative 13 here, and I just went out and it's negative 28. I think we should write to them.

I'm not letting the goats out again today, and I'm thinking of making them some blankets to wear if this keeps up.

 

[Widget]

At 7 am it was at least -22 here. My thermometer does not go any lower than that. The birds are okay but are really not interested in food. I made everyone some hot soaked beet pulp with stuff added depending on the species. The goats and horses loved theirs but the birds not so much. They ate some along with their regular pellets and fresh water but went right back to their shelter. Took me less than ten minutes to take care of everyone but I was still frozen solid. When my Pyr has no desire to stay outside I know it is cold. The house was a warm 49 this morning. But boy did it feel nice when I came back inside. The fact that the pellet stove was able to keep it 70 degrees warmer inside than the outside temperature and I will not complain.

 

[MEMama3]

It was -26° at 7 when I brought water out the first time. I went out just now to bring some BOSS sprouts out and it's -22°. The waters were mostly frozen again. This is crazy. What's craziest is that last night my australorp decided it would be a good time to go broody.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

It was -26° at 7 when I brought water out the first time. I went out just now to bring some BOSS sprouts out and it's -22°. The waters were mostly frozen again. This is crazy. What's craziest is that last night my australorp decided it would be a good time to go broody.

Well, yeah, the nestbox is nice and warm, Mom.

I have a GLW and a mixed breed banty hen that insist on brooding in the most extreme winter conditions, too. I usually let them do it but it is such a pain to get non-frozen water out to the chickies.