Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

I still have birch trees bent over from the ice storm last winter. I thought they'd spring back, but they didn't. I hope your fence posts do, because they're in for a long winter.

I put a suet feeder up in front of one of the living room windows in the hopes of attracting some wild birds for both me and the cats. I had the hummingbird feeder there during the summer and it worked great. However, not thinking that I got a new metal roof that snow slides right off of (violently, I might add), I placed the ground hook about 2.5 feet from the house, apparently directly in the path of the violent roof snow slides. So far I haven't witnessed any bird activity, but I have personally been in the violent snow path already this year (although I suspect by the end of winter I will be an expert at avoiding snow slides). Here's to hoping the birds get attracted to the suet (since the pole will now be there until spring thaw), and are more swift than this old body at avoiding the snow slides.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a 6/12 pitch on the new coop, and mistakenly put the pop door on the south side, where the snow will avalanche at the first hint of sunshine. I don't dare to let the girls out that door in snow season. So, for now, they're using the people door, (on the East gable end) when I do let them out. Got 7 eggs today! The light supplementation is finally kicking in!




I hate winter!!!!!!!!

 

[buckabucka]

Oh, LG! It is WAY too early to hate winter! I have been enjoying going out on our snowshoe loop, -both on skis and on snowshoes, but those bent over birch trees that SCG referred to have created an obstacle course on every trail. It is pretty out there though, and I managed to not get shot, despite forgetting my orange. DH will drag the chainsaw out there someday.

I only did a cursory inspection, but it appears that my greens have survived the 1 degree overnight. They are attacked daily by rodents, although I am managing to get a mole or two each day in the rat zapper. The zapper does not work well when it is very cold, but apparently the rodents show up day and night, so I'm still getting some anyway.

DH stuffed some kind of bomb in the large rat holes in the chicken run, and so far, it is looking fairly quiet.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, the snow is pretty. But, I still prefer summer, cool grass under my feet... NOT FROZEN GRASS! I used to be able to get out and snow shoe or XC ski. But my hips and knees are shot now. Might try the skis some time, and probably pay dearly for it.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

DH stuffed some kind of bomb in the large rat holes in the chicken run, and so far, it is looking fairly quiet.

I am thankful it is raining as opposed to snowing today.

 

[lazy gardener]

Amen on that one. Got 9/15 eggs yesterday. One of my EE gals (19 mo. old) is spending some time in the nest, so she may start back up soon.

 

[islandgirl82]

Eggs...what are those? (not one of my girls is laying right now...even the pullets are molting)

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I feel you. I got 3 eggs yesterday (which is actually a lot for my flock) out of about 50 birds.

 

[islandgirl82]

Ooooh. Ouch. I only have 7 in my flock and one is a cockerel and one is just reaching POL but hasn't started yet so it's just immaturity and not a solidarity molt.

 

[lazy gardener]

I confess to giving my girls artificial light. When comparing the cost of feeding a bunch of free loaders through the winter with that of providing a light, I chose to go with the light. This way, they can pay their own way by providing eggs for me, eggs for sale. So they may quit laying earlier than they would if I didn't supplement with light. I'll just eat them earlier. Aside from that, they're also enjoying their fermented feed and get about 4 quarts of sprouts/week. Hoping that will keep those yolks nice and dark.