Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[LoveMyChicklets]

Well, another day at home for me. Hubby said his drive home from work (works afternoons) was bad and roads were still horrible then. I decided not to risk it.

Actually, it's probably a good thing. I am going to get ready and go outside and see how my babies all fared last night. Even though it's still so cold I've been up all night worrying about the ventilation issue. I think I will be popping open the door halfway if not all the way. I guess it depends on how horrible it is. AND I need to check on my Polish! This is the part that scares me the most. They are more fragile and are in a more ventilated coop. I am going to move them to the new coop without a window yet that my hubby had built for my daughter. I've got to get the heated bucket and nightlight hooked back up on that one. Going to be a popsiclce by the time I'm done.

Has anyone else been up and out to check on their feathered friends yet? I'm praying everyones babies are doing ok...

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

Yep, I'm stuck at home. Ready to LOSE, LOSE my mind. I have got to get out of here before I go stir crazy !! Hope the plow guy can get us dug out today (plus truck should be done this afternoon)

Work today has a 2 hour delay & liberal leave policy in effect. I have opted to telework vs. burning a day of vacation.

Well appears all the birds survived. They aren't moving much at the moment..Bigboy just kinda looked at me & stayed all cuddled up with one of the girls. Can't believe water not frozen. Know the heated waterer is only good down to 0; of course, now that the pen is more like an igloo, it's pretty insulated!!

Stay warm everybody..just another 24-36 hours before our 30+ degree heat wave hits

Good morning! I'm so glad to hear all your babies did ok. AND the heat wave to come gets me super excited!!!!!! Thank you for something to look forward to. This winter has been super crazy so far.

 

[Opa]

Last night just before I went to sleep, the temperature had fallen to -16. Then this morning at 5am it gone up to -14. Rather than let Hope drive herself to her son's house to babysit I decided to take her. When we arrived I discovered the temperature had soared up to -10. When I got back home the temperature once again read -14. I guess the difference must be attributable to his house being south of us.

One of my customers called, they are out of town, and asked that I check their house to insure everything was okay. When I got there this morning I had to climb over a 5' snowplow created mound, then wade thru 16" of snow. Their driveway is quite large and made of paving blocks so plowing it with a truck wouldn't be advisable. Also with the drive being completely covered and a portion of it circular just finding it is going to be a problem. I think I'll check with David and with Hope's youngest son to see if they would help me get the place dug out once this bitter cold abates.

 

[aart]

Was zero in the coop at 5am when I went out with fresh water, all birds seem fine, up for scratching for grain I tossed in. Hour later gathered a couple eggs and brought more water. Relieved the temps didn't dip as low as predicted. Couple girls had their heads totally tucked in at 5pm last night.

Shoveling snow stinks, but not having anywhere to throw said shoveled snow really stinks. That fence you can see just the top of left of the path, goes around the water garden so the dogs don't run thru there, is about 3 1/2 feet above the level of the path. ..and another few inches of snow today with 20mph winds today. Will have to tackle the driveway with the thrower later today.

At least tomorrow the temps will be up and the winds down, will have Wed and Thu to dig out before it all starts to melt in a 3 day thaw. I'd rather it stayed just below freezing as the snow is much easier to move then it's not wet.

I'm just glad I don't have to drive anywhere! Everyone hang in there and stay safe!

 

[preciouskitty]

Well, everyone is out in the pen & fine! I can't believe it..some of the poor girls are molting SO bad & have hardly any feathers!
Thru them some scratch & they are running around happy as can be!

I can see the plow guy attempting to clear the LONG part of the drive by cornfield (the 3/10 mile part before even getting to "our" drive). Its gonna take him a while to get up here!
I THINK the snow is "hard" enough now that it shouldn't re-drift quite as bad today (I HOPE!).

 

[Candy442]

Well, everyone is out in the pen & fine! I can't believe it..some of the poor girls are molting SO bad & have hardly any feathers!
Thru them some scratch & they are running around happy as can be!

I can see the plow guy attempting to clear the LONG part of the drive by cornfield (the 3/10 mile part before even getting to "our" drive). Its gonna take him a while to get up here!
I THINK the snow is "hard" enough now that it shouldn't re-drift quite as bad today (I HOPE!).

so glad to hear that. I hear the boys crowing and five of the girls came out for fresh water. Opened the pop door only though for now. Later when it gets up to zero (I hope) I am going to spread the rest of the straw we have just for extra insulation and the fact they are spending more time in the coop during the cold. I hope all the girls are ok, I have two that are in a molt too.

 

[aart]

Well, everyone is out in the pen & fine! I can't believe it..some of the poor girls are molting SO bad & have hardly any feathers!
Thru them some scratch & they are running around happy as can be!

I can see the plow guy attempting to clear the LONG part of the drive by cornfield (the 3/10 mile part before even getting to "our" drive). Its gonna take him a while to get up here!
I THINK the snow is "hard" enough now that it shouldn't re-drift quite as bad today (I HOPE!).

Is your pen/run covered? Sorry if maybe I missed this detail in past posts.

 

[glynnhoo]

Anyone else put a little sugar or honey in their chickens water in this extreme cold?

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

Just got in my checking my girls and boys too. Everyone made it and appear to be ok!I moved the polish into the other hen house and got them all hooked up. I can see them thinking... "WHAT THE HECK NOW MOM!!!" They should be happier in the long run though. And warmer! I opened the pop door on the other hen house and the turkeys keep attempting to go out and then hightail it right back in. It's so funny to watch! I guess it's still too cold out for all of them

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

Anyone else put a little sugar or honey in their chickens water in this extreme cold?

Can I ask why sugar or honey? I've heard of adding cracked corn or even cayenne pepper...