Minnesota!

[Triplell]

Well here in Brainerd we got around 4-5 mayybeee 6. I spent the morning shoveling out around the barn and gate. Dad on the other hand did the driveway's. My DH usually does all the snow stuff but he is gone for a month or more. Lucky for him and sad for me. My coops are in a 100++ year old barn and yes I bank the snow as the foundation is moving so many gaps to fill with straw then snow. It all helps to keep the warmth in and the drafts out. My ducks are smart and they go in when they get to cold but the geese on the other hand want to stay outside.

Question, if you have waterfowl do you put them up at night in a coop or just let them stay outside all winter. I don't have much of a wind break for them but can put out some straw for them too. Also do you keep feed out all the time or just feed twice a day?

 

[lmatvey]

I do have some rouen cross ducks and one cayuga drake. This is my second winter having them and yes I force them into the coop in winter (but they don't seem to mind). I feed them 2x a day with the chickens. Sometimes I let them play in the snow wile I feed and clean dishes ect.. but then they all waddle back in before I shut the door. (15 min to do chores or so). I live in Toivola MN.

 

[coldupnorth]

Just a little south of Duluth and we got about 7-8 inches of snow. It should be enough to start banking up my old coop a little.

Imatvey - I have a small starter flock of Icelandics that I got this Fall. I'm really liking them and hope that they start laying again soon

I really need to start concentrating on just a few breeds now, instead of a few of many. The Icelandics will be one of my keepers

 

[Triplell]

Coldupnorth, I have concentrated on just Black Australorps and have 1 roo and 1 hen of Cream Legbars. I seem to be having a problem keeping the water from freezing up. I have been using the heat lamps over my waters, had no problem last year,but then I only had 2 sections to keep unthawed instead of 4. What do some of you do?

 

[Mis pollitos]

Hubby shoveled & used the snow blower about 4 times yesterday, then again this morning. But, it is beautiful!! Snow in MN, won't wonders never cease!?

 

[Triplell]

I grew up in northern California where a white christmas was looking up at the Serria mountains. We had alot of fun watching the snow fall come down the mountains. It was good times skiing and then going home. Now I dream of someplace with warmth and NO snow. It's funny how things change around. Snow is alway's beautiful until you have to go out init or shovel it. If I didn't have my animals I don't think I would ever go outside in the winter, TO DANG COLD!!!

 

[coldupnorth]

Coldupnorth, I have concentrated on just Black Australorps and have 1 roo and 1 hen of Cream Legbars. I seem to be having a problem keeping the water from freezing up. I have been using the heat lamps over my waters, had no problem last year,but then I only had 2 sections to keep unthawed instead of 4. What do some of you do?

I wait for the heated dog dishes to go on sale and use those up on a cement block. Of course, only in the coops I can get electricity to. They keep the water thawed, but they have to be cleaned out more often, since chickens don't care if they walk or poo in their own water.

 

[Triplell]

Thanks I will go and get some tommarrow.

 

[lmatvey]

Good Afternoon!! I grew up in MN and I love to have the SNOW (until jan 1st, then I am a gardener) The chickens seem to not like the snow as much, but on the nice days they venture out.
For water I have a heated base (bought it at the hibbing feed mill), I have never had frozen water where the animals couldn't drink, but the water on top has frozen. With the waterer I have the water dispenses at the bottom. I have read on here about people using cinder blocks with a light bulb inside and then the waterer on top. Might be less expensive to set up? The base I bought was $40 and the waterer was another $40.

Coldupnorth-I love my icelandics, I also have a small bunch of random hens for eggs of different colors, but the icelandics are amazing!! I have a hen that hatched out 3 chicks toward the end of november and they are all doing great! She has totally taken care of them and they are just amazing to watch!

 

[Cebarmlds]

It's 18 below this morning and my chickens don't want to be outside

they're not so dumb after all?