more photos (and snow storm pics)

[Frosty]

I am really sorry to hear about the pens collapsing... I used to use flight netting (somebody gave me some) and one year we had a lot of heavy wet snow. It weighed down the netting, then broke the wood side posts as it pulled the sides in and collapsed. I did lose a few chickens that were out there when it came down. Now when I am building a pen, I watch for Menards or somebody to have those canopy shelters on sale and buy them. I don't use the canopy cover, just cover the whole thing with chicken wire. Seems to be working pretty good so far.

I hope that you found all that were under there!

 

[deerman]

sorry to hear about your pens Kat. You alway have away with pics.

I use weilded wire on top of all my pens, 2 x 2, we got over a foot of snow here , and no harm to the pens. I dont use the top netting as we also get to much snow and ice. Just little info when you rebuild.

 

[peachick]

Thanks guys. Im afraid to go out there this morning.. but guess I need to do that next.

We have never gotten 3 foot of snow before.... and may never again. The weight pulled in the side posts, so the fencing and netting and posts all colapsed together. I still like the netting, it held up... but the plastic fixtures holding it to the fence broke.
We just will need to rebuild with more suport for it I think. Problem is, its going to take forever for all this to melt, the ground is frozen... we cant dig post holes or rebuild for quite a while. And I just cant imagine the mud we are going to have when all this thaws. yuck.

 

[julieschickens]

sorry kat. i had the exact same thing happen here in virginia. it is a mess. hope your birds are all ok this morning.

 

[lcw]

yea kat sorry. hope everyone lived!

 

[peachick]

I found another peahen buried in the snow after we started the clean up. shes been buried for a day and a half.... and she is alive!!
The wildest temperamented birds have escaped... most of the ringnecks are gone, and now 3 spalding hens are in the trees.... the least little thing spooks them, they find an opening, and go flying!!

The newer goose pens help up pretty good.

 

[lcw]

those pens look horrible. so sad. hope everyone comes back safe and sound.

 

[Paganbird]

Oh my... that is terrible.
Where are you keeping them now?
It looks like you'll be unfortunately busy in the spring. That really suks.

I can't imagine that much damage to my pens. I wouldn't have enough places to put them until I could rig up something new.

 

[CHICKEN little 1]

What awesome pics of the birds. I love when u go crazy with the camera!!!!!!

I'am so sorry about ur pens. Poor Peas.

This heavy snow is rough on everything.

 

[IggiMom]

OH, my. I am so sorry about your pens and birds. How awful for you. I keep wishing I had Pheasants and that is one of the reasons I don't; they fly away. Any of your Peas out of their pens they will stay right around, won't they?

Re your Peahen buried in the snow--they are tougher than you might think, aren't they. I just love those Peas.

We are pretty much ok. We were without power for 20 hours, but we have a wood cook stove so we can heat and cook, and the hens were all snug in their coop. The Peas and Guineas and three turkeys seem to be offended but fine. They hadn't even eaten all the food we put out so they are certainly not starving.

We didn't get as much snow as you; 'only' about 12-15 inches, but it was wet, and then it got really cold. I think we could still be without power again, and a lot of people around here still are.

I have an incubator full of eggs that I really do not want to lose; Heritage RIRs that I am expecting great things of. This incubating is the little obsession that Peachick got me started on! Remember, it was those lovely Wheaten Americana eggs. They are doing very well, btw. Nice chickens, beautiful. Anyway, all these eggs were doing great. But then, the power outage--the eggs got down to 91 degrees and then I put handwarmers like hunters use under the turner and covered the incubator with an old mink coat that my daughter got at a yard sale. I figured it would breathe but keep them warm. It worked; they were spot on at 100 degrees every time I checked. I candled them last night. I think I have lost a few but not all. The coat is missing a lot of fur. Apparently it had a run in with my kitty. And lost.

On the other hand, I have some eggs which may or may not be at the Post Office. No way we could get them if they are. They were due on Friday, didn't come, so who knows if they came on Saturday. We are still completely snowed in, and the power company now has a message which succinctly says, "If you have a life threatening emergency call 911."

Lots of luck. 911 would never reach us.

Catherine