NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cass]

Where ever the washer is you need to put some form of heat in there. Perhaps an oil filled kind set on medium.

In the spring I'd be putting up some of that foil covered foam board up the entire wall.

I have a friend who has no water cuz the pipe broke and I'd feel bad except they've lived in the house for some time. The situation is not fixed but they go to Ochrekote every year for a week.

Well, that would help. But the major problem is my mother. LOL See, she lost her husband last April. So the morgage where she was living didn't get paid. So she bought a house. Then she needed to move. So, since April, when he died, we have been dealing with her problems. BEFORE April, we took down some of the covering to the underside of the porch the washer sits in. We did it with the intention of replacing the rotted supporting beam before the porch collapsed. We DID do that part. We DID NOT get the surrounding walls, that would have kept this severe cold out of the area the drain is housed, back up. The chickens love it. They can get under there and scratch and lay their eggs (darn birds) and stay out of the cold wind. (we did get part of it back up, just not the side by the washer)

We have not had this problem in the past. However, in the past, the structure had all it's walls intact. So guess what is Number 1 on our spring "to do" list? Wrong. Number 1 is put some pipe wrap around that drain. Number 2 is put those walls back up. LOL

 

[rancher hicks]

Got 3 eggs from Birchen pullet, not very dark, but they should darken up...yeah!

I learned something yesterday. Even if wood shavings say Kiln dried, they are not completely dry. I am having a big problem with the shavings freezing so all the coops floors are frozen solid. Yesterday I went to buy more, and found out that there are degrees of dryness. The large chunk type is not completely dry. The smaller pieces are completely dry so shouldn't freeze up unless they get wet from something else...So I bought the smaller dry shavings & put on top of the frozen shavings. Of course, the birds freaked out when I dumped it in, flying around like idiots, and I ended up with just about the same amount of shavings in my hair as on the floor!

They are lighter so the birds wings whipped up the shavings...argh. But at least today, they floors are not frozen, well, at least the new shavings aren't..

I noticed this too, with Nobles shaving I use and figure they're wet cuz they're packed in plastic and they sweat. This is why when I add them I dump a large can of DE on top so it gets mixed in and dries them out a bit.

I prefer chips packed in paper but can't seem to find them nearby. I believe that Lees Feeds carries them and while I used to have ten bales delivered at my old place I can't get them delivered here.

If my van weren't so old I'd take the seats out and drive there to get a load of chips.

Congrats on the eggs. Hope things work out.

I can't worry about darkness yet. Have to work on utility first. Big roosters and big hens and laying. Jackson the son is mean so I've got to work that out of them too.

I have a hen laying the 3.8oz egg which of course is not good for hatching zuc they're double yolkers.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well, that would help. But the major problem is my mother. LOL See, she lost her husband last April. So the morgage where she was living didn't get paid. So she bought a house. Then she needed to move. So, since April, when he died, we have been dealing with her problems. BEFORE April, we took down some of the covering to the underside of the porch the washer sits in. We did it with the intention of replacing the rotted supporting beam before the porch collapsed. We DID do that part. We DID NOT get the surrounding walls, that would have kept this severe cold out of the area the drain is housed, back up. The chickens love it. They can get under there and scratch and lay their eggs (darn birds) and stay out of the cold wind. (we did get part of it back up, just not the side by the washer)

We have not had this problem in the past. However, in the past, the structure had all it's walls intact. So guess what is Number 1 on our spring "to do" list? Wrong. Number 1 is put some pipe wrap around that drain. Number 2 is put those walls back up. LOL

Can you staple some plastic up around the opening to block the cold wind? Perhaps stack some bales of hay if you have some? Any combination of wind block would be good. After you put up the block, you cold pile snow in front of it. Snow is a good insulator. Just a temp fix would be good. If it's how I imagine it of course.

It won't help anyone if your washer freezes up and the hoses and pump get broken. You MUST do something to prevent that.

Your too far away or I'd give you the two rolls of insulation I have in the basement. I also have a role of plastic in the garage.

I'm old and I completely understand the Mom dilemma. You have my sympathy.

 

[JLaw]

I haven't had a problem with shavings being wet shavings so far. Hope ya'll get better luck with dry shavings. I only buy the big chicps from TSC in white bag.

Cass they sell a heat tape that might work for you. It gets strapped to the line but its like 20-40 depending on length you want. I will probably have to get one I wasn't wanting to but cant get some of these pipes un frozen.


Well day 20 I have one chick that decided to zip and break free within an hour I have another that piped last night and not doing anything. Son is upset alittle because it's a cuckoo and I called dibs on raising the cuckoos. He's itching for his buffs to hatch.

 

[rancher hicks]

I haven't had a problem with shavings being wet shavings so far. Hope ya'll get better luck with dry shavings. I only buy the big chicps from TSC in white bag.

Cass they sell a heat tape that might work for you. It gets strapped to the line but its like 20-40 depending on length you want. I will probably have to get one I wasn't wanting to but cant get some of these pipes un frozen.


Well day 20 I have one chick that decided to zip and break free within an hour I have another that piped last night and not doing anything. Son is upset alittle because it's a cuckoo and I called dibs on raising the cuckoos. He's itching for his buffs to hatch.

We used to live in an apt. that had a hot water pipe on the outside of wall , but inside the enclosed porch. It used to freeze now and then and I used a hairdryer to thaw it out.

I then wrapped it with insulation as best I could and put aluminum foil over that taped to the wall. The key is to keep it from freezing even if the water is not warm. Some times just a small amount of heat will work.

Landlords can be a pain in the neck sometimes. Eventually we moved of course.

 

[Cass]

Can you staple some plastic up around the opening to block the cold wind? Perhaps stack some bales of hay if you have some? Any combination of wind block would be good. After you put up the block, you cold pile snow in front of it. Snow is a good insulator. Just a temp fix would be good. If it's how I imagine it of course.

It won't help anyone if your washer freezes up and the hoses and pump get broken. You MUST do something to prevent that.

Your too far away or I'd give you the two rolls of insulation I have in the basement. I also have a role of plastic in the garage.

I'm old and I completely understand the Mom dilemma. You have my sympathy.

I haven't had a problem with shavings being wet shavings so far. Hope ya'll get better luck with dry shavings. I only buy the big chicps from TSC in white bag.

Cass they sell a heat tape that might work for you. It gets strapped to the line but its like 20-40 depending on length you want. I will probably have to get one I wasn't wanting to but cant get some of these pipes un frozen.


Well day 20 I have one chick that decided to zip and break free within an hour I have another that piped last night and not doing anything. Son is upset alittle because it's a cuckoo and I called dibs on raising the cuckoos. He's itching for his buffs to hatch.

This is a very very old house and the porch is an addition to the back of it, so there is a problem with having a stone foundation between the drain and the house. We haven't had this problem in the past....just this year because of the weather being able to get to the actual drain, due to outdoor walls surrounding the bottom of the porch not being in place. I think fixing that problem will move to the top of the list for spring. OR I could just move to one of the Carolinas and forget cold weather altogether. (except this year...poor southerners)

 

[JLaw]

This is a very very old house and the porch is an addition to the back of it, so there is a problem with having a stone foundation between the drain and the house. We haven't had this problem in the past....just this year because of the weather being able to get to the actual drain, due to outdoor walls surrounding the bottom of the porch not being in place. I think fixing that problem will move to the top of the list for spring. OR I could just move to one of the Carolinas and forget cold weather altogether. (except this year...poor southerners)

I was looking at houses down south also lol.

 

[Cass]

I was looking at houses down south also lol.

I strongly recommend the Raleigh/Durham area. Wonderful medical care and lots of farm land that has been broken down into very very large houseing lots. The one I had my eye on was 6 acres, 2 outbuildings and a 3 bedroom house. Just a little over $200,000. And almost NOTHING in taxes. Long driveway, but you don't have to plow snow, like EVER, so that wasn't a concern.

 

[Lynzi777]

Got my running around done this morning...picked up shavings this morning, ran to the drugstore to get some antibacterial ointment, gauze/tape, paper tape, etc. Got home, changed the bandage a little bit ago and I can't believe how much better it looks already. The redness was completely gone, looks like it's already starting to heal. She's back in her spot now resting.

 

[why do birds]

I strongly recommend the Raleigh/Durham area. Wonderful medical care and lots of farm land that has been broken down into very very large houseing lots. The one I had my eye on was 6 acres, 2 outbuildings and a 3 bedroom house. Just a little over $200,000. And almost NOTHING in taxes. Long driveway, but you don't have to plow snow, like EVER, so that Yowasn't a concern.

That sounds sooo nice! We looked at the Caribbean, they have apartments or condos and you can swim every day. If the farm doesn't work out, we're considering the islands. Oh well, Californial dreamin'!