NY chicken lover!!!!

[Pyxis]

My cat is back! No idea where he was. We honestly thought we might not see him again. But he's back and eating a ton, so a happy ending there. He didn't even turn up when I was out yelling for him earlier so I'm really baffled as to where he was.

As for temperature, we were down to -17 last night not counting wind chill. Tonight is a balmy 7 degrees. Supposed to get above freezing and rain tomorrow.

 

[JLaw]

My cat is back! No idea where he was. We honestly thought we might not see him again. But he's back and eating a ton, so a happy ending there. He didn't even turn up when I was out yelling for him earlier so I'm really baffled as to where he was.

As for temperature, we were down to -17 last night not counting wind chill. Tonight is a balmy 7 degrees. Supposed to get above freezing and rain tomorrow.

Congrats!!

Our dog is back. Before we left to get these eggs my dachshund was somewhere in the collapsed barn but we couldnt find him and he would only whine every now and then but couldn't pin point it with the wind. Came back home expecting to have to craw around in there again but he was at the front door waiting to get inside.

 

[Lapeerian]

Horses went out for awhile today since the wind didn't pick up as expected. Tomorrow blankets will come off so they can get some good scratchy rolls in the snow before the freezing rain and sub-zero temps. Hubby has been tracking weather, guess we are supposed to get just as cold or colder Monday Tuesday. I don't mind snow, it is only an inconvenience. But can do without the bitter cold.

 

[armorfirelady]

A balmy 31 here and tomorrow suppose to be the same before temps rapidly fall tomorrow. Calling for a large snowstorm, high winds and temps as low as -30 with wind chill. And seem to think high chance of blizzard as well especially south of the city as far as where Jlaw is.

Tomorrow I am going to take the rest of the insulated board I have, put in plastic bags and put on all sides of coop I can. First the spots I know snow gets in then work my way around. Might even go and get couple more bales of shavings to put on the sides as well. It will hold up insulation board. Then drape tarps so wind can't get to girls while they on the roost. This will all be inside the coop. I have wood at top of coop so I am going to staple plastic up there so they don't get frost crystals on themselves. Then cut out spot for roof vents. Actually typing this made me realize I can staple the plastic so it hangs down both sides to floor of coop. I can easily keep it rolled up and then just put down when temps dip so low. Much easier !!!

Have to say I am glad I bought hay the other day. They have deep layer of it to nest in when it's cold if they want.
My mom wants a heat lamp in there for them but I told her no. If I can keep wind out they can manage the temps themselves.

ETA I do have hay bales on all sides of the coop outside except the north end. But they are not tight up against coop because coop starts to bend in where top of hay bale is. So occasionally if wind blows right snow gets in coop. And that with the bales tipped in towards the coop.

 

[rancher hicks]

So sorry to hear about your hen. All these mystery deaths...could it really be the cold?

I doubt it. Most likely there is some problem you can't see. Interestingly enough this article on Mareks says that it can cause tumors and is a type of herpes virus. It also says that death usually comes before Marek presents. That it usually shows up early one in the first few months of age. Rarely when a bird is older.

 

[rancher hicks]

1. It's cold here but I'm more concerned about the inside temp. I keep it at 67 at least. This cold is making me sleepy. Slept til 9:30 am and had gone to bed at 9:00.

2. We once had a cat who would not stay in unless the temps dropped below freezing. Other wise he would ask to go out.

3. Went to see The Hobbit part two in 3-D. Not to bad. $14.50 a ticket. We rarely go to the movies so we didn't mind. Lord have mercy but TV really sucks the big moose these days. Nothing good on. It's so bad I might even have to read a book!

I am reading East of Eden again but I fall asleep.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I too have had some mystery deaths, and I really think they were brought on by the cold. I had an older wyandotte pass away a few days ago and last night two younger pullets didn't make it, one welsummer and one sex link. All the in-the-middle age birds are fine. My roo honey has some frostbite though so I may vaseline him at some point to prevent it from getting worse. I think I need better ventilation in my coop, even with the front partially uncovered. Does anyone know what those vents that go on the roof are called? I believe someone in here has one for their hoop coop and they said it was working well so I wanted to look into it.

So Sorry ..I dont think the cold helps as they are already sick .It just finishes them off .
For venting you need 2 areas uncovered ..a roof vent would work or a small hole / opening on a opposite wall
How is the little peeper Solo doing ?

 

[Gramma Chick]

well the regular heating pad worked for 1 bowl .of FF ..One froze - one didnt .
I put some aluminum foil over it today hoping to transfer the heat to both bowls ...Maybe I will have to go to 1 bowl for the winter .
I really hate to for 16 chickens .
One of my older hens is sleeping in the nest box ..or in the run I think she is feeling over pecked ...she is coming off a molt

 

[Pyxis]

So Sorry ..I dont think the cold helps as they are already sick .It just finishes them off .
For venting you need 2 areas uncovered ..a roof vent would work or a small hole / opening  on a opposite wall
How is the little peeper Solo doing ?

She's doing good! I actually decided to call her Eve because she was hatched on New Year's eve. Of course I'll have to change that if she's really a he! Her 'siblings' are bigger than her but she uses that to her advantage, crawling under them under the heat lamp to get toasty warm. Her and all the others weathered out the -17 degree weather in the workshop last night with no problems.

 

[JLaw]

well the regular heating pad worked for 1 bowl .of FF ..One froze - one didnt .
I put some aluminum foil over it today hoping to transfer the heat to both bowls ...Maybe I will have to go to 1 bowl for the winter .
I really hate to for 16 chickens .
One of my older hens is sleeping in the nest box ..or in the run I think she is feeling over pecked ...she is coming off a molt

I just changed my FF to one of the heated dog bowls. Only problem is I have to go out there two times to fill it. But at least its not freezing like before.