Ended Official BYC Winter Contest Series—Winter on the Farm Photo Contest

[goosare]

first winter for shanay nay the Peking. Victoria asleep next to daddy,she has passed away she became lame at 4 months and i held on to her for 3 months after. sad

 

[Sadness Child]

My little baby, Tony

 

[Sadness Child]

Andy, the molting

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Too bad “Winter” here doesn’t involve snow LOL. Winter on our farm involves short grass and pine straw as their scenery.

 

[50-45-1]

entry#1
Is it spring yet?

 

[50-45-1]

entry #2
WOO HOO!! some Bare dirt!!

 

[50-45-1]

entry #3
Hey, my feet are cold. Let me In!

 

[kikiruru]

How do you even remember there was a snow day that long ago?

Mobile had snow that lasted a week or more
1971 (don’t remember the month)
December 1996
January 2014

Mobile had snow that lasted 24 hours or more :
1989 (don’t remember the month)
January 2010
January 2018

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I really like that gazebo idea. I've sort of made makeshift versions of those, but plastic tables covered in scraps of tarp definitely don't look as nice as that.

Lots of wind here near the ocean, as well as extreme heat or cold seasonally, so I need something tough that lasts. The toughest tarps tucked secure with cinderblocks didn't last one winter season covering some stacked wood, so the Pet Gazebo has been well worth the investment. I did have to upgrade the tops, the original canvass tops they come with is just like tarp, doesn't hold up, but the upgrade lasts longer & does come with warranty, so before warranty was up I emailed the company photos of it fading & wearing out, & they sent me new covers. The Gazebo bodies are metal & painted, they're holding up very well. They're advertised as being portable little mini kennel for dogs, great for a person traveling with pets. A friend keeps hers on her RV for trips, comes in handy with 2 dogs. They're heavy enough to be a good protective holding pen, yet not too heavy to be moved, so I've used them as movable tractors! I get inside, use the perch and lift the whole thing and just walk it where I want. When I had young chick's it was great, get them outside to new sections to peck at, but be safe from hawks. Obviously, with foxes & many constant predators here, I can only do that when I'm gardening nearby, anything can dig right under. Unfortunately, predators are so bad here, I had to stop free ranging or even using tractors unless I am right there close by. Foxes & raccoons must have ability to read my mind, little stinkers know I love wildlife, so they have always visited my yard, even before I had chickens. I've built my flock large predator proof pens, so now use the gazebos in the pens, they provide shade, a feeling of shelter to dustbathe, and add another place to perch, feeling safe in the pens. My pens get rain, sun & snow, so under the gazebo stays mostly dry for nice dustbaths, it's nice as we get lots of rain here. Wet pens are nice for growing grass & greens but without the gazebos to hang in, the flock would turn the pen into a mudhole & get Bumblefoot. By adding the wire screen covered pecking green section & the bare dirt gazebo with DE bath bowl, as well as a few suspended things to do, like cabbage & corn cob to peck at, the pens stay "green grass growing" most of the year, unless we get July or Aug 100 degrees drought. It's only been 5 years, so long term, I'm not sure how long this scenario will work, but so far so good. If the gazebos do end up not working out...I can build something like a mini "run in" resembling a mini covered bridge, out of treated lumber. One thing about this lifestyle...there's always something to do! I love it! I love this site with everyone sharing ideas.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

my dark green laying Silverudd blåh hen from 2019 , I think it’s her first snow, she didn’t like it