Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[HiEverybirdy]

I kept mine in the coop until temps went above freezing. They don't like being kept in, but the outdoor water was frozen. The night before, I put the feeder with plenty of extra food, in the coop and an extra waterer, to make sure they have plenty of breakfast to get them through until it warms up enough to turn them loose. Luckily, here, the freezing temps are not typical and don't last too long and the coop is pretty big and well ventilated so they can spread out a bit and be comfortable.

I keep food/water in the coop as well. It's always worked for us. The chickens like to eat and drink early, but I prefer to let them out after the crepuscular predators finish their dawn hunt.

Are you in upstate SC? If so, we're probably only 2-3 hours away. Stay warm!

At this moment, with 2/3' of snow on the ground and 10°F/-12, I'm wishing we lived 2-3 hours further south as well. High here today is 19F, dipping down to 1 overnight. Over it.

 

[fuzzi]

I keep food/water in the coop as well. It's always worked for us. The chickens like to eat and drink early, but I prefer to let them out after the crepuscular predators finish their dawn hunt.

Are you in upstate SC? If so, we're probably only 2-3 hours away. Stay warm!

At this moment, with 2/3' of snow on the ground and 10°F/-12, I'm wishing we lived 2-3 hours further south as well. High here today is 19F, dipping down to 1 overnight. Over it.

Our high is supposed to be 35°F, low tonight 19°F, which is colder than average. People's pipes will be freezing. To prevent that we'll be leaving our faucets dripping overnight.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

People's pipes will be freezing. To prevent that we'll be leaving our faucets dripping overnight.

Good policy. And remember to disconnect any hoses around the yard.

Tax for southerners talking about winterizing: A snowdrift is no place for a feather-footed gentleman! When AGC realized it was this deep, he did an about-face and returned to the run. I found the scratch jar under a pile of snow and bribed the pullets back to the run so they'll stop luring him out in this.

Sorry to bombard with snow photos, but I'm fascinated by it. Even in the mountains of Tennessee, we only see this much snow every few years.

Making the most of our hilly terrain, sledding to the chickenyard with water.

Elusive Beakwipe caught on the chickens' surveillance, carrying waterers. Always carrying waterers.

 

[MrsNorthie]

I keep food/water in the coop as well. It's always worked for us. The chickens like to eat and drink early, but I prefer to let them out after the crepuscular predators finish their dawn hunt.

Are you in upstate SC? If so, we're probably only 2-3 hours away. Stay warm!

At this moment, with 2/3' of snow on the ground and 10°F/-12, I'm wishing we lived 2-3 hours further south as well. High here today is 19F, dipping down to 1 overnight. Over it.

So you are a bit colder than we are, our lows have been your highs. Although, being from Vermont, I see no point in being below freezing and NOT having snow, but I don't miss driving in it and of course now, with the chickens, I would be worried about their little feet and other bits freezing off.

We are just outside of Anderson. We are about 5-6 hours (sometimes 12, due to I-85 fun..) from Nashville. We have, periodically looked at more rural places in TN, but the property taxes are higher, but it is more wooded and you definitely get all 4 seasons. I could without summer, I would be happy with spring and autumn year round. ;-)

 

[MrsNorthie]

Our high is supposed to be 35°F, low tonight 19°F, which is colder than average. People's pipes will be freezing. To prevent that we'll be leaving our faucets dripping overnight.

We had pipes freeze, for the first time, last year. The egg thief put extra pipe insulation around them when he did repairs and *touch wood, no issues this year. We would leave one of the taps running, like a slow drizzle over night when I was in VT, but I just forgot. Expensive brain-fart.

 

[fuzzi]

Good policy. And remember to disconnect any hoses around the yard.

Tax for southerners talking about winterizing: A snowdrift is no place for a feather-footed gentleman! When AGC realized it was this deep, he did an about-face and returned to the run. I found the scratch jar under a pile of snow and bribed the pullets back to the run so they'll stop luring him out in this.
View attachment 3729724

Sorry to bombard with snow photos, but I'm fascinated by it. Even in the mountains of Tennessee, we only see this much snow every few years.

Making the most of our hilly terrain, sledding to the chickenyard with water.
View attachment 3729725

Elusive Beakwipe caught on the chickens' surveillance, carrying waterers. Always carrying waterers.
View attachment 3729726

Thanks for the reminder.

I have the outside faucets wrapped, but the front hose hardware welded itself to the faucet. I meant to cut it off this summer but it wasn't high on my priority list.

ETA: chicken tax, a winter waterer that hopefully won't freeze as easily:

 

[Molpet]

a winter waterer that hopefully won't freeze as easily

my rooster's waddles got dipped in bowls and got frost bit

 

[Shadrach]

Two hours today. A couple of degrees above freezing with grey skies and the wind winding uo to the 50mph gusts forcast for Sunday.
They did come out but stayed in the allotment run mostly apart from a quick foray onto the allotments for some proper grass.
They go through 450 grams of feed this afternoon, a bit less than yesterday, so I assume there was feed left from overnight.

Dig thinks he should be roosting up a tree. Can't fault his instinct. If there were other trees with low branches closer to horizontal I imagine I would be fetching him amd Mow out of a tree at dusk. I think the others have been coop living for so long now they would prefer the coop.

Henry went off to roost before I had fed them their treats for the day so I fed him on the roost bar. You can just see a couple of roast beef crumbs next to my little finger. Getting pictures one handed takes more practice than I've had obviously. By the time I'm sorted the moment has gone.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good evening one and all!

Tea is ready.

Temperature has dropped into the 40s.

Have a great day!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Two hours today. A couple of degrees above freezing with grey skies and the wind winding uo to the 50mph gusts forcast for Sunday.
They did come out but stayed in the allotment run mostly apart from a quick foray onto the allotments for some proper grass.
They go through 450 grams of feed this afternoon, a bit less than yesterday, so I assume there was feed left from overnight.
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Dig thinks he should be roosting up a tree. Can't fault his instinct. If there were other trees with low branches closer to horizontal I imagine I would be fetching him amd Mow out of a tree at dusk. I think the others have been coop living for so long now they would prefer the coop.
View attachment 3730049

Henry went off to roost before I had fed them their treats for the day so I fed him on the roost bar. You can just see a couple of roast beef crumbs next to my little finger. Getting pictures one handed takes more practice than I've had obviously. By the time I'm sorted the moment has gone.
View attachment 3730043
View attachment 3730045

I agree with you it is very hard to take pictures with one hand while feeding the chickens.

I am right handed and taking pictures with my left hand and it didn't work real good.