sn0wwhite's Wichita Coop for the Twin Cities

[chickiegrrl]

How are your girls doing in their garage coop? I shut the pop door on the coop last night and it won't be open again until Wednesday. The girls don't even want to go out. This morning I udder balmed wattles, their combs are a lost cause at this point, but I didn't want them to get frostbitten wattles when they drink. It's only +10F in the coop, but they seem happy enough when I go and check on them. A bit later I'm going to bring them a squash and some greens to pick at.

Hope all is well with your sweeties! Keep warm!

 

[sn0wwhite]

Oh, they hate the garage. But, they are the most resistant to change creatures. I think they don't like the cold floor (although it's not colder than their sand) but it's probably a bit slippery. So far they are huddling under the house part - which is really crowded!

But I bought a hot block for chicks thing for them to peck at (they love that) and Florentine still laid her egg first thing.

10 degrees in the coop house sounds reasonable. I have a whole new appreciation for even just 10 below. So much better than 25 below!

 

[chickiegrrl]

How are you and the girls doing? Have they enjoyed the past couple of beautiful days? It was 50 in our coop today! Unfortunately that's all going to change tomorrow night. UGH! I'm so tired of this rollercoaster weather. I wish it would be an average year instead of warming up and then freezing. Hope you all are doing well!!

 

[sn0wwhite]

Hello!
I actually got a lucky escape to Galveston Island, TX for a week. Not super warm there - just in the 60s and the wind was cold, but definitely much better than Minnesota for a while. Husband did a good job of taking care of the chickens, and my new Target panel heater arrived before I left so everyone seems to be doing well here.

I'm up to 18-20 eggs a week with all 4 of them laying now.

How are things going for you? I noticed that as cold as it was today, icy spots in the sun are melting so that's a good sign that this wont last forever....

 

[chickiegrrl]

Lucky you, to get out of the snow and cold for at least a while. This has been the worst winter in recent memory. I just can't believe how we keep getting hit over and over again. This summer had better be awesome.

Things are going well here. Our EE, Tilly, started laying this past weekend! She is such a good layer, too. Nice sized, blue eggs. She's 40 weeks old now, so it was about time. I knew she was slow to mature, though. She still acts like a chick.

I had to put Pinless Peepers on two of our girls to keep them from picking on our 'Lorp. She has barely any feathers left on her breast. So, our RIR and BO are wearing them. The good thing is, they have adjusted well to them. Our RIR is still head hen, so it didn't affect her leadership abilities. LOL!

All in all, we're all dying for Spring here. The girls are going stir crazy and I'm tired of the plunges into temps below zero.

 

[sn0wwhite]

Yes, it was just a week escape and I missed the chickens but not the cold! I do think my BO and BA may have a bit of frostbite on their combs. It's not black, but the tips are very white and dry looking. After what we've been through, I'm not surprised. Spring is going to feel so great!

My dad is in Texas for the winter, so I've been watching his house and sadly that's a nightmare. His pipes froze in the first deep freeze so we paid $650 to Rotorooter to steam out the block, and then in this last blast they froze again! What a mess.... a very expensive mess!

I'd love to see a picture of your blue egg, Jen! I think the varying shades are so interesting.

Pinless peepers, hey? Do they actually keep them on too? I wondered if they'd just peck them off of each other's faces.

 

[chickiegrrl]

Oh, frozen pipes are not fun! We had that problem in our old house anytime the temp got below zero. I hope we come out of the deep freeze soon. It is February after all!!



This is Till's first egg. The pic is pretty true to color. She's become a little champ at laying eggs. I'm not sure what to do about our 'Lorp, though. She's nearly featherless. She won't keep her chicken sweater on, she picks at her feathers. Today she was shivering on the roost. I feel so bad for her. She used to be our most beautiful girl and now she looks like she's been plucked. I think the feather picking started with her picking her own feathers. That sparked interest with out RIR and BO and they started picking her feathers. The Peepers are helping with the RIR and BO picking, but our 'Lorp is just a mess.

Nobody picks at the Peepers. I think Flora and Tilly are so happy to have peace that they don't care. I'll be so happy when it warms up. I know I keep saying that, but this cold has to end at some point.

 

[sn0wwhite]

What a beautiful egg! Where did Tilly come from? Benedict's eggs are more gray green than blue.


This winter has been so rough my husband really wants to leave MN, and I was really tempted by TX!

 

[aart]

This winter has been so rough my husband really wants to leave MN, and I was really tempted by TX!

I hear ya....but...remember the heat of summer!! GAH...it would kill me!

 

[chickiegrrl]

What a beautiful egg! Where did Tilly come from? Benedict's eggs are more gray green than blue.


This winter has been so rough my husband really wants to leave MN, and I was really tempted by TX!

Benedict's eggs are beautiful!

I got the girls at Anoka Independent Feed and Grain. They have chicks starting in April. We're really pleased with our girls. We've considered getting a Barred Rock and another EE from them this spring, but that would be pushing us to capacity in the coop and run.

We talk about moving to Florida every single day. We are just not made for this weather. If we ever get enough $$ to do it, we're out of here. I love Florida in August! *That* is my kind of weather!!