Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[luvmy33chicks]

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I used one all last Winter and they work great. Piece of mind to know what the temp is in the coop without going out in the harshest weather. I will say though when the weather really turned cold, the battery in the sensor unit in the coop wasn't working right. I finally replaced it with a lithium battery (about $10 for four of them AAA size) and the problems went away. Lithiums are unaffected by cold temps (unlike normalk AA and AAA batts.)

Mark

Mark, thanks for the tip on those lithium batteries. I saw one of those thermometers for 20 some odd bucks at Harbor Frieght. Think that's where I'll get mine.

Wal-mart also has a very big selection of them. some are inexpensive

 

[smkchick]

Bobby picked ours up at Home Depot for $15. It's just temp where the sensor is and temp where the receiver is.

Right now it's 48 degrees outside and 52 in the coop. I have the sensor in the coldest part of the coop. I'm going to move it to where the girls sleep.

Full day of school and nine scheduled conferences.

But tomorrow's payday and Friday's a holiday. Yay!

 

[mjuenem]

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I've heard it best to add the light in the morning. Then again, how would the chickens know what the hour was? Might have to get them a clock or wristwatches...

I have a device that comes on at dusk and runs for either an hour or 2 or 4 or 6 or 8. Just turn the dial. Mine is set at 4 hours. Nice thing is it always goes on at dusk so there is nothing to re-program as days get longer or shorter.

Mark

 

[ChickenAl]

Quote:
I've heard it best to add the light in the morning. Then again, how would the chickens know what the hour was? Might have to get them a clock or wristwatches...

I have a device that comes on at dusk and runs for either an hour or 2 or 4 or 6 or 8. Just turn the dial. Mine is set at 4 hours. Nice thing is it always goes on at dusk so there is nothing to re-program as days get longer or shorter.

Mark

Mark, now that is a sensible device. No adjusting for time of day or how long the day is. I like it.

 

[ChickenAl]

Hi everyone,

Today was a very good day for us. This morning I had to get my MRI, but had to take Jack back to the vet for either the final time or for another infusion. Jack had not eaten last night and we were really thinking the worst. I did not want to even think about what we might have to do today. We placed some food in front of him this morning and he ate it and did not vomit it up. He went outside to do his business and perked up when a dog passed and ran to the fence. He even barked at the dog, something we have not heard in the past few days he's been home. I had to go to the MRI appointment and our sons were home and able to drive jack to the vet. I asked them before they left to tell the doctor what had happened this morning and see if we can hydrate and medicate him one more day. The vet was not too optimistic but said he would and also do another creatinine test. We went at 5:30, not even having called the vet in advance, to see if we could bring him back home tonight. The vet came out and said, the good news is that Jack' numbers are going in the right direction now. They are the lowest since we had brought him in. They went from 7 to 5.3, and now down to 4. The vet said we could take him home and try the rehydrating again tomorrow. We were thrilled with the news. Jack is not out of the woods yet, but this is encouraging. None of us wants to give up on him, and we thank God that this turn of events has happened. At least there is a bigger reason to be hopeful.


Hope all of you had a good day.

 

[smkchick]

Al, that's great news! I was thinking about Jack during the day and wondering what was happening. I'm so glad he rallied. He sounds like a tough little guy - Jack the Wonder Dog! I'll keep my fingers crossed that he continues to improve.

 

[smkchick]

Yesterday during my conferences Bobby sent me a text message that said "chicks at the front door!"
Apparently, the little darlings are still squeezing through the slats in the picket fence (I have to see it to believe it) and free-ranging on the front lawn. I guess they wanted to visit, so they came up on the front stoop. *insert big sigh of exasperation here*

I hate to have to chicken wire the whole fence, especially when in a couple of weeks they'll be too fat to fit anyway. Bobby said we should do it for future chicks. (!!!!)

Good thing I have a day off tomorrow!!

 

[stoopid]

Isn't it great how pets make our lives so much better?

 

[smkchick]

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Oh yes. In so many ways. As I write this, I'm listening to my froo froo dog whining to be let out. And pondering who many feet of chicken wire I'll need...

How are you feeling, Roberta?

 

[ChickenAl]

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Suzanne, Jack are a little last night. So far he is not interested this morning. He looks better and is more active. Will bring him back again to the vet in a little while for his daily IV hydration. We should know the full story in a couple of days.

Good thing about chicken wire is that it is not expensive. Also, it is not to visible compared to hardware cloth, so the addition to the fence will not look too unsightly. Bobby is turning into a real Chicken Head. Love it!