Surviving Minnesota!

[jerryse]

Beautiful day here . I noticed bluebells are up as is stinging nettle ( the perennial one ) . Nettle is supposed to be a good green . Not trying it . Anything that stings me is not on my edible lists . This may surprise Ralphie but there are things I will not try .

 

[MNChickMom]

It's a corrugated plastic, so should allow some heat to escape. That's on my radar. In the garage I was having a hard time maintaining 95+ without some cover. I intend to open it up as I can lower temp. Then cover with some chicken wire that I have.

I have a brooder that is similar set up to yours TFred - also outdoors - I cover half of mine with the silver reflectiv insulation stuff and half of the lid is only covered in wire mesh.

Initially we did struggle with moving the heat lamp around a bit - Where to hang it to get the desired temp? Finally, we gave up and said it was at X height and just cover or uncover more or less of the top to give the desired inside temp. Under the heat lamp is desirable temp and towards outer edges it is 10-15 degrees cooler.

ETA: We (try to) do most of our hatching in January and February so we were looking for insulating value as well.

 

[Tfred1399]

I have a brooder that is similar set up to yours TFred - also outdoors - I cover half of mine with the silver reflectiv insulation stuff and half of the lid is only covered in wire mesh.
View attachment 1334447
Initially we did struggle with moving the heat lamp around a bit - Where to hang it to get the desired temp? Finally, we gave up and said it was at X height and just cover or uncover more or less of the top to give the desired inside temp. Under the heat lamp is desirable temp and towards outer edges it is 10-15 degrees cooler.

ETA: We (try to) do most of our hatching in January and February so we were looking for insulating value as well.

Good idea. I've actually got an unused roll of it that I bought to use in the coop and never put up. I might have to play with that some.

 

[bobbi-j]

This just taken from the Isanti County Weather Facebook page.

See the 21.1 number in Central MN. Yes that is smack dab over our home. - This storm better be a bust!View attachment 1334113

Are those inches of snow predicted?? I hope not...

 

[MNChickMom]

Are those inches of snow predicted?? I hope not...

Yes according to one (hopefully) incorrect source.

 

[bobbi-j]

Yes according to one (hopefully) incorrect source.

Eww... although we're not in as colorful an area as you are. The winter storm watch that is now in effect says we could get up to 8". I so hope they're wrong and it fizzles.

 

[duluthralphie]

Beautiful day here . I noticed bluebells are up as is stinging nettle ( the perennial one ) . Nettle is supposed to be a good green . Not trying it . Anything that stings me is not on my edible lists . This may surprise Ralphie but there are things I will not try .

I think about eating them whenever I am forced to deal with them...But I cannot bring myself to eat them either.

 

[duluthralphie]

Eww... although we're not in as colorful an area as you are. The winter storm watch that is now in effect says we could get up to 8". I so hope they're wrong and it fizzles.

One should never gleefully look at anothers area on a map to compare predicted snow fall totals.....

This is the latest map:

I am offering refuge to anyone within 50 miles of ...Oh it looks like Canby....Where the epicenter of our snow will hit. I feel for those poor people there.....
Not that my shade of purple is a whole lot less dark...

 

[holm25]

One should never gleefully look at anothers area on a map to compare predicted snow fall totals.....

This is the latest map:

View attachment 1334674
I am offering refuge to anyone within 50 miles of ...Oh it looks like Canby....Where the epicenter of our snow will hit. I feel for those poor people there.....
Not that my shade of purple is a whole lot less dark...

Hahahahahaha we are in the very light blue almost green stuff lolollollollolol

 

[holm25]

My chicks spent ALL day outside.. No huddling at all... Might be time to move them to the big kid brooder...