Texas

[jajeanpierre]

JaJean - look up Craig's septic pumping. They are good family friends of ours, and he knows septic systems. He treats ours. He should be able to help you. If he doesn't know, he will be able to direct you to someone that does.

Thanks. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I sure hope none die though because I do not relish having to process a bird in the freezing cold tomorrow. And I don't want to scald and pluck in the house cuz it is messy.

You process a bird that has died?

 

[bnjrob]

You process a bird that has died?

If the reason it died was from cold or injury and not a suspected bacterial/viral illness, yes

 

[bnjrob]

News this morning says ERCOT is asking people to conserve energy to prevent rolling blackouts due to the power grid being strained. So for all you people who insist on putting out heat lamps in winter for adult, fully feathered chickens - this is the reason you need to rethink how you acclimate your flock. If the power goes down because of the grid being strained, you will not have electricity to run those heat lamps and your chickens are much more apt to die in the cold because they were accustomed to "artificial weather".

http://www.ercot.org/

 

[Ms Jellybean]

It got down to 12* here last night. It's 18* now. I keep my furnace set at 63* at night and 67* during the day.

Am I cold? At night no, I have an electric mattress pad that I run on the lowest setting. During the day I freeze. I have a foot heater that uses very little energy (less than a lightbulb) to keep my feet warm while I work and I dress in layers. Still cold. Part of that is just me. I am always cold. I should move to the tropics.

How did everyones chickens do? I've been ready you should line the coop with hay bales and spread a nice thick layer on the floor to insulate the coop. Makes sense to me. Might be a pain to keep moving it in and out due to the bi-polar weather, but worth it in my mind.

 

[bnjrob]

It got down to 12* here last night. It's 18* now. I keep my furnace set at 63* at night and 67* during the day.

Am I cold? At night no, I have an electric mattress pad that I run on the lowest setting. During the day I freeze. I have a foot heater that uses very little energy (less than a lightbulb) to keep my feet warm while I work and I dress in layers. Still cold. Part of that is just me. I am always cold. I should move to the tropics.

How did everyones chickens do? I've been ready you should line the coop with hay bales and spread a nice thick layer on the floor to insulate the coop. Makes sense to me. Might be a pain to keep moving it in and out due to the bi-polar weather, but worth it in my mind.

Yep, that's the temps we got too - wind chill was below 0 last night.

19 Javas in open air pens alive and kicking this morning like nothing is wrong and they didn't even eat all of their grain and suet before bed last nigh.

 

[TexasLisa]

I am not sure what our windchill was, but it did dip into the 20's last night. I have windows opened on the west and south side of the coop. These two windows have a partial barrier across them. My flock did fine. Their water containers had a light covering of ice on top. I left them in the coop until the sun came up. They were raring to get out and free-range. I hope everyone is ready for tonight. It is suppose to be colder!

Lisa

 

[surfdok]

Okay, over 2100 pages in Texas!!! I just want to say howdy y'all. We're living in Mission TX in the Rio Grande Valley and have decided to raise laying hens. My wife grew up on a chicken farm in Alberta and I am from Mississippi (no chicken experience). I truly hope to learn from everyone here.

Surfdok

 

[TexasLisa]

Okay, over 2100 pages in Texas!!! I just want to say howdy y'all. We're living in Mission TX in the Rio Grande Valley and have decided to raise laying hens. My wife grew up on a chicken farm in Alberta and I am from Mississippi (no chicken experience). I truly hope to learn from everyone here.

Surfdok

Welcome from Rosenberg (SW of Houston)! Be prepared to get enabled. We are great about that! We are also a friendly bunch and love questions, pictures, etc.

Lisa

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Okay, over 2100 pages in Texas!!! I just want to say howdy y'all. We're living in Mission TX in the Rio Grande Valley and have decided to raise laying hens. My wife grew up on a chicken farm in Alberta and I am from Mississippi (no chicken experience). I truly hope to learn from everyone here.

Surfdok

Welcome!