Texas

[bnjrob]

This morning I went out to the big coop and found several chickens in the nest boxes to keep warm, including my maran roo sharing the box with an australorp. I was afraid she was being squished (!)...she is one of my best laying older hens...but she was okay. The 4 month olds were okay out in the hoop-coop, too.

I mixed up some warm oatmeal, cornmeal a few sliced almonds, leftover pumpkin, bacon grease and a touch of molasses to give to the chickens this morning...they are not too interested in it.

Their water froze and I (like everyone else) had to go break up the ice to get them watered.

It's still 27 here! ...and even colder tonight.

I hope everyone and everything is okay with y'all this morning.

I tried warm oatmeal several times last winter - they wouldn't touch it. I had to take big frozen lumps of it out of the runs. They prefer grains/sunflower to peck at when it's chilly.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Punt return all the ways for TD ... wow OU evens the score

And stopped them on the onee

 

[Aphrael]

This morning I went out to the big coop and found several chickens in the nest boxes to keep warm, including my maran roo sharing the box with an australorp. I was afraid she was being squished (!)...she is one of my best laying older hens...but she was okay. The 4 month olds were okay out in the hoop-coop, too.

I mixed up some warm oatmeal, cornmeal a few sliced almonds, leftover pumpkin, bacon grease and a touch of molasses to give to the chickens this morning...they are not too interested in it.

Their water froze and I (like everyone else) had to go break up the ice to get them watered.

It's still 27 here! ...and even colder tonight.

I hope everyone and everything is okay with y'all this morning.

That sounds like the type of concoction I make for mine when it is nasty out, and they go bonkers for it. Yesterday I was out of molasses so they got peanut butter in it instead, and I usually whisk in some eggs after I turn off the burner to make a kind of oatmeal custard. They gobble up every scrap whenever they get it. Maybe yours just weren't hungry?

 

[jockeyeba]

It's still only 29* here it's so cold in our old farmhouse, my computer is in a room that doesn't have heat, I have on my long blanket robe over my clothes & I'm still cold my hens have almost completely quit laying the last 3 weeks 1 game hen & 1 RIR pullet that started laying a month ago, are all that have layed for me in the last 2 weeks Had to bust the ice on all the waters for chickens, sheep & horses

 

[TammyTX]

That sounds like the type of concoction I make for mine when it is nasty out, and they go bonkers for it. Yesterday I was out of molasses so they got peanut butter in it instead, and I usually whisk in some eggs after I turn off the burner to make a kind of oatmeal custard. They gobble up every scrap whenever they get it. Maybe yours just weren't hungry?

I bet they loved the peanut butter! My chickens are funny, they hate yogurt and most garden greens, too. They probably are not hungry as I gave them loads of chicken feed and cracked corn and suet blocks yesterday. I guess I'm been over protective- feedwise.

Tonight, in the Austin area, they are forecasting 23/24 for a low!

We need a horse blanket for our old horse.

 

[bnjrob]

It's still only 29* here

it's so cold in our old farmhouse, my computer is in a room that doesn't have heat, I have on my long blanket robe over my clothes & I'm still cold

my hens have almost completely quit laying the last 3 weeks

1 game hen & 1 RIR pullet that started laying a month ago, are all that have layed for me in the last 2 weeks

Had to bust the ice on all the waters for chickens, sheep & horses

Feel your pain. Had to take the water out of the hanging buckets because the nipples kept freezing over even though the water in the buckets wasn't freezing. Had to crack off about 2 inches of ice from the rubber water dishes this morning. Still can't get the dog bowl ice broken up - it's in a metal bowl. Finally got our breeders laying again by putting in morning light - swore I didn't want to do this but I want to do winter hatching and they didn't start laying again after their molt because by then the days were getting cloudier and shorter. We don't have central heat/air - have to use wood burning fireplace to heat. Also have the gas oven on and the oven door open to help heat the kitchen and living room. I love the life we have chosen to live, but it isn't easy most of the time. Hope you can try to get warmer today!

 

[Aphrael]

I bet they loved the peanut butter! My chickens are funny, they hate yogurt and most garden greens, too. They probably are not hungry as I gave them loads of chicken feed and cracked corn and suet blocks yesterday. I guess I'm been over protective- feedwise.

Tonight, in the Austin area, they are forecasting 23/24 for a low!

We need a horse blanket for our old horse.

Oh yeah. They adore peanut butter. I figured with the cold the extra fat and protein would do em some good. I don't know what the low was here last night but it is only 14* right now and supposed to be down to 8* tonight. It is too cold!

 

[hensfortherapy]

Well the chickens are fine. Frozen water, but to be expected at 25°. I expect to warm the water a couple of times today to melt the ice. I tried the suet. We'll see if they eat it. They didn't seem interested when I had it in the hanger so I just dumped it on the ground and the hens were staring at it. Too cold to stand around watching to see if they liked it.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Lisa, I hope all went well with your surgery.

 

[lovingmyhens]

THIS OU GAME IS CRAZY