The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Countrypunk92]

For those of you saying it will 12-14 degrees where do you get your weather from?  not being smarty or anything but ALL 3 of the local channels say either 7 or 8 for tomorrow.  12-14 sounds like a heat wave to me.....

low is 1 degree for here. I'd if that is tonight or tomroow

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
It is for tonight.

It does not feel all that cold out. Roads are clear for the most part and DRY. There is a patch of ice on my street but didn't have any trouble getting over it. So I can make it to water the chickens. Might have to make two trips of that.

 

[FeyRaine]

We are at -3 actual, wind chill -14 atm.

One trick we did yrs ago when it was so cold we could not pour water for the rabbits (it literally froze b/f they could get a drink, discovered w/ a couple having their face freeze into the dish as we poured, very not good) anyway to get them _some_ hydration we cut apples which they could chew & eat frozen, which gave them something other than dry feed in their system.

I put apple peeling into each bird pen last night. I hope to get them some liquid water today, but it freezes so fast they will barely get a sip b/f they are pecking ice, so turnip greens and cut apples will also go into each pen along w/ dry feed as a way to keep them hydrated and feed.

 

[Penny Hen]

We are at -3 actual, wind chill -14 atm.

One trick we did yrs ago when it was so cold we could not pour water for the rabbits (it literally froze b/f they could get a drink, discovered w/ a couple having their face freeze into the dish as we poured, very not good) anyway to get them _some_ hydration we cut apples which they could chew & eat frozen, which gave them something other than dry feed in their system.

I put apple peeling into each bird pen last night. I hope to get them some liquid water today, but it freezes so fast they will barely get a sip b/f they are pecking ice, so turnip greens and cut apples will also go into each pen along w/ dry feed as a way to keep them hydrated and feed.

I was out checking on my flock and sheep and minis. I am teaching the chickens to perch on the backs of the sheep the way my old flock of guineas used to in the cold weather.

 

[DMRippy]

We are at -3 actual, wind chill -14 atm.

One trick we did yrs ago when it was so cold we could not pour water for the rabbits (it literally froze b/f they could get a drink, discovered w/ a couple having their face freeze into the dish as we poured, very not good) anyway to get them _some_ hydration we cut apples which they could chew & eat frozen, which gave them something other than dry feed in their system.

I put apple peeling into each bird pen last night. I hope to get them some liquid water today, but it freezes so fast they will barely get a sip b/f they are pecking ice, so turnip greens and cut apples will also go into each pen along w/ dry feed as a way to keep them hydrated and feed.

Who did you get your MFL from and how did they do for the hatch????????

Good news is.... they will not DIE if they don't get water for a day. I am going to make a good try. Might dig a hole and put the water pan in the hole.... we will see.

 

[FeyRaine]

I was out checking on my flock and sheep and minis. I am teaching the chickens to perch on the backs of the sheep the way my old flock of guineas used to in the cold weather.

Good use of resources there Penny Hen ;>

Who did you get your MFL from and how did they do for the hatch????????

Good news is.... they will not DIE if they don't get water for a day. I am going to make a good try. Might dig a hole and put the water pan in the hole.... we will see.

I have our rubber buckets sitting inside tires, it does give them some insulation, but it only helps right around the freezing pt, like 36-27F air temp water stays liquid.
Old timers used to put composting manure down in the space as it gives off heat, of course the risk is poo in the water and a frozen mess if it does freeze so I haven't tried that...

RE: MFL , I got 4 MFLeggs (in a box of 45 eggs) from PapaBrooder for the NYDH saddly the PO trashed the box, & while the egg shells did not crack (excellent packing job) the air cells were a disaster,
I only had 11 make it to LD of which 1 assisted hatch, a CL so no MFL for me, oh well...

I've got 9 home grown CL x eggs in the hatcher now, 2 external pips, hope the electric stays on!

This is what the box looked like

 

[DMRippy]

See you got MY EGGS LOL. He sent me some too but not many and they were all clear. Maybe they were old. I think they were collected PRIOR to his 2 week long trip LOL. He will send me more since I didn't get my full order. NOW My MFL is laying. both eggs are fertile but I have not gotten any in over a week.

I have a SS thanks to CarolJ and I will be crossing that with the MFL to improve VIGOR I am also getting a Jubilee roo too.... he looks more like Am Oprs than Eng.... I might try him too. They are so pretty but if you can't keep them alive what is the point.

I was thinking.... maybe a votive candle might work? put that in a pan and put a metal pan on top..... I am sure that work work for most of the day.... I don't have that many metal pans for everyone. I would not run that at night but for a few hours during the day to keep the water warm would let them get water.

 

[Mehjr10]

See you got MY EGGS LOL. He sent me some too but not many and they were all clear. Maybe they were old. I think they were collected PRIOR to his 2 week long trip LOL. He will send me more since I didn't get my full order. NOW My MFL is laying. both eggs are fertile but I have not gotten any in over a week.

I have a SS thanks to CarolJ and I will be crossing that with the MFL to improve VIGOR I am also getting a Jubilee roo too.... he looks more like Am Oprs than Eng.... I might try him too. They are so pretty but if you can't keep them alive what is the point.

I was thinking.... maybe a votive candle might work? put that in a pan and put a metal pan on top..... I am sure that work work for most of the day.... I don't have that many metal pans for everyone. I would not run that at night but for a few hours during the day to keep the water warm would let them get water.

If you can use fire try charcoal in a coffee can, or a roll of Tpaper soaked in alcohol then with a pan over it.

 

[Cinny]

Well our 3-4 inches of snow turned out to be a dusting…..kind of disappointed. Girls are doing well, I use the layer method in winter and was surprised how warm it was in there, our coop is 10x10…..their water did freeze but I just use one in the coop and then switch out with the other twice a day and they are doing fine….4 eggs from 6 girls today.
FayRaine…I was told never to give the chickens apples, onions, avocado and potato skins (from reading blogs)…..how do yours do with the apple? It sounds like a good idea.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
COAL that is a good idea too. I think I am out of luck for this cold snap. Next time I need a plan for the waterers. I feel some yard sales in my future for pie tins.... lots of them too. Maybe the good will but they might be too high for this project.