The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

Right now it is above freezing! 33 degrees, and it was sunny. Amazing. chickens went out on their own to be outside and even ventured into some of the snowy areas in their run, judging from the footprints.
I haven't looked at the weather but this was posted this afternoon in the mn thread..look what is coming on Sunday with windchill. I was born and raised in Minnesota, but .....this is ridiculous. windchills of -65? guess I had better string up some heat lamps in the coop. Am a little scared about this. I can handle -35 below, even -40. But I think this is the limit.

 

[Leahs Mom]

lala - how does your boy's comb look now that the weather has warmed up? Can you take a photo?

Those forecasted temps are incredible. How long are they supposed to last?

 

[armorfirelady]

Right now it is above freezing! 33 degrees, and it was sunny. Amazing. chickens went out on their own to be outside and even ventured into some of the snowy areas in their run, judging from the footprints.
I haven't looked at the weather but this was posted this afternoon in the mn thread..look what is coming on Sunday with windchill. I was born and raised in Minnesota, but .....this is ridiculous. windchills of -65? guess I had better string up some heat lamps in the coop. Am a little scared about this. I can handle -35 below, even -40. But I think this is the limit.

I saw this on the National news & thought of you. We get cold winters but not anything like this. I wouldn't venture out of my house till the temps reached 32. I cant imagine cars starting in this much less the hens staying warm. I know they get temps in Alaska like this but..........brrrrr

 

[ki4got]

Right now it is above freezing! 33 degrees, and it was sunny. Amazing. chickens went out on their own to be outside and even ventured into some of the snowy areas in their run, judging from the footprints.
I haven't looked at the weather but this was posted this afternoon in the mn thread..look what is coming on Sunday with windchill. I was born and raised in Minnesota, but .....this is ridiculous. windchills of -65? guess I had better string up some heat lamps in the coop. Am a little scared about this. I can handle -35 below, even -40. But I think this is the limit.

uh... sorry but my first thought was *bleep* that... nope. no way i'm ever moving north again. at least not willingly.

 

[aoxa]

Everyone talking about dipping production, and I got 3 dozen yesterday.

I also have an egg eater.. or two.. They keep getting the bottom nesting boxes. I go out there every morning to broken eggs in 6 boxes all eaten on the inside.. Grr....

 

[aoxa]

Right now it is above freezing! 33 degrees, and it was sunny. Amazing. chickens went out on their own to be outside and even ventured into some of the snowy areas in their run, judging from the footprints.
I haven't looked at the weather but this was posted this afternoon in the mn thread..look what is coming on Sunday with windchill. I was born and raised in Minnesota, but .....this is ridiculous. windchills of -65? guess I had better string up some heat lamps in the coop. Am a little scared about this. I can handle -35 below, even -40. But I think this is the limit.

That's not right.. not right at all.. I have never seen temps that cold in my entire life. You win the terrible weather contest.

 

[lalaland]

Everyone talking about dipping production, and I got 3 dozen yesterday.

I also have an egg eater.. or two.. They keep getting the bottom nesting boxes. I go out there every morning to broken eggs in 6 boxes all eaten on the inside.. Grr....

thats so strange it is the bottom boxes...are they the favorite boxes? maybe a game cam to see what the heck is going on!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Everyone talking about dipping production, and I got 3 dozen yesterday.

I also have an egg eater.. or two.. They keep getting the bottom nesting boxes. I go out there every morning to broken eggs in 6 boxes all eaten on the inside.. Grr....

can you convert your boxes to rollout by tilting either the front or back up 2-3 inches? Then cut the place you want the egg come out of the nesting box and use putt putt style flooring to guide the laid egg to the hole. Once out of the hole the egg could be better protected by being caught in a box of some kind that the chickens can't get into.

 

[delisha]

Right now it is above freezing! 33 degrees, and it was sunny. Amazing. chickens went out on their own to be outside and even ventured into some of the snowy areas in their run, judging from the footprints.
I haven't looked at the weather but this was posted this afternoon in the mn thread..look what is coming on Sunday with windchill. I was born and raised in Minnesota, but .....this is ridiculous. windchills of -65? guess I had better string up some heat lamps in the coop. Am a little scared about this. I can handle -35 below, even -40. But I think this is the limit.

I am right next door to you on that map..this winter temps are so wrong..I do not remember these cold winters.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Everyone talking about dipping production, and I got 3 dozen yesterday. 

I also have an egg eater.. or two.. They keep getting the bottom nesting boxes. I go out there every morning to broken eggs in 6 boxes all eaten on the inside.. Grr.... 

I had a huge egg day Christmas Eve, and a pretty good egg day Christmas, too. Lots of pullet eggs now ... plus the huge ones from the older hens who finished molting.