The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

You do realize 80 (f) isn't even luke warm!!!!

There is NO WAY I could survive your weather

You'd die doing chores here I think Kass. Seriously... One breath of that -39 and you'd drop to your knees

I'd feel the same way in some of your summer temps I'm sure.

 

[Kassaundra]

You'd die doing chores here I think Kass. Seriously... One breath of that -39 and you'd drop to your knees

I'd feel the same way in some of your summer temps I'm sure.

I think it is funny that you think I would set one pinkie toe out in that ridiculousness!!!!!

 

[aoxa]

I think it is funny that you think I would set one pinkie toe out in that ridiculousness!!!!!

For your animals you would!

 

[delisha]

So I had to share something unusual.....I just went out to check heated dog bowl and decided I would take bird seed out with me and spread all over the DL so the girls can eat it in the morning when they get up.

The girls have been roosted for a couple hours now but Stella and Sophie jumped down from the roost to start eating the bird seed I threw down. Makes me wonder if their really hungry? They have never done that before........they were fed small portions of ff twice today so they shouldn't be that hungry I wouldn't think? Perhaps the frigid temps are making them want more food? They were busy making craters in the DL today so I'm sure they were eating things they found in it all day? Think tomorrow I'll dump in some more shavings for them then throw more bird seed in. Thinking a bowl of seed in the coop wouldn't be such a bad idea either till the temps get higher.

Thoughts?

(Oh and after you put your fingers in the water bowl don't touch the metal latches to the gate......eh gads some days I am so blonde

)

. I have a metal screen door handle and I have let the dogs in the house after not wiping my hands dry enough. I have had to wait for it to thaw enough to remove them.

Quote: x2..and if you are working..the body stays warm. The only problem I have is the nose. It does hurt to breathe some days. It is bitter cold out today. -14 F. That is -26C. Brrrrr.

 

[aoxa]

. I have a metal screen door handle and I have let the dogs in the house after not wiping my hands dry enough. I have had to wait for it to thaw enough to remove them.

x2..and if you are working..the body stays warm. The only problem I have is the nose. It does hurt to breathe some days. It is bitter cold out today. -14 F. That is -26C. Brrrrr.

Yes the nose! My eyes hurt too. I have a face mask and it's my eyes and nose that hurt. I have an insulated suit that works really well. The boots.. I do need new boots..

Susan re-stacked the fire. Oh I am so way too hot. Windows are open. It's 35 in here. No joke. My alarm clock doubles as a thermometer.

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, it's too cold to be out when your nose hairs freeze.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote: Yeah. Hehe.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:

When my wood fire gets cranking too much, I use my red-neck thermostat. It's called a window.

Hahahahaha that's awesome. When I get it in the 80s in here on a rare occasion I just put shorts on. I worked to hard for that wood heat to let it go out the window lol

You can pretend you're on vacation in FL

Oh...and I'd feed those kiddos whatever they would eat. I've been putting out way more BOSS than normal in the litter and even mixed in with their feed. In addition to the sprouts from the sprout bag. I can tell they are more hungry in the cold and they eat more of their feed most days even with the addition of the other seed.

I have had the wood stove cranking for hours and it's only 73 in the house. I put 3 layers on to go outside and check the girls again. Stella hopped down again. Apparently she thinks I was bringing another bed time snack...... Some snow got in from the winds so I blocked up one side of the open end at the north end. The big girls are on the roost 5 ft away directly in front of it standing up. Guess the wind isn't making it in the coop to them I didn't think it was just the snow from winds coming out of the west. Edie is so poofed up she looks triple her normal size. Her & Lucy are cuddled close and Lucy was purring when I came in At least I know their warm & happy (yes I checked feet all are toasty warm) The heated water bowl is keeping the water unfrozen. Will have to see in the am if its still working ok. Tomorrow more shavings, big bowl of bird seed in the coop and small bowl of FF in the heated dog bowl that I can fill several times before work. Think I am going to put tarp on fence as well to block winds from west to see if they venture to the food crate tomorrow.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Do any of you that get really cold temps (let's talk F here as I'm math challenged)...say below -20 F (That's NEGATIVE 20 F)... put any heat relief in your barns or hen houses?


Aoxa - I think you said the barn was warmer inside than your outside temp. Is that due to the heat the animals are generating or do you have some kind of heat in there?


Now I know all the reasons not to heat. I'm just curious if any of you WI or CN people (or other very cold temp areas) ever have a line you draw at which you do something about heating.

This is one of those discussions going on all over right now with temps hitting just below 0 F. in many areas of the country and people are freaking out about their birds and even talking about bringing them inside the house.

I just want us all to hear from you in colder areas about your experiences and practices.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I have a newly hatched RIR chick. The down is a touch light but the feather tips if one looks closely are dark. Now if I could just get the brooder up another 3 degrees. I could move it out of the bater.