The Old Folks Home

[ChickenCanoe]

OMG!!! Tennessee won!!!

That sounded like a good game.

So did Mizzou. They're 7 and 0.

The Cardinals are going to the World Series.

We're supposed to be getting some frost next week.
Highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s.

 

[tnspursfan09]

My Dad is from Wakenda, MO. He has family there and in Carrollton.

 

[Highcotton]

I think we often provide too much heat for too long. They need a place to get warm, but keeping them warm all the time is not best. I have noticed that chicks that are in the weather (rain, wind, cold) with their mother feather out much faster and seem to be stronger,healthier, and better able to deal with weather extremes. I have made it my practice to provide a warm sheltered "hen box" that they can use to warm up, but I leave their food and water outside of that so that they learn to regulate their own body's heat. All of this, of course after about 2 weeks of 24/7 warmth (if I'm raising them without a hen.)

Here's how I do it. I take a fairly large (say, 2' x 2') cardboard box and suspend a light bulb inside. The bulb should be well away from the sides so as not to be a fire hazard. The wattage of the bulb will depend on what size box you are using, but a 25 to 40 watt is usually enough. Put a thermometer up on the wall of the box (inside close to the bedding) to make sure it stays around 90 degrees. I use a brooder lamp with a wire guard in case it falls. I also wrap the lamp and guard in chicken wire so the little darlings won't try to roost on the guard. I cut several doors in the side of the box, close to the floor, and one or two in the top of each side for ventilation. then I line the bottom with a feed sack and bedding to make cleaning it out easy. The chicks will go in here to sleep and warm up but will go out to eat, drink, and explore. I have raised many chicks in a non-insulated coop in the winter using this set-up and they did great! They will grow thier feathers faster this way than they will if you keep them in a totally warm environment while they are feathering out. Depending on how many chicks there are, and how cold it is outside, you will remove the light and leave the box when they have completely feathered out. This could be as early as five weeks, but no longer than eight weeks even in very cold weather.

If I didn't explain this well enough, any one, PM me and I will try to do a better job!

The old standard brooder on the farm in South Alabama was an old #3 washtub turned upside down on three bricks with a 100 watt buld suspended inside. The feed and water was outside and the chicks could come and go as they please.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We get frost here in the Sacramento Valley too. It even gets down to 28degress sometimes. That messes up the Citrus though....

The coldest Temp Recorded here(Woodland) is 18degrees...above 0....

what is that thing you call frost?

It's a precursor to snow.

Let me remind you what snow is:



It's that frozen white precipitation that is supposed to happen in the season known as winter.

Now I won't mention that winter lasts 6 months in some places.

 

[Wisher1000]

The old standard brooder on the farm in South Alabama was an old #3 washtub turned upside down on three bricks with a 100 watt buld suspended inside. The feed and water was outside and the chicks could come and go as they please.

Sounds perfect! I didn't grow up on a farm, I grew up on a golf course. I thought I had an original idea, I should have figured.....that's what I get for thinking........ LOL!

 

[chickensnewtome]

Only somebody from the Great White North would think that!!

Here, I don't look for a frost for about 2 maybe 3 weeks yet.

Scott

Arkansas doesnt expect a frost for another month or so.

My chicks just have a broody mama. I am not going to mess with an incubator. I know nothing about raising chicken yunguns'

I love raising me some chicks!!

It's a precursor to snow.

Let me remind you what snow is:



It's that frozen white precipitation that is supposed to happen in the season known as winter.

Now I won't mention that winter lasts 6 months in some places.

That is one thing I miss about Boston!!! The snow out there was so beautiful!!

 

[drumstick diva]

Snow is especially beautiful when it isn't yours! SCG ugh, poo snow pictures - ugh weatherman says we could have first flakes on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am so happy NOT!!

I really love shoveling snow - walking or driving in it is the PITS. I take my sweet time and enjoy the beauty & peacefulness - I shovel by hand so no noisy snow blowers or plow. You know, so quiet you can hear the snow fall and the diamond glints from moonlight are dazzling. Once I hit 60 tho, it took a lot longer to move it. This time I'm 66 so we'll have to see how that goes.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Maddy is at the circus with DD and DH...I would have gone, but crowds give me the willies.

 

[scottcaddy]

Snow is especially beautiful when it isn't yours! SCG ugh, poo snow pictures - ugh weatherman says we could have first flakes on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am so happy NOT!!

I really love shoveling snow - walking or driving in it is the PITS. I take my sweet time and enjoy the beauty & peacefulness - I shovel by hand so no noisy snow blowers or plow. You know, so quiet you can hear the snow fall and the diamond glints from moonlight are dazzling. Once I hit 60 tho, it took a lot longer to move it. This time I'm 66 so we'll have to see how that goes.

I So Wish I could still hear snow falling or ice cracking when you pour salt on it

. Way too many trips to aircraft running jet engines in the Air Force back in the early 70's.

Scott

 

[RedPulletMama]

Middle TN is set to receive our 1st frost tonight! I hate cold weather so much. It is 70 degrees in my house right now and I am freezing, but too cheap to turn on the heat. Due to all the rain, I saw somewhere on BYC to cover a run using clear plastic shower curtains. Naturally I tried it. It did not work....what do y'all use to cover your runs? The rain collected on the curtains and they ripped due to the heaviness of the water collected on the top. I am open for cheap suggestions.