Topic of the Week - Boredom Busters for Winter

[MROO]

Oh how I like the shovel of hot leaves idea. Worms maybe??? Hubby has a huge compost pile--I doubt he'd object if I borrow a shovelful for the birds! Thanks so much for the great idea.

If Hubby fusses, remind him that every shovelful you take means several others turned. That not only saves him some effort, but lets you dig deeper for "the good stuff." Of course, he doesn't need to know that last part You're just being helpful, right?

 

[Nanook33]

If Hubby fusses, remind him that every shovelful you take means several others turned. That not only saves him some effort, but lets you dig deeper for "the good stuff." Of course, he doesn't need to know that last part You're just being helpful, right?

LOL

 

[cincyfarmgirl]

Having the ability to let them out in the snow really depends on how severe your winter gets. If it’s above 0F and snowing my chickens are out every day. The problem is every time it goes to subzero temperatures we have high winds (40-50mph gusts) and -40F to -60F wind chills even during the day. That is also the week we get dumped with feet of snow. I have to plow a path from my house to my barn through my lawn with my tractor. Last year it was almost waist deep on me and the 2” eave gap along the inside of my barn I forgot to close the wind drove in feet of snow not inches. Every year when it gets that cold I find dead birds in my lawn frozen solid like ice statues. I have also pulled dead bird bodies out from under my decks because they try to shelter underneath and freeze to death. If I were to let my chickens out in those conditions I would lose at least a couple.

Indeed, I believe Chickens do need a closed in but well ventilated shelter in times of storms. They can endure pretty cold temperatures as many have illustrated, but wetness and the wind chill factor could be the killer. But again, I do believe they need to be locked up occasionally to protect them from the cold, dampness and the windchill.

 

[MROO]

SCORE!!!! The ULTIMATE winter boredom busters!
I was out shoveling snow and asked my neighbors about the two intact pumpkins in their back yard. One is currently thawing in my kitchen. The other is in "cold storage" - frozen solid on my front porch ... ummm ... the pumpkins, not my neighbors!