Trying not to freak! -40°F!

[artsvarc]

Why do I live in Iowa?

Saturday and Sunday, we'll be lucky to get above -5°F, regular temperatures. Sunday, our HIGH will be real feel of -25°F. Overnights, -40° 's, real feel!

I've increased ventilation, added insulation in the coop along the walls next to the roost bars hoping that adding a layer between the hens and the exterior wall will help. I also put a double layer of flannel in front of the windows. I'll turn the shavings this afternoon, add some more and hope for the best. Brrrrrr.

 

[SerrarGett]

Ha. We have a high of 59°F and a low of 49°F for the next 24 hours. Our chickens don't care. Of course, it is constantly 100°F in the summer, so I suppose their are some cons to living in California.

 

[artsvarc]

Ha. We have a high of 59°F and a low of 49°F for the next 24 hours. Our chickens don't care. Of course, it is constantly 100°F in the summer, so I suppose their are some cons to living in California.

That's the only thing California has going for it these days... weather. I grew up in Southern Ca, Antelope Valley. Left when I got married.

 

[Jrios58]

Why do I live in Iowa?

Saturday and Sunday, we'll be lucky to get above -5°F, regular temperatures. Sunday, our HIGH will be real feel of -25°F. Overnights, -40° 's, real feel!

I've increased ventilation, added insulation in the coop along the walls next to the roost bars hoping that adding a layer between the hens and the exterior wall will help. I also put a double layer of flannel in front of the windows. I'll turn the shavings this afternoon, add some more and hope for the best. Brrrrrr.

Well i feel better about my poor girls, it's been in the mid 20s here for several days (in north Texas, this is 35 degrees below normal) and Monday the low is going to be single digits. Coop is small, used to be well insulated before they tore most of it out, but they don't seem to mind. They're all fluffed up tho! Strolling around the yard most of the day. Crazy.

 

[SerrarGett]

That's the only thing California has going for it these days... weather. I grew up in Southern Ca, Antelope Valley. Left when I got married.

True. I plan on leaving some day.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Well.. y'all were just in the wrong part of California.. politics be damned, I love it here!

Sounds like you have a pretty good grip on things actually!

How are you keeping your water defrosted?

Is this your first winter there? Or used to this already?

I saw another thread where someone panicked and added in heat lamps because it snowed. Can you share photos of what sort of ventilation you have and such?

 

[artsvarc]

Well.. y'all were just in the wrong part of California.. politics be damned, I love it here!

Sounds like you have a pretty good grip on things actually!

How are you keeping your water defrosted?

Is this your first winter there? Or used to this already?

I saw another thread where someone panicked and added in heat lamps because it snowed. Can you share photos of what sort of ventilation you have and such?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-advice-on-humidity-please.1437680/

You can see my setup on this thread above if you'd like. I have a base heater for the water. So far, it has done a great job of keeping the water from icing over. This is our 11th Iowa winter but our first with Chickens. We've also lived in Colorado and Buffalo, NY so, we are used to "weather" now. It never changed much in the desert. Winter has been relatively mild so far. It's always like this in February. Next week we'll be back above 0°.

 

[artsvarc]

Well.. y'all were just in the wrong part of California.. politics be damned, I love it here!

Sounds like you have a pretty good grip on things actually!

How are you keeping your water defrosted?

Is this your first winter there? Or used to this already?

I saw another thread where someone panicked and added in heat lamps because it snowed. Can you share photos of what sort of ventilation you have and such?

I'd love it too if I lived in the Redwoods. I went to college in Chico, used to jot up to Humboldt occasionally.

 

[MissMonty]

I thought we had it bad here in ohio with the temps in the single digits LOL! I just drove to Iowa for a puppy recently and wow it was brutal

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'd love it too if I lived in the Redwoods. I went to college in Chico, used to jot up to Humboldt occasionally.

I grew up in Visalia, always visiting the Sequoia's. Loved riding quads/dirt bikes and worked really hard to move to the central coast to ride the sand dunes in Oceano/Pismo. It was SOOOO crowded last time we were there.. with (too many) drunk Stew Pidasso's.. I'm SOOO glad all our efforts were thwarted and we ended up farther North..

When we decided to move up here.. it was partly an emergency to save my teen daughter's life, so my husband commuted from Bakersfield for 2 years before he was able to get job up here. It was a worthy sacrifice! The last year we were in Bakersfield, air quality reached worse than Beijing so even when weather was comfortable windows were closed with AC still on, since walking a mile in it was said to be worse than smoking a whole pack of cigarettes. My electric bill was above $600 4 months in a row!

But I do recognize the beauty of being content where ever you are.. Each place has it's own type of beauty.. even the desert is teaming with life and color. And the glistening white snow covered fields/trees. I like eating and value agriculture for what it provides including some of those Blossom Trails (in the Fresno area). Even huge cities have their own heart beat. I'm aw struck every where I go! I will admit there's something special about being in the old growth forest..

It's special like the BYC community.. COmmunity raises IMmunity to fear and deception and misinformation!