What's the temperature where you are???

[sourland]

That’s had got to be very cold for you, not normal at all from what I know of your weather down/over there

Longest and most severe cold spell since 2002.

 

[Ponypoor]

The changes in our climate are disrupting the natural blocking forces that have moderated the polar vortex over the past few hundred years. Fifty years ago, we would get cold spells in the winter and warm spells in the summer, but they would get pushed out in 3-5 days for more moderate weather. Prolonged spells of extreme weather were rare. Now they are much more common. We see winter cold go on and on and on in the northern part of the US, and summer heat extremes persist for months in the South. It doesn't happen every year, but it does happen much more often than it used to.

I expect the cold to moderate only slightly for February. We've been below freezing since January 22, and if Tuesday of this week doesn't get above that mark, it may be February 18 before it happens. The normal high is 32-33 to put that in perspective. And only one day in February is projected to hit 40. March is unknown at this point, but it would not be surprising to see below average temperatures again. It is likely that the shift to warmer weather will be like a light switch--we will be cold until temperatures shoot above normal and stay there for a while.

Spain would be nice to feel some dry heat for a bit.

That’s what happened last year, it went from freezing winter to scorching summer in less than a month! And stayed there until after Sept (great for me!), Autumn was lovely until Nov and then like a switch it was winter and snow!!!!! Crazy!

I am wondering what this summer will bring….

Stay warm friend and take heart - Old Man Winter can’t stick around forever, hopefully Mother Nature kicks his snowy butt to the curb!

Brrrr! Scrunchy snow today!

 

[Ponypoor]

Longest and most severe cold spell since 2002.

Crazy! And did you see out west? It’s Spring out there! Just crazy, I fear for a bad wildfire season.

 

[Ponypoor]

-11°F right now and the chickens are not fans

Awwww so sweet! I have a bunch of lap sitters also, and head also a favourite spot to snooze haha.

Mine are starting to struggle now. Although it’s way milder in the barn than outside (-8C) it’s just the constant every day cold that’s getting to my (especially) older crew.

I stuck my radiator heater in the Hen House and it’s around 45F in there at night. It’s been great for them to have some reprieve from the constant cold. But it’s during the daytime that they have been really not happy.

I promised them by Tuesday it would warm up

Only problem here is that the overnight temps rule at the moment. Daytime hrs are still way less than night time darkness. And the cold loves the dark! So even if it’s to be 0C (32F) on Tuesday, it will have to climb to that temp from -9C and then darkness descends and rules again.

 

[Echelontheory101]

You have some very pretty girls. Cold but pretty!

Thank you! They got some pumpkin pie this morning for a bit of a sugar boost with the cold. Spoiled rotten they are! Haha

 

[Echelontheory101]

Awwww so sweet! I have a bunch of lap sitters also, and head also a favourite spot to snooze haha.

Mine are starting to struggle now. Although it’s way milder in the barn than outside (-8C) it’s just the constant every day cold that’s getting to my (especially) older crew.

I stuck my radiator heater in the Hen House and it’s around 45F in there at night. It’s been great for them to have some reprieve from the constant cold. But it’s during the daytime that they have been really not happy.

I promised them by Tuesday it would warm up

Only problem here is that the overnight temps rule at the moment. Daytime hrs are still way less than night time darkness. And the cold loves the dark! So even if it’s to be 0C (32F) on Tuesday, it will have to climb to that temp from -9C and then darkness descends and rules again.

Yes they all fight each other for a spot on my lap! Haha And also same luckily for me the daytime isn't a huge problem because I use greenhouse roof panels in the winter so as soon as the sun hits the roof in the morning it warms the coop right up so for me same as you, the night time temps rule and it hasn't been above 5°F in weeks at night but next week it's supposed to get into the teens at night and maybe even 20° it'll be at least another two months before it gets above freezing at night consistently but they're pretty used to that if I can get double digits even if that means 20° I'm happy! Haha

 

[Snowbelt]

Awwww so sweet! I have a bunch of lap sitters also, and head also a favourite spot to snooze haha.

Mine are starting to struggle now. Although it’s way milder in the barn than outside (-8C) it’s just the constant every day cold that’s getting to my (especially) older crew.

I stuck my radiator heater in the Hen House and it’s around 45F in there at night. It’s been great for them to have some reprieve from the constant cold. But it’s during the daytime that they have been really not happy.

I promised them by Tuesday it would warm up

Only problem here is that the overnight temps rule at the moment. Daytime hrs are still way less than night time darkness. And the cold loves the dark! So even if it’s to be 0C (32F) on Tuesday, it will have to climb to that temp from -9C and then darkness descends and rules again.

We start off tomorrow around -6F (-21C) but warm up to around 18F (-8C) by afternoon. They will begin the day locked inside the coop, but I will shovel off the new and drifted snow in their run and let them out late morning. I have a chicken deck on the south side of the coop against a barn red side which lets them soak up the rays. The inside of the coop consistently runs 5-7 degrees F (3-4C) warmer, and it is drier than outside, so they can go in to eat, relax, or warm a little. They will enjoy the day. Today, not too much.

 

[MROO]

Trade you!

I'd trade, too, except for the thought of what it would do to my 100 year old basement!

 

[sourland]

Local Costco is closed because of a burst frozen pipe and store flooding.

 

[MROO]

Yes they all fight each other for a spot on my lap! Haha And also same luckily for me the daytime isn't a huge problem because I use greenhouse roof panels in the winter so as soon as the sun hits the roof in the morning it warms the coop right up so for me same as you, the night time temps rule and it hasn't been above 5°F in weeks at night but next week it's supposed to get into the teens at night and maybe even 20° it'll be at least another two months before it gets above freezing at night consistently but they're pretty used to that if I can get double digits even if that means 20° I'm happy! Haha

A question for you. How big a difference is it between greenhouse-warmed day temps and the cold nights? During the coldest temps here (single digits F and a few slightly below) I thought about putting out a "sun lamp" (a brooder lamp set up high, so not super warm) for a couple of hours during the day. I didn't, because I was afraid it would mess with their systems and make the night-time temps harder for them. Any thoughts?