What's the temperature where you are???

[MROO]

It was -11F (-24C) this morning when I brought warm water out to the coop. The coop temperature was 0F (-18C) which is the lowest this winter. One of the hens had laid a late egg yesterday and it was frozen solid and split overnight. Our high this afternoon will be 6F (-15C).

I've pulled in quite a few split, frozen eggs in the last week or so. Doesn't if figure my hens would choose the coldest weather we've had in a decade to end their three-month egg drought? They went straight from "freeloaders" to "smart-a$$es!"

 

[Ponypoor]

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

Yes, old basements are a huge problem here, flooded basements and cracked foundations. In the Spring my basement sump pump pretty much runs 24/7. I have a finished basement apartment so it’s a huge worry for me.

But I don’t think I have to worry for a few more weeks yet

 

[Ponypoor]

I've pulled in quite a few split, frozen eggs in the last week or so. Doesn't if figure my hens would choose the coldest weather we've had in a decade to end their three-month egg drought? They went straight from "freeloaders" to "smart-a$$es!"

I cannot believe I haven’t had any frozen eggs! Now that I have the heater in the Hen House it’s not so much of a worry, but I still have about 4 girls that must lay their eggs, on the floor, way back under the nest boxes - brats! Had to clean out a broken egg there today - ewwww. I’m not 19 anymore! This getting down on my knees and stretching way under the nests is hard on an old body! Sheesh!

Then there is always a wise-a$$ lard butt hen who wants to see what I am up to and hops up on my back and flattens me!



Oh - it’s -17C and sunnnnnny!

 

[007Sean]

Sunday: 2:30pm, 80°F, dew point 53°F, humidity 39%, wind SSW @ 10mph, partly cloudy, partly sunny! Rain was predicted but so far we have received none!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

6F with a high of 18 predicted

At 3:45 PM we made it, 18 in the pines. Yaaaay!

 

[debid]

I'm thrilled because we're supposed to get a couple days in the middle 60s just in time to get the baby coop cleaned in anticipation of the new occupants. And, I can get the ramp situation for the adults sorted out without freezing my fingers off. All good things!

 

[Echelontheory101]

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?

It keeps the temp in the coop about 10ish degrees above ambient so their bodies are still experiencing the same total tempuratue swing that they would in any other coop. For example if its outside temps the swing would be 8 degrees overnight up to a high of 38 during the day meaning their bodies experience a 30 degree swing. Its no different with the greenhouse panels except its 18 to 48 instead so still a 30 degree swing they'd experience but just between two more slightly comfortable temps, so its actually LESS stress on their systems than if they had to swing with ambient since ambient is very uncomfortable to comfortable every day and with the greenhouse its a comfortable temp to a still comfortable temp. If you're going to change the temp in your coop at all with heat like you said I wouldnt do it during the high times, I would do it during the lows to shorten the swing