Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[bigzio]

Holy frigid morning to everyone.
Congrats on the eggs EE! I have to check
for eggs three times daily in this weather
or I'll be collecting frozen eggs, even with
the straw bed over a foot deep. Funny how much lower the ceiling gets with the constant addition of fresh straw. -1f for a high temp today is far from a much needed warm up.
Been years since we have had extended cold temps like this, and I hope it's years again before another one!

Stay Safe ... bigz

 

[jvls1942]

sunday. another cold start to another cold day. 26 below zero. it has warmed up to 15 below
no chickens here . nothing but the wild cat in the upstairs of the garage.
Annie is moving around better each day. still plenty sore.
not much news from here. all i have been doing is staying in and eating.
the wine looks like it is ready for bottling . i think i will put four gallons of it into 1 gal jugs.

 

[bigzio]

With these brutal temps Jim, one gallon of wine equals one serving per container!

Stay Safe ... bigz

 

[WIchix]

I just found this thread for Wisconsin. I'm glad I did! It stayed below zero here for 4 days. I'm new to chicken keeping. Just got 5 Isa Browns at the end of August. I was so nervous when I saw the weather forecast for last week. They seemed to fair pretty well. They would even come outside for a little while. Their run is on the north side of their coop so it doesn't get much sun. A few of them did get into the little sun that did make it into their run.

 

[bigzio]

Welcome to the cheeseheads WIchix!
I lean on plenty of fluffed up straw to
help the flock weather the brutal weather.
I know they really enjoy the added warmth
and wind blocking ability it provides them.

Stay Safe ... bigz

 

[jvls1942]

9 below zero this morning. a heat wave..
welcome wichix
whick end of the state are you at ?

 

[WIchix]

whick end of the state are you at ?

I'm about 20 miles south of Superior.
It was -8 here this morning. Should be getting better every day for week or so

 

[babylady4]

Deep litter method utilizes decomposition to keep the coop warm without introducing external heaters. Just keep sprinkling lime and pine shavings over the area under the roost…. Chickens have been in lockdown for a week, but keeping the coop at 20*. No frostbite and the pullets are still laying. Releasing them today so they can enjoy some sunshine and this heat wave.

 

[WIchix]

I use the deep litter method and the area under the roost bar is a solid block of frozen poo. Every once in a while, I'll take a pitchfork and stir the wood chips around, but no composting is going on. I thought the reason was I just got the pullets in late August and there hasn't been enough time for composting to start. The coop stays around 5 degrees higher than the outside air temp.