The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bigchicken on November 27, 2010, 12:59:04 pm
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Snow, frozen drinkers, feeding sheep, feeding horses, twice as long to do everything and my last black wyandotte hen broke its leg. Just the usual when looking after animals.
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Sorry to hear that. Yup, that's the side of it the likes of HFW never shows. The Real (not so) Good Life. Wouldn't swap it though.
Any tv programmers contact me - plenty of mud, hard work and freezing asses available........
..... and I don't mean the mule type! ;)
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Snow even deeper some of the chickens refusing to come out of huts this morning. Old Chinese carry out plastic tubs brought into action as drinkers. Scattered some straw around. used an old sheep feeder for there mixed corn. The kids and myself built an eight feet tall snow man, broth and home made bread cooking. Sorted! bring it on.
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same here. lots of snow and thunder and lightening half the night - never seen that with snow before!
only animals that seem to be enjoying it are the horses for some bizarre reason!
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Yes our two horses love the snow galloping around the field having great fun really good to watch. Still getting some eggs dont think that will last long now.
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when I woke in the night from the noise I had dreamed of a plane crash! Thunder and lightning did not stop until lunchtime and the sky's colours made you think the end of the world was near! the horses must warm themselves up through exercise! Strange thing - I'm not cold in the house until I sit down in the evening but OH is moaning all day :D :&>
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Chickens eating the snow, Horses rolling in the snow, 4 wheel drive just managing in the snow. Sheep starting to struggle in the snow. Telephone lines sagging in the snow. No work because of the snow. Kids of school in the snow. People taking there shopping home on a sled in the snow. Sitting warm in the house to hell with the snow.
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My chickens have stayed put in their coop the passed 2 days, only one young cockerel ventured out but then took refuge in the duck house til bedtime. Have installed feeders in the coops and water. Ducks are out but not happy their pond is frozen solid, so is their washing up bowl that I use as an extra for them. Have managed to find an empty crystalyx tub so they have water to splosh in, they are eating some grain but am mainly feeding them lettuce, its the only thing they seem to want to eat! Duck eggs have gone down from 3 to 1 per day, am not expecting any tomorrow to be honest. Banty eggs have stopped now. AM so glad we got the new duckhouse in, after 2 nights of lifting duckies in, last night we herded them but made them go in on their own and tonight when I got home from the horses, I went in to put them to bed and they were already in their house, fluffed up, curled up and looking at me as if to say,'shut the door mum, its cold!'
Horses (5 of) have eaten a full round bale since Friday afternoon, sheep have almost demolished theirs and my 4 remaining orphans, who are in with the horses while the tup goes in havent been able to dig through the snow for grass today so have been back down on an emergency trip with hay for them. Our tup was supposed to go in on Sunday but unless we strapped him to a sledge and sent him down the hill we cant get him to the ewes!
Polytunnel is still just about holding out under the weight of the snow, I have knocked it off a few times but we are about 2 ft deep now. Oh the joys of winter, but this is extreme.
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day 3 of the snow, managed to coax the hens out of their coop today they have not ventured out since friday, i scraped the snow back and scattered some ash on the ground they had a nice potter till it snow again, straight back in they went till i went out and scrapped the ground clear for them, 6 times in total today, we have a foot of the white stuff now
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Moved nearly the last of our belongings up to the new house on Saturday. Come Sunday morning though, it was clear we weren't going to make it up with the bed and the last load of stuff.
We did get up there tonight briefly, just to check on everything. However, the snow was drifting up to 3 feet in places, and we needed the Landy's low box and diff lock to make it, so once the snow started coming down again, we didn't hang about for very long! Still, at least I've managed to retrieve some work wear, so I don't have to go into the office tomorrow looking like a tramp again!!
Oh, and the irony? Mrs Womble's car is due in at Kwik fit tomorrow to get winter tyres fitted...... only it's currently under 2 feet of snow, and frankly there's no way it's going to make it!!
Wondering if we've bitten off more than we can chew here......
Womble.
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its character building womble :wave:
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Yes and everyone loves a character. Had to go into town to pay a bill and have never seen so many idiot drivers getting stuck, driving to fast, skiding, having no consideration for other drivers. Badly parked vehicles. pedestrians risking lives walking on the roads. The true human shows its face. Kids charging to clean snow for old folk and the disabled. Give me a few chicken anyday.
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Chickens coping well not venturing far. Humans not coping well, went to local supermarket bread in short supply we had been told, none left what will we do I could hear, oh there is loads of flour maybe you could make some. daaaaaa. Local feed store starting to go short, I,m not the smartest but at this time of year always have enough winter supplies to last the animals a few weeks or more. One thing about the snow, my birds are much easier to catch. Someone told me that the snow is to last till the 27th and then winter is to set in. :wave:
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I just hate carrying the water, a great gadget would be a flame thrower so I could defrost everything in my path!!!!!!!
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We've got about enough food in the freezer for another 2 weeks! As long as we have power to cook it things are not bad, considering...I've got enough for the birds for 4 weeks or so and can get wheat from the farmer nearby (but not pellets). The chickens have not put their feet out of the house, just their heads to eat food and snow ... The ducks are suffering but I still get an egg a day. This seems a real miracle if circumstances are considered and I am ever so grateful to the bird who produces it!
I am actuallyalso really grateful for my breadmaker, it's so easy and cheaper - and tasty!
Could have done without your forecast, bigschicken ::) :&>
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I managed to get bread today as well as everything I needed - except I forgot to look for salt (I believe there wasn't any anyway!)but the supermarket shelves are beginning to look empty. My hens haven't put a foot outside their door today so I have just put them to bed with fresh water with oil in it and loads of pellets. I have plenty of rolled oats so will make up some porridge fro them tomorrow with poultry spice and citricidal. Ducks just sat on their feet most of the day and actually put themselves to bed which they don't usually do. All have had extra straw put in and my 2 kennel dogs have extra bedding and a heat lamp tonight.
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Fox prints in the snow this morning tryed to follow but lost tracks in the pheasant tracks no chickens affected except for a chaffinch found lots of feathers. Mr fox has his snack. Will have to mark my territory again this has always worked in the past, only thing is its very visable in the snow.
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Love the flame thrower idea but I guess i would end up with prematurely barbecued chicken.
Winter has certainly arrived here.
First real snow fall on the night of Friday before last (26th). Snow was not so much a problem as the plummeting temperatures.
Minus 5-6C on Friday night and down to Minus 13-15C Tuesday night. It was a bit chilly!
Further up the moors from us the temp was down another 2C. Some places had record lows since recording began! A good start to the Winter!!
Funny to watch the birds' reactions. The older hens just took it in their stride. Some of them went through last Winter which was almost as cold and they are old hands at coping.
The Scotties are coming around to the snow today but only gradually - it is their first snow and their first Winter. I got a good relationship bonded with the cock bird - our Rabbie - as he flew off the snow on to the high fence and seemed a bit nervous of getting down. He accepted a gentle lift and a cuddle in the process. I'm sure his pride was dented a little but he'll live with it.
The Norfolks don't want to know at all. They stay in their house and occasionally sortie but not for long. It's their first Winter too and they are the more nervous of the breeds. They scattered into the run for a minute or two when I went in to clean their roost but were soon back.
Am currently giving the pure breeds their corn on the house litter - at least they are able to get it and they are turning the litter over in the process, saving me a job.
WAter is the obvious problem. It needs checking every few hours as the temp does does rise much above freezing, if at all. Things are getting today. the outside tap is now usable again.
Am also 'spoiling' them a bit with a fair bit of broken maize (corn) amongst their pellets and their mixed corn - should help keep them warm and don't think they'll put on much fat in this weather.
We had snow blizzards predicted for last Tuesday. It didn't seem possible as - although it is bitterly cold, ranging from 0C to -5C, depending where you are - the sun was shining and it is a truly beautiful Winter's day. We will have to wait and see.
Clara the hybrid who spent a couple of weeks in 'hospital' to give her a chance to get her plumage back on her neck and head is back with the rest - and it bald again despite being sprayed with anti-peck. But she seems happy enough and seems to hold her own.
Other than that, the little flocks seem to be be doing OK. Some signs of inevitable colds but less since teh temps plummeted. they are all chirpy and and active so let's hope they get through what has started off as a pretty heavy Winter.
As for me, the long johns went on last week and they will probably be on now until late April!!
Best wishes to you all as you wrap you and yours up for the Winter.
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Another three inches of snow this morning and still falling, the hens not bothered well used to it, sheep have a coat of snow horses the same, All fed and watered and doing OK. Got held up a few times coming back from animals this morning cars getting no traction in the new snow, Was going to do some work this morning cancelled again haven't worked for more than a week just cant get there in the van. Cleared a way out yesterday and went for some plaster all ready to start today but new snow put pay to that idea. A well more DIY in house. snow joke.
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I was very slightly irritated, the kids all ready to go to school, no taxi, no bus, so another day off at least. The school just rescheduled the exams for this week, arrgghh We probably won't get our oil delivery either, hoping we won't run out until it comes :&>
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school was open Kerstin, though it appears to have been a total shambles according to the children. i managed to get them there with the land rover but they all got sent home again on the service bus!! and no idea what's to happen tomorrow....
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The 'magic' of teh snow certainly gone from the Moorlands now. No more snow at present but what is probably worse, plummeting temps and icy surface. Hens still not interested in venturing out. Water frozen this mroning after two unfrozen nights. Looks like deep frost ( down to -10C) for the next couple of nights before milder Friday??
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apparently Kingdom fm knew best, according to their announcement that ALL Fife schools were to stay closed stagecoach didn't bother sending any buses. No way I could have taken them in...I can understand that Mr Black was determined to open today with exams scheduled and all but what can he do if 2 3rds of pupils can't come? I have alreay cancelled tomorrow's piano exam - no way I'm going to St Andrews, as much as I'd love some retail therapy, I need it!!!
How are you coping with your roof?? Sounds like utter horror... :&>
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A lot more here in Clackmannan overnight, and didn't stop till about 1.30pm. My lane is completely closed off now, cleared my car this morning just in case, and it is now covered in about 3 inches since 10.30 am. Just looked out the study window and can't hardly see the kennels - freezing fog now! Seriously cheesed off now because until the lane is better my handyman can't get in to lay the hearth for my new log burner - which is sitting nice and cosy in the Stirling Stove Centre! did i tell you all I hate snow? Welll just in case -
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I feel sorry fot the birds, they have to sit in their muck until it's over. I can get to the nesting boxes but not to the floors with netting collapsed and frozen over! :&>
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kerstin, think you are probably quite right to cancel tomorrow. who knows what the weather is going to do to us overnight! though the forecast does say that it is to get milder towards the end of the week....apparently! kind of dreading the thaw in some ways as that is when the water is going to start coming in the conservatory roof.......need to make sure i have plenty of buckets and towels to hand!
like everyone else, i am staying inside as much as possible - but not so easy with animals is it?! especially when everyone's water freezes every couple of hours and needs replaced!
hohum, soon be spring!!
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Oil in their water is definitely working for me. Just off out in freezing fog to tuck them all up for the night - early I know but so be it!
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They've been saying that for over week, then it's another few days, and another few ... ::) Bamford on here (I think) has sadly been the most accurate forecaster...
I just take the ducks' soaked grain indoors overnight and the hens have resorted to eating snow, they like it better than drinking water ::)
At least they are making an effort in making my life not quite so hard . Can't you train all your animals to do that; too, Laura? ;D ;D :&>
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my animals just seem to neigh, bleat/baa, cluck, bark, meow and shout (thats the pigs) when they need food or water! why should they do anything else, they have ME perfectly trained!!!! ;)
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;D ;D ;D
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I agree with everyone, Animals very vocal. An observation low profile tyres are rubbish in the snow just back from a walk to the local shop for some comfort food and the road was very very slippery, its freezing hard. The local radio says that some folks have be stuck in there cars for over eight hours and emergency services have be very busy, Snow joke. When I locked up the chickens tonight gave them a quick check over and they were toasty. Checked the dogs and could hardly see them in the straw bedding whippets don't like to be cold. Bird feeders in the garden doing a roaring trade. Pheasants building up numbers at chicken feeders think me spy's a nice we roast mm mm.
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The snow is melting,the snow is melting, did I tell you the snow is melting, ;D ;D ;D Its supposed to snow again Sunday or Monday :( :( :(
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my hens have had a great day walking about on green stuff, i think its called grass, bless them they have had a wonderful day, its been so nice to see
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mine still did not venture from the house other than to eat!
according to cobra's site snow arriving here Wednesday...will definitely try to get out tomorrow - still about a third of the original snow left on the drive ! :&>
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I got out! YIPPEE!!!! Freezer is now full again - well half full, couldn't afford to fill it right up, and need to leave space for the lamb I'm getting sometime.
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finally got out to farm feed shop, filled up car with 10 (i know its too many) sacks of feed , then couldnt get up hill in the ice to our farm. a long walk home empty handed. nevermind!
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We now have a flooded valley with a super fast thaw, the burn cannot empty as the tides are high at the moment so the sea and burn are right up to level! Could not lock the ducks away as the fences are covered and the bob holes into the runs are under water and the ducks were out of the runs when the flooding started.. So the poor ducks are out taking their chances with the otters. :&> :'( The duck huts so far are ok but the water is up to them, luckily they are on stilts. On the bright side the huts may have had a good wash out by morning, and hopefully all ducks will be there for their breakfast.They are with the geese so hopefully the geese will warn them of any approaching otters.
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That's awful , Hermit! Thinking of you and your birds, hope all will be well tomorrow!! :&>
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yes we noticed that you had a lake forming. not sure which is better the snow or the mud. lots of ditch work come summer.
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It has never reached the huts before, this thaw has been so fast, from knee deep snow to gone in a morning! and all that coming from the hills yet! Bet the lake will be there in the morning.The waterfall has been swamped by the water and is now level water with a few bubbles!!!
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sods law - if you live on top of a hill, you cant get up the road in snow and ice, and if you live at bottom you get flooded! at least ducks can swim!
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All present and correct...phew.
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snows thawing and uncovering dog and horse poo everywhere! what a mess, will be long day tidying up.
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After such a lot of snow, the thaw in the Moorlands - at least our part of it - is complete and the window is open as I write - quite a change after -14C!!
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it's unbelievable isn't it! same here, beautiful sunny day and i'm going around with just a t-shirt on! last week i had on about 5 layers and i was still freezing!
only to last till tomorrow though so best get as organised as poss for the next onslaught!
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snows thawing and uncovering dog and horse poo everywhere! what a mess, will be long day tidying up.
I've just worked out how many 'poo heaps' there will be in my garden when the snow finally all disappears - 14 days x 5 dogs x twice a day - 140 heaps, perhaps more as the young ones do more than 2 a day! :-[ ::) ::)
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Well that is a load of ---- I got a barrow full today from my garden the grass is starting to show in small bits all chickens out and about this morning and a lot of fighting , like they are confirming the pecking order after their self confinement.
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Laura, I hope your forecast is wrong!! According to Metcheck, is is going to be fine but colder at night until Thrusday night - snow and Friday bad snow! I choose to believe them for now ;D How did you cope with your conservatory? I still did not get out today, the drive is thawing pretty slowly :P Christmas shopping tomorrow, the girls will have to start shoveling I think! :&>
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kerstin, waiting for the insurance assessor for the conservatory so will have to wait and see. things holding so far.....:(
not donw much shopping either and most of what i have done is sitting in some delivery depot somewhere!
lots of home made gifts/hampers this year me thinks!
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Snow still here, and last night was the coldest yet all chickens doing OK and seem to be coping well enough I am not liking this snow one bit there is no pleasure just drudgery. Frozen water and frozen feet.
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I filled both coops with straw yesterday to try to keep them a wee bit warmer during the night.
Pity the birds dragged most of it out today :-\