Your Weather, 2021

[valley ranch]

 

[Artichoke Lover]

It’s about 20 here. We ended up in a warm spot for the moment. Currently snowing with a 1/4 inch on the ground. If it keeps snowing like it is for a few more hours we might get a 3rd to a 1/2 an inch of snow. A 1/4 inch is more than we’ve gotten in 3 years. The chickens refuse to leave the coop. Because it’s just that cold.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The chickens refuse to leave the coop. Because it’s just that cold.

I took this photo in Arkansas a few years ago when it was +4 Fahrenheit. It had been colder but warmed up a couple of degrees while I went back up to get my camera. I
d leave the pop door open and let them decide if they wanted to come out or not. If a cold wind were blowing they would be inside. A breeze in summer feels good but a cold wind is avoided.

When my chickens wake up to a new white world they do not like it. Chickens don't like change. If they woke up to a strange white world mine would not leave the coop for two or three days. But after a few days some got brave and went out. I had some trudge to my compost pile in 9" of snow looking for something good to eat but not until the third day. They were disappointed, the compost pile was covered and frozen but the track as plain to see.

The day I took this photo the snow started during the day, when they were already out. I guess the change was gradual enough that they didn't get scared of it. This was about 1" of snow.

I don't know why yours won't go out, wind or a new white world, but I'm not sure it is the cold.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I took this photo in Arkansas a few years ago when it was +4 Fahrenheit. It had been colder but warmed up a couple of degrees while I went back up to get my camera. I
d leave the pop door open and let them decide if they wanted to come out or not. If a cold wind were blowing they would be inside. A breeze in summer feels good but a cold wind is avoided.

View attachment 39134

When my chickens wake up to a new white world they do not like it. Chickens don't like change. If they woke up to a strange white world mine would not leave the coop for two or three days. But after a few days some got brave and went out. I had some trudge to my compost pile in 9" of snow looking for something good to eat but not until the third day. They were disappointed, the compost pile was covered and frozen but the track as plain to see.

The day I took this photo the snow started during the day, when they were already out. I guess the change was gradual enough that they didn't get scared of it. This was about 1" of snow.

View attachment 39135

I don't know why yours won't go out, wind or a new white world, but I'm not sure it is the cold.

1/4 inch just looks like a good hoarfrost here. My chickens are just young and spoiled by this years weather Lol. They haven’t experienced anything this cold before. My hens get grumpy and refuse to get off the roost if it’s below 25 most of the time

 

[Marie2020]

Do the chickens drink much during the snow? I have two waterers for them, and melt one in the garage while the other is brought out to them. I noticed during the snow storm, they refused the water. They were all going around scooping snow! Thought they'd die of hypothermia but they all seem fine and still laying.

Mine really enjoyed the warm water I managed to get to them. Then I gave them warm wet food, both of this seemed to help.

They are resilient little things aren't they

 

[Dirtmechanic]

First snow for Miss Mable.

 

[baymule]

-3 here this morning. We got 7” of snow, I trudged out trails to the barns and such. I carry 2 buckets of boiling water with 2 1/2 gallons in each bucket. I bust ice, pour in hot water to grateful thirsty animals. I have ewes nursing their babies 15 of them. Plus 2 bottle lambs in the house. I feed twice a day, now with extra feed to help them keep warm. It takes me 3-4 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening. I am exhausted. We have an ice storm coming in tonight and tomorrow, then more snow Wednesday. Sunday will be a high in the 50’s and the Great Thaw will begin. I can’t wait. We are not set up for this.

This is breaking temperature records back to 1909. I’m betting that this won’t happen again in my lifetime. Once is enough.

 

[baymule]

Trip and Carson asked to come in last night. Demon Diaper Lambs used Trip for a trampoline. He’s a good boy and just let them bounce all over him.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

First snow for Miss Mable.View attachment 39136View attachment 39138

It was a first snow for 21/23 of our animals including chickens. And the other 2 hadn’t been allowed to go out in the snow before. So there has been a lot of crazy or (grumpy) Animals here.

 

[Dirtmechanic]

It was a first snow for 21/23 of our animals including chickens. And the other 2 hadn’t been allowed to go out in the snow before. So there has been a lot of crazy or (grumpy) Animals here.

A lot of big eyes I am betting.