This morning ALL the "watering holes" in barn/fold/henhouse were frozen up. With no break in this clear, cold, windy weather predicted for awhile, it was time to dust off the extension cords, heated buckets/tank heaters and heat bulb. Can't have horses colicking when my favorite vet is out of town for continuing education!
I also rigged the chicken house door so it will stay open just wide enough to let the hens slip in and out during the day. (Redoing the chicken house and yard and creating a popdoor is on "the list.") If the heat lamp over the chicken waterer keeps their water thawed, then the Shetland boys will be the only who ones for whom I have to "pack and carry" water.
I can almost hear the electric meter whirring away with all these heating devices plugged in and the furnace running in addition to the wood stove. But at least we HAVE electricity, and wood, and plenty of hay. The sunshine is lovely, and frozen turds are easy to clean from stalls and yard. But I'm going to have to find my insulated coveralls before chore time tonight!
That's it for now from . . .
8 comments:
Oh ugh. I really hate winter, but I thought your winters would be milder than here in south eastern PA, in zone 6. So far it's only gotten down to about 26°.
Oh, trust me, Kathleen, this is NOT typical for here! Usually our winters are wet and mild; there have been many winters with little or very brief snow and no need for tank heaters and heated buckets! That's why I have gotten soft; I'm just not USED to this anymore.
Yes you are right when its really cold, poop is so much easier to pick up and deal with ;-)
Wizz
I think the first real cold snap always feels much colder than those 20 below days in February . . . by then we're used to it, but now, since fall has lingered, real snow and cold is kind of shock, isn't it? :-) Bundle up!!
It was 19 and clear this morning. It was 67 last thursday. Crazy!
I dug out my longjohns and my winter pac boots. We ended up with about 6 inches of snow and all the buckets were frozen except the heated water tubs.
Stay warm and dry :)
That's a lot on your plate with Rick out of town. You have the pioneer spirit, that's for sure. We got dumped on down here, but you already knew that since you've been to Mim's blog. They closed the schools, State and County offices. Wise.
Oh Michelle, I understand. We're breaking records down here tonight with temps predicted down to zero.
I don't think I have seen a night that cold in 10 years.
We have power and water by the paddocks so both goats and horses have had their heated buckets out for a while, but they will really be working tonight.
I think I will rig up a heat lamb for the chickens tomorrow, I'm tired of breaking ice every morning and I'm not getting any eggs in this sup zero weather.
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