And it looks like that’s going to be warm, compared to tonight. The high tomorrow is supposed to be about that. Brr! We’re definitely hauling in more firewood, including some long-burning ash for overnight. We are mostly burning poplar now as it’s the most abundant. The beavers love cutting it down! They trim off all the small branches and that leaves the trunk and any large branches for us. We appreciate that.
I’ve been winterizing our little chicken coop. No, we don’t heat it. First off, we’re off grid and any heat lamp is out. Second, it’s unsafe as the birds can easily knock over any propane heater. And finally, the chickens don’t need it. If all drafts have been stopped up and there are plenty of dry pine shavings for bedding, they don’t need it. Hey, some of our chickens are more than seven years old, still laying, and very happy. Just listen to them sing!
But, over the years, there are a few cracks around the windows where the wood has shrunk that I’m stopping up by stuffing them with insulation (where they can’t reach) and adding more shavings to the nest boxes where some hens roost at night. Yeah, I know they’re not “supposed” to do that. But, hey, they’re old and love the extra comfort. I clean them out, come spring laying and everyone is happy. The others snuggle up next to the turkeys and do just fine.
We’re feeding the deer now. And so far, we’ve got six coming. That bad winter a couple of years back killed a lot of deer around here. A mix of very deep snow, lasting way into spring was so hard on them. So we’re happy to help out the neighboring herd.
All that heavy, wet snow has turned the woods into a Christmas card. It’s so beautiful! Even if we do have to burn lots of wood to keep warm. I toss more logs on the fire and settle down with my garden planning notebook and think spring. — Jackie
We’ve been getting plenty of solid rain, in the form of snow, thank goodness. I hate hail and sleet! We’ve been burning a lot of wood lately. Will’s carrying in more right now. Yesterday our high was -14 degrees F. But the sun is shining, making lots of electricity through our solar panels. That sun sure makes it seem a lot warmer though!
Our deer include a couple does that have been here before and know the routine. We go out and yell “Deer, Deer!” and pretty soon, they come trotting out of the woods, not paying us any attention as we stand and look at them.
Brrrr! Winter has definitely arrived. This morning I have 9 degrees above zero. Yesterday our high was 15. At least we are not below zero with actual temp, but the wind chill is below zero. It is supposed to warm up today, but we are under a weather advisory for freezing rain tonight. Ick! I have been seeing a lot of wild turkeys in the fields around me. They are gleaning the corn and beans that were left after harvest. There is not much snow on the ground so they are still able to eat well . I love watching them. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
Wild turkeys are so cool! I love them. Will tried to lure a flock from the Wolf Garden area to the yard but had no luck.
Gee, I hate freezing rain!! I’d rather have the cold. Last night it went down to -22 F, actual temperature and the night before, -25, with a high yesterday of -14. But at least the sun has been out, which makes it feel warmer. A lot of wood went through the stoves though. Thank you for your continued prayers.
We’ve only gotten down to 0 once, but have had snow. Hubbie shovels our stuff and also the elderly neighbor next door.
I’m always so happy to hear of folks helping others. If only everyone would do that!!! What a wonderful world it would be. We had -22 F last night. Brrr. But it felt warmer than the night before when we had -25 and wind.
When we built the chicken “coop” – actually a room for them – inside our barn with access to a 10′ x 30′ screened pen with roof, we insulated the dickens out of it. The floor of that chicken room is insulated too, with hardware cloth on top of the insulation and underneath the plywood floor. We did that to make it really hard for a mink to dig his way in. Boy does the insulation make a difference on cold nights!
I have a heat lamp I got from Premier 1 which is extremely safe; I only plug it in when it’s super cold during the day; we have one hen who’s almost 9 and has a bit of arthritis so she likes to sit under it when it’s really cold.
The roost in our chicken room is about a foot off the floor with a 24″ deep shelf about a foot-and-a-half above it. I made curtains out of canvas drop cloths that hang in front of the roost, so when they’re all on the roost I close the curtains. They’re protected from drafts, their body heat is kept in, and the low shelf over their heads keeps the heat right there and prevents their combs from freezing.
Our girls don’t like the snow (the geese do, though) so they make use of the pen all winter. I put clear tarps over the screening from October to May to act as a wind break and, because the pen faces directly south, the clear tarps work sort of like a greenhouse, so on sunny winter days it’ll get to a comfortable temperature inside, 30’s or even 40’s sometimes.
Wow, your chickens live in luxury. How nice of you to fix them up so well. Maybe I’ll move in!!
Dear Jackie,
For us here in southern middle Tennessee, 29 is cold and it was COLD this week. Keep that fire going and enjoy the wintertime and its beauty. It is the time of the year for everyone and everything to take a nap. I sure do love those snow pictures. Thank you for sharing.
I’m jealous. When it’s 29, we run around in a T shirt. Ha ha! You bet we keep the fires going. Lots of wood passed through the stoves the last two nights!
Beautiful pictures. Thank you for showing them to your blog friends. Be safe-I know you know how to do that. I built my first wood stove fire yesterday. Love the warmth. It just gives me a hug.
Isn’t that the truth. Once my daughter came for a visit in the summer and backed up to the wood stove. I kind of gave her a look and she said it just feels so comfortable and homey.
I love that comment! Our wood fireplace, with its warmth and the sound of logs burning DOES just feel like I’m getting a hug.
We have six here too – twins and solo fawn, moms, and I think grandma. Saw a couple of bucks but it is rare to see them. They eat their favorites first and oats last. Thankfully we get ear corn for nothing (we pick) but we give the farmer a gift certificate to a local restaurant as a thank you. A couple of the adults were here after dark, I make sure to fill up the water come sunset. I’ll be replenishing their supplies next week.
Cold has hit here too but not quite as low as you have. Better half worked outside three days this week (wood). Errands on the docket for tomorrow.
Nothing wrong with working with nature. Better half took down a dead oak, we’ll share with our elderly neighbors. They don’t burn for heat per se but enjoy a fire.
Not looking like a white Xmas here however (but you never know these days). Looks like we’ll get some rain (moisture is moisture). And I had to laugh when the weather guy said “liquid rain”. Guess there are other types of rain but in my book, that means sleet, ice, wintry mix, or snow.
Comments are closed.