Black Fatty, our Australorp is the biggest one we’ve ever had. She’s so large, I want to weigh her. She has got to be at least 10 pounds by now and is a very protective {and smart!} bird. If you’re thinking about getting a flock of your own next spring, The Girl and I cannot recommend Australorps enough. They are such loving birds.
Martha, our Lavender Orpington is probably number two in line for the heaviest bird and sweetest bird in our flock. She is a total love bug, always waiting by the door of the chicken run for a little affection.
With the cold weather, I can’t help but make our feathered friends batches of warm oatmeal at least twice a week. I haven’t quite figured out what I’m going to do in winter about their water {keeping it warm} but if you live in an area with freezing temps maybe you can chime in and tell me what I need so we’ll be prepared.
The garden. It’s done for the year.
With the exception of a few Swiss chard plants that are trying to hang in there. At the beginning of spring I was totally convinced I’d have a couple of cold frames set up, or at the very least, something growing in the greenhouse by now. But I am ready for a rest. 😉 Maybe next winter.
Yesterday the HH removed all the window screens and put the storm windows on. A few of the screens are a bit on the iffy side and he doesn’t think they’ll last another summer, so GUESS WHO has their first winter project lined up? HE DOES!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’ve already got a ton of my own projects and re-screening windows is totally not one of them. It’s a guy project. Right? It’s right up there with checking for things that go bump in the night, setting rat traps and…. and….
Snow blowing.
That man ASKED ME if I wanted him to show me how to use his new snow blower. Can you believe that? Does he think I’m crazy? I was like, NO, why would I want to learn how to do use a snow blower…. are you nuts? I have ZERO desire to learn how to use a snow blower. Wanna know why? Because I don’t want to be the one out there at 5 am BLOWING SNOW…. That’s HIS JOB. Does he want to learn how to sew or how to trim a candle wick properly? I don’t think so.
So I’ll be inside making hot chocolate, taking care of Lucy and tending the wood stove thank you very much. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Guys… they’re a funny lot.
Winter… It’s just around the corner…. and I’m EXCITED!!!
~Mavis
Veronica Vatter says
You can get a heated chicken waterer at Tractor Supply. Or a heated dog water bowl. Either one works for me, and I live in PA where we get down to -20 sometimes.
Erin says
I use a heated dog bowl….seems to work perfect in the harsh iowa winters.
Peggy says
How sweet. I’m getting the 3 gallon heated waterer from Rural King, it has pretty good reviews, I read it’s easiest to fill from the bottom and not the fill hole on top. This is my first year with chickens, so it will be trial and error, but that’s what I’m doing first. Hopefully only! I’ve read also that the water freezes in the smaller ones so I think the 3 gallon is the way to go.
CSirca says
Hahaha, I love your logic with the snowblower! It’s true, once you know how to use their tools then they expect you to use them, my husbands the same way!
For our chickens we use a plug in heated bowl, it works wonderfully!
Sue R. says
We say the jobs—like the snowblower—are “rooster jobs” 🙂
Mama Cook says
We have a pvc pipe with nipples in the bottom for water. It holds about 7 gallons of water. In the winter, we add an electric water heater specifically made to keep livestock water from freezing. It has a sensor, so it only turns on enough to prevent freezing, not hot enough for tea! Purchased from Amazon, but couldn’t find the link.
Rachael says
I would like to get backyard chickens one day… what color eggs do those two that you recommend lay?
Thanks!
Kimberly says
They lay a large light tan egg. They really are great chickens and beautiful. The black feathers have a green tinge. So pretty. Good luck!
Rachael says
Thank you! They’re definitely on my list now! ☺️
Rajena says
Like everyone has commented already you can get a heated waterer. I thought I would put this out there just for another option. My parents and their parents before them, and I guess me now that I think about it take out luke warm water twice a day. Don’t use hot water because it freezes faster…weird I know. I will probably be getting a heated waterer in the future sometime though because well, I guess I am lazy lol! Your chickens are very beautiful by the way.
Carrie Council says
I have a submersiable heater for my 5 gallon bucket with nipples on it. I plug it in when the forecast is predicted to be cold. I know my tendencies and because I work outside the home I don’t have time to change water twice a day, plus I don’t want to clean a dirty waterer in freezing tempertures. Even in mild NC I still need this heater! Don’t fall for the ping pong ball in a black bowl trick. That was a waste of time! https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-Ultimate-Deicer-Float/dp/B002QXN1EQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540394384&sr=8-1&keywords=trough+water+heater
I also love my Black Australorp hen. She is so sweet. I hear they lay 5 eggs a week but I can’t tell the difference between hers and my Silver Laced Wyandotte’s egg.
Cheryl says
That is the reason I never learnerd how to use the riding mower. Won’t use the snow blower either. We went to Woodstock, VT two weeks ago and shopped at the Vermont Flannel shop. Such a beautiful area and the leaves turning were unbelievable.
Margaret Hudgins says
I never learned to use our Kubota Diesel mower OR tractor; figured that was guy work. Along came mother nature and took my guy long before he or I were ready. I had to learn how to mow the hard way; ALONE AND BY MYSELF.
Moral of story? Knowledge is power. Learn all you can while you can. Ya never know what’s unexpectedly around the next curve in your life.
Susie says
I’m so sorry Margaret. I thought of this when I was first reading the blog, thinking “But what if…?” Life is short, and you never know when your time here is up. <3
Nancy D says
Big hug to you Margaret.
Dana Robinson says
Good morning, Mavis. How are you doing? I just was writing to see if I can still post about the cheese contest? It won’t let me post on that page?or was it just for yesterday’s post ? Thanks k you and have a good day..
Deb K says
I have no power to my coop, so I use a metal dog bowl and keep a couple of fist sized rocks on my wood stove and just swap them out with fresh water every night…also I use a heavy rubber water pan outdoors (chickens are locked in every night) and just pop the ice chunk out when I let them out in the morning and give them fresh water. Hope this helps!
Cait says
LOVE this idea, perfect for me since we have no power at the coop as well. First year with chickens, and I’m in Vermont so all these new New England hints are a huge help to me as well.
Bec B. says
No! Don’t learn how to use the snowblower. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to some things or else you’ll be the one doing it. Don’t ask me how I know that! 😉
Stephanie says
LOLOLOLOLSOB it’s my job to shovel/figure out how to run our new snowblower (yes me, the same me who is leaving in 10 minutes to visit the pain doctor for my chronic crummy back). No one else does it here and we’ve almost gotten stuck several times because of that, so I took over last year. Should I? Nope, but I don’t want to get stuck at the end of the driveway otherwise. I love snow, BUT… I’m hoping the snowblower is less difficult on my back than straight-up shoveling.
Carol Jean says
I think it only makes sense to know how to run the snowblower; it doesn’t mean it has to become your chore. I have a cousin who recently fell off his shed roof attempting to fix the chimney. He broke his back and will be in a turtle shell brace for 3 months. His wife is in charge of all the chores for the next weeks. It doesn’t have to be so drastic but what about a bad cold or the flu, you wouldn’t expect him to do it. Would you call a service and hope they can fit you it their schedule or ask a neighbor? Just my thoughts.
Jen says
Totally agree Carol Jean. If I wasn’t willing to learn everything that goes into taking care of the house, I’d have been really screwed when my husband deployed! I feel empowered by knowing things. 🙂
Stephanie from Utah says
I just have 2 water containers for my chickens that I swap every day. In the morning I fill a new waterer and swap it out for the frozen one, which I put in my sink to thaw and wash before the next morning. Occasionally it’s cold enough I have to swap twice a day.
Diane says
I was looking the plastic device that makes snow blocks in your column yesterday and wishing we had enough snow here in Georgia to get one for my kids. This might sound crazy but I was wondering if you could use something like that to build a windbreak near the outdoor part of the chicken coop. Kind of an ice block wall. I would put it far enough away that HH could walk between with the snowblower when fresh snow falls. Cutting the windchill might make it much more comfortable for the ladies to be outside for some fresh air. I imagine once winter hits it would stay frozen until Spring. Is that crazy?
Lolly says
My dh once lamented that WE don’t have the same hobbies. I asked him if he was ready to learn how to sew, crochet, make soap, throw pottery, etc….and he was like, NOOOO! With his face all scrunched up. Yeah, same thing….I don’t want to run and scuba dive and do ham radio, etc. He sees couples out running together or diving together, and he thinks it would be fun…I understand….but I also think he’d feel less guilty for being away from the family if we did these things together. Though who the heck would keep the kids????!!! I then told him all the things we do enjoy together…..and how we bond well over those things. And that the same way HE doesn’t want to sew….is the way *I* don’t want to run….and that’s ok! Also, we come back together after doing our hobbies and we listen and enjoy each other’s stories. It has worked well for 24 yrs….why should it be different now???
Susan says
This has nothing to do with chickens, but rather your comment about snow. As a New Englander (North Shore of MA) who has lots of friends who have moved here from the West Coast, I’ve noticed they’re often suprised at how late in the season the real snow comes. I obviously have no idea what this winter has in store, but it is not uncommon for the first Nor’Easter or sizable snow fall to not come until Christmas or well after … and then winter lingers through April and it’s often chilly through May, In other words, the season is shifted later than on the West Coast.
My BIL is from Utah and has a March birthday. He said growing up, he considered that he had a Spring birthday. Now, living in the Boston area, he now has a winter birthday, ha!
Again, who knows what winter will look like this year, but just trying to manage expectations!!
Linda Sand says
It’s good to learn how to do each other’s jobs as long as you define that as just learning not doing. You don’t want to have to learn how to operate the snowblower when an accident means you need to take him someplace for care when the driveway needs plowing. Just as he needs to know how to cook and do laundry if you are laid up. If he then tries to talk you into doing his jobs say fine then tell him which of your jobs you expect him to do in exchange. It can actually be fun to switch off every now and then to keep those skills working and to have a change of pace.
livingrichonthecheap says
Yes – I understand exactly. My husband said I should know how to change a tire. I told him by age 49 I know how to change a tire, just call him or a tow truck. Seriously, I have zero intent on changing a tire at this point in life. That is what cell phones and credit cards are for. Before cell phones were invented I can see a reason, now not so much!
Beverly says
This is for the contest:
I love to get a hot cup of tea, a good book, cosy chair and read all day.
Best day ever!!!.
Suzanne Simpkins says
We have used a fish tank heater inside a hanging 5 gallon bucket suspended with 3 chicken waterer spouts coming out the bottom through most of last winter. It was an inexpensive and effective solution- the water never completely froze because the fish tank heater just kept it warm enough. Our other solution during the coldest time of the winter was a bucket heater for livestock placed in our 5 gallon bucket. I have used these working on a horse farm and they work well too. You can find them at Tractor Supply or Southern States Farm & Fleet. We live in Virginia where it can get below freezing and we get a “Snow-mageddon” blizzard about every other year.
Linda says
Mavis here in Ohio, my swiss chard winters over. I was shocked. Try not pulling it and see- mine died back on top but comes back in the spring
Marilyn says
Mavis no worries about learning to use a snow blower or any other tool for that matter! (My son did take the chain saw away from me!)
Being a young widow at 56 I thank God every day for the invention of you tube! If you need to learn how bc HH is out of town or whatever just put it in the search and it will teach you! It also really helps to back your car in to go out and not have to turn it around!
Yes, I live in a snowy area!
Teresa Young says
Once my husband was out of town and we had a snowstorm, so he had to give me snow blower instructions by phone, But I got it started and the driveway cleared.
He was in California, by the way! Left me in snowy NY!!
Seriously, life can throw us curve balls – have him give you a lesson or two on starting & maneuvering the snow blower.
sharon says
So happy to hear someone younger than myself thinks it’s okay to take the winter off of gardening.
Cass says
Google “Cookie tin water heater”. Uses one light bulb and your existing waterer. Maybe you can find a free cookie tin at the recycling place? Don’t have a cookie tin or the time to make the heater? Put a bulb inside a cinder block and put the waterer on top of it. (works best with metal waterer due to increased heat transference of metal over plastic)
Personally I use heated dog bowls. I am tired of cleaning out my plastic waterers by winter and the bowls swish out so much faster and easier.
E in Upstate MY says
My father wanted me to know how to change a car tire, check the oil and how to drive a standard. Plus he taught me how to fix screens [patch and replace], putty windows, relight the pilot light [natural gas] and grout. Both parents taught me how to reupholster furniture, refinish wood furniture and my mom taught me how to create slip covers. All skills I’ve needed through the years. My hubby was raised by his mom and she didn’t have a clue. The phone and a credit card was both their responses to fixit issues. I’ve saved us a lot of money knowing how to do things. But now, we call our son for help or have him hire someone and we pay. With my hubby’s health failing, my time and energy is towards him, not house repairs or shoveling.
Laura says
Hi Mavis, I got a heater from Tractor Supply for my hens water. I also put heavy visqueen around the pen to protect the ladies from the wind and help keep heavy snow out of the pen area.
Amy says
Australorps also produce eggs for a long time! I have 3 year old girls that are still consistently giving me eggs. I thought it was just a fluke. But, read another homesteader that said she was having the same experience. Great birds!
Cheryl says
I live in upstate NY and winter is cold and snowy here as well. I have tried several different things over the years to keep water in my chicken coop! For the last couple of years I think I have solved the problem; I use a heated dog water bowl!!!! No frozen water and so easy! Good luck.
Sarah says
Hate to burst your bubble Mavis, but now that you live outside of suburbia there are a few things you need to know. How to run the snowblower is one of them. Ask your hubby to teach you how to put on snow chains too. Also asking him to show you how to unpack the winter survival kit in your car would be a good idea too. Hope you have one!
Joi Poulin says
Not sure how cold it gets there but here in Oregon I have never experienced anything lower than 16* I live in the Willamette valley, I am sure it gets colder in eastern Oregon, but I keep a small container of water inside their coop and their body heat seems to keep it warm enough that it doesnt freeze in there.