Not a Typical Storm -- Oh, My!

On Sunday we had the oddest storm. 

The basket ball shows how the wind was blowing hard from the north.  It was 60 degrees an hour ealier, then plummeted to 30 degrees. 

We had 60 mph winds, hail, thunder, and snow. The storm lasted 30 minutes, even though it stayed cold for another day. 

Many houses lost power; fortunately our power stayed on. 

The chickens ran for their coop and safety as soon as the wind started. 

What a freakish storm! 

Picture of the Day 1/29/2013 Footprints in the Snow

This picture was taken a couple of days ago.  It was a beautiful 55 degrees out and the snow was melting.  The girls got out and we could tell where they had been.  An hour later, this was all melted.

An arctic front is coming through tonight, so there will be more snow and cold soon.

Picture of the Day 1/18/2013

This picture was taken a couple days ago.  The snow has melted quite a bit since.

We have bark put down on the floor of the enclosure, which is great for the girls to scratch around and look for whatever chickens look for.  When it is snowy, they spend much more time in the coop or enclosure than out in the snow.  Smart of them.

Picture of the Day 1/16/2013

This is Crystal walking on the shoveled path.  Yes, I shoveled paths for the ladies to walk on.

The snow finally had a chance to melt a bit today.  The temperatures got up above freezing.  Finally!

Picture of the Day 1/2/13

This is Ginger.  Notice the wind ruffling her feathers.  She doesn't mind the cold, but the snow and wind make her seek refuge. 

Brrr... How Soon is Spring?

Spice.  She is a new addition to our flock.

Crystal.  She is our "puppy" because she follows us everywhere.

Ginger and Yoda.  Ginger is the new addition to the flock.

Ginger and Yoda.  All of our flock are bottom of the pecking order.  So they all get along.

Ginger.  She always stays still for the pictures.

Yoda.  She is the top hen, but is never a bully.

We are in south central Montana.  For almost two weeks, the temperatures have been in the twenties during the day and single digits at night.  It snowed right before Christmas and the ladies didn't come out of their enclosure for three days.  They do not like snow on their feet.

Water Heater Tin

   

In Montana it gets cold occasionally.  To keep the water from icing up, I found a tin for twenty-five cents and a lamp for fifty cents at garage sales this summer.

In the tin, I drilled a 3/8" hole.  I took the lamp assembly apart.  Then I reassembled the lamp assembly inside the tin.  The screw-on fastener on the bottom of the lamp assembly is on the outside of the tin, which keeps the 40-watt bulb stationary in the center of the tin.

I have both plastic and metal waterers.  I have read that the tin works for both plastic and metal, so I don't know which I will do.  Or, I may make a second water heater tin.  Did I mention that I garage sale...  I have enough parts to make one more heater.  

Winterizing The Coop

The roost, ramp and nesting boxes. The front needs to be attached.

The ramp is on hinges.  It can be brought up for closure.

Right now, there is a chicken wire front for air and viewing...

The new coop takes up none of their floor space.  Raised up 30", it is 4' by 8'. The girls should be cozy this winter!

Adam taking a break to ride Patrick's new birthday bike.  The seat might be a bit too low...

First snow

We let the chickens out after the May snow here in MT. They were much slower coming out of the coop this morning!