So it has been a while since I last posted last fall. We had an incredibly warm winter with a lot more sunshine than normal. We did something different this winter. Rather than put lights in the coops, especially while the Welsummers were recovering from moult, we decided to wait to see how long, in the shorter light days, the Rhode Islands would lay eggs. Unlike our previous pullet breeds, the Rhode Island Reds continued right through December 21st laying two to three eggs per day. So we never bothered to install the timers and lights. We wonder if a part of that was because of the warmer and sunnier winter.
The first of the Welsummers just started laying an egg every other day on January 28th. She seems to be the only Welsummer laying.
The last part of January, the Mid-West and East Coast started dealing with a Polar Vortex, while we continued with our warm weather. Then, the last few days of January, we got some colder nights with snow and ice. Not much to speak of. About two-three inches of really wet snow, and I didn't even bother taking pictures because it was mostly gone within a day. The ice stayed, and each morning was a little too cold to keep water out in the coops. We have been pulling the waterers out of the coops each night so that they don't freeze. At night, temps have been dropping down to the low 20Fs.
Rhode Islands are still laying every day, unfazed, so far, by the cold nights.
Tonight we are supposed to get significant snow for the weekend and possibly into Monday or Tuesday. Because all of my coop covers are iced over, I could not move them into place. OY Vey. I cobbled together some covers with plastic, canvas tarps, bricks, and even a folding dog pen. I just hope they all stay in place. This could prove to be the wrong strategy. Hoping it lasts at least through the night until I can get the rest of the family members to help me pull in in better covers.
Update - Last night's snow accumulation. About 5 inches of snow.
Update - Last night's snow accumulation. About 5 inches of snow.
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