Day 329

 My last post described my lack of desire to attack the retail world of Black Friday. I may have been a bit hypocritical. While I strive to keep away from the whirlwind of shopping associated with the day after Thanksgiving, certain opportunities present themselves and I just can’t seize them. It’s not a big screen TV. It’s not the latest and greatest toy. It’s not even something for myself, my wife, and my kids. 

Unless of course my kids have feathers.

The deals for chicken feed are hard to pass up. Whether it is a carload (or two), you might find me sticking up for the winter season ahead. 

Preparing for winter is important to keep our girls healthy and happy.

I try to do a pretty thorough cleanup of the coops before it gets too cold. With an unheated barn, clearing the coops of chicken poop during the frozen season is quite arduous. I usually try to take advantage of unseasonably warm winter days when I can. Scooping frozen poop is less than desirable.

I also have to replace the metal waterers with heated plastic versions. Because we don't have running water in the barn, hauling water from the house to the barn on a daily basis is a major part of my winter workout.

I like to acquire straw bales and fill up empty spaces with sawdust to help keep them warm and as insulated as possible. Even though chickens can handle sub zero temperatures, they like to stay as warm as possible. I try to help them along the way. Even the most hardy girls tend to stay inside more often than not in winter, so making their home comfortable and cozy can keep them happy and stress-free. When this happens, we have a better chance of keeping them on a productive laying schedule.

Eggs numbers drop with the temperature. Considering our girls seem to molt this time of year as well, we are seeing pretty drastic egg decreases this year. Hopefully, with a little bit of luck, some fresh water every day, warm straw, and plenty of food, they will turn around.

If not, our flock might decrease sooner than later.