Angels4 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 (edited) It has been snowing here since early Friday afternoon. So far we have recieved a foot of snow with another foot forcasted by Tuesday. I just went out and did as complete a clean as I could but I wasn't able to get all the bits of pooh out because of the structure I built around the eglu and run. I can't pull the pooh tray out. (I will post pictures as soon as I can) My fear is with all the snow continuing to fall, if I take the top off the Eglu it will get wet inside and freeze the girls (already had some frozen eggs) and that is just over night. Please tell me I'm worrying for nothing, unless of course you think I should be concerned. Edited December 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Gosh Mark, that is a lot of snow! Are you able to remove the worst of the mess? If you are, I would just do that and wait for some good weather to do a really deep down clean. Sounds like the more insulation they have at the moment the better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I know huh....Welcome to New England. I just wish I could get out there and access the situation a little more closely. I think I will be out this week buying a snuggle-safe just to be on the safe side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I know huh....Welcome to New England. I just wish I could get out there and access the situation a little more closely. I think I will be out this week buying a snuggle-safe just to be on the safe side. An old piece of old carpet may help to keep the eglu warm in your extreme weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Why don't you throw some stalosan F or similar onto the floor of the eglu and run to keep bacteria down until you can clean it out without freezing the chooks. Snow insulates so they should be warmer inside the eglu. I wouldn't have thought bacteria will multiply much if its very cold. Need pictures, no snow here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 You could get the worst of the poo out then pad out the eglu with straw. That would help to keep the girls warm and you could replace the pooey straw each day or every other day whilst access is restricted. Keep warm, Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 The run is fine...I'm using a new product (to me) called guardian horse bedding check it out here www.guardianhorsebedding.com also tons of garden lime. It really is inside the Eglu itself that I'm concerned about, but I bet with the cold the bacteria is limited in its growth. I will try the old carpet (wool blanket) tip for the top of the Eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I don't think you need to worry: I would think that the problem would be a build up of ammonia in the eglu from the pooh rotting, but if you can clear the worst of it up and the eglu has reasonable ventiliation at teh top, then should be fine. IMO you have to keep the inside of the house dry for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I only clean my poo trays out once a week anyway. It may get a bit whiffy but I doubt if it will do them any harm, as you say, the cold will stop any bacteria growing. It's more important that they are warm and dry. We don't really get this sort of problem in the UK - I think I'd want to build some sort of shelter around the Eglu if this was going to be a regular occurrence! As long as your chooks have food and water and the poo isn't at a level where they're actually treading in it, I'm sure they will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Wow, that sounds like extreme snow, Mark . Don't know what all us UK jessies were complaining about . I only clean our poop tray out once a week too and there isn't any problem with smells (especially at this time of year) so I'm sure you'll be fine. A blanket over the top sounds like a good idea too though! Where are the photos ? We love snow photos . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 oh wow please share it be lovely for a white christmas, what everyone else has said probably a cover over the top, carpet i would worry over as once damp can hold onto the damp feeling and then produce mould, id go with the blanket at least you can dry it out etc and the central heating on chickens is fab, hope they saying is true what you get we get later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Here are some pictures....As you can see the estimates were a bit high for the storm, but ALOT of snow none the less AND this was the frist of many storms forcast for our region. You know your a "redneck" if your coop looks like this. Won't be doing much swinging until the spring thaw. The Eglu looking a bit like an Igloo. Do the girls look comfortable? I HOPE so. I won't be doing ALOT of driving until I get my car dug out. But that is ok because this is how the streets look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Fantastic Mark! And the girls do look nice and cosy in their run. I long for snow like that ( reminds of south wales in the winter of 81/82 Ho Hum!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Oh my goodness Mark, that looks fabulous!! (as long as you don't have to go out in it of course, then it'sanother story ) SNOWBALL FIGHT!! YAY!! Sorry Your girls look very cosy Mark, I think they will be fine. That snow will give good insulation, and their body temp is higher than ours anyway so they can cope with a bit more cold than we can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 If we had as much snow here as we had in 81/82 the coop would be buried under a few feet of snow. I'm off today to get a couple of snuggle safes for inside the Eglu as well as some more wood pellets for the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 As you can see from the photo I had to change from the glug to a galvinised waterer. The base is heated and will only turn on when the temp reaches freezing. It has been a god send as I like to hibranate during the cold winter months. Even though I grew up in New England I moved back here from Chicago after 10 years in South Florida and 14 years in Southern California. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Fab photos . Your girls look very happy and sheltered . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Gorgeous pics. The hens look very snug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 With 8 chooks, I've gone two weeks without changing the trays in my cube. Though I try to do it once a week as a rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 they look very snug to me, lucky chooks. Dont forget they have their own little insulated feathery blankets too. The snow looks fab and I love the New England style houses in the background..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruth1 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Your chooks look cosy and they will snuggle together. Gorgeous piccies, we've had rain and gale force winds for the last two days, the roofing has ripped of both runs, so Id settle for a bit of lovely snow again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 -Is incredibly jealous- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 The photos are beautiful - talk about a winter wonderland - here we have sludgearama as it's just been grey and drizzling for days - your hens look very snug and I am very about your snowy spaces! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
