Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[auntielizzie]

Oh my poor girls - they haven't been out for weeks with this weather. Snow, rain, snow rain....... Their run is horrible and no matter how much I try and clean it out, it's still all horrible and damp and dirty in there. At least the back half of the run is under cover and is dry, but this cuts their run down to less than half

 

Oh I can't wait for some nice weather so I can give it a real good old dig out and get some new wood chips down. Even though I have tarps on both sides (which restricts their view of the garden because it's not clear), still the rain and snow manages to get in I'm so fed up with it now and it's really spoiling chicken keeping for me as I feel I can't keep them as well as I would like to

 

Come on spring

[jackian]

Oh how I agree I think most of us feel the same...It just seems to go on and on .My four girls I think have had enough as well .Even their dust baths are covered in snow they do spend a lot of time by the patio doors ,I would like to think it is to see me but am sure it is the only place they can can stay warm .

I thought chickens would prefer the cold to the heat but now I am not so sure.

Spring has never failed to arrive yet

[mimi5]

I'm so fed up with it now and it's really spoiling chicken keeping for me as I feel I can't keep them as well as I would like to

ditto to that!!!!

 

I have a cube with 3 metre run and woodchips. But I have to say the woodchip has been a heaven send as before I sited the cube (nov) I was truddling it over the lawn....which is now pretty much mud bath But the "big girls" have only been out on dry days for short bursts (when I can stand the cold ) Then there's poor Polly & Tilly in the classic still on the lawn ......long story but intros went wrong and I lost Mr Morris my new cockerel and the "little girls" have had myco. Thankfully after a second round of baytril and TLC for Tilly, she seems to be on the mend But need better weather to re-start intros

 

My run is totally covered on 3 sides, only open on the door end, it seems to stay lovely and dry But the girls all seem fed up...desparate to get out! They are still laying though I was worrried that they might get tricked in to a moult again.......this happened to Molly and I nearly lost her.

 

YES PLEASE roll on spring!!!

[miller30]

I agree with everything you guys have said i have just over 60 birds and it makes you want to give up i have decided this morning im going to cut back so have put some of my extra pekin girls up for sale they are from hatches last year i didnt need to keep them but like to have all different colours plus i have a broody sat on 15 pekin eggs and an incubator hatching on wednesday so its time to let some go leanne.

[Egghead68]

It is awful.The stress of a heavy snow shower triggered mycoplasma in one of mine. Now they have all got it and are living inside in my bedroom. Meanwhile I have developed asthma from the dander even though I clean up as much as possible.

Totally grim.

[counturchickens]

I totally agree, egghead you sound like you're having the worst of it!

I feel slightly better today as cleared the lying snow from the wir and gave everything a good rake over and got the girls some greens to hang up for hentertainment!

[Guest]

Same here too, nothing but mud and only a small strip of the WIR slightly dry. I can't bear it! I've got a hook taped on an old broom handle to get the hung food container in and out without having to brave the mud! Have had to move that around to avoid the drips because the roof is leaking. But I really don't think the chooks care, because they will stand knee-deep in their muddy puddle nosing at what I'm doing in the garden!! We've put lots of logs in so they can roost and get out of the muck if they want though. More importantly, it hasn't affected egg production!! Roll on dry weather