SNOW IN TEXAS!!!

[thistlebloom]

I hope it's snowing up there, it's so darn warm.
My son works winters at a local ski mountain and their season hasn't been too glorious yet. Probably end up like last year when all the quality snow came in April after they closed.

 

[ducks4you]

What kind of heat do you use in a barn ?

Nobody except broodmare farms with expensive stock heat their barns, and they only heat to about 45 degrees F. I have 3 nice blankets and a holey canvas throw that sit on a shelf in my grain room and gather dust. They are folded and ready to use at any time, but I try to only use them in an emergency bc the horse can sweat underneath them.

 

[ducks4you]

Ducks, how do the starlings get into your nest box? It looks like it has a hinged lid...

If you look back at my photos you will see that I have left the pop door with the ramp open. The helps with ventilation, since the roosts all sit above the draft and that is how the starlings get in. I cut up 2 of those entrance flat nap throw rugs,
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=J0L5rw4W&id=4402C0F20E407F3496ED31BF29B1B4FC11359C0D&thid=OIP.J0L5rw4WNwgV1GuPbZ8ewAHaHa&mediaurl=https://ll-us-i5.wal.co/asr/645fb51d-6d77-41ea-b79a-9dc56bee95f5_1.194d2f5926924d9479a931b98963af19.jpeg-555802f23e45710d9f5a9bc9aca74058d8797da8-optim-2000x2000.jpg&exph=2000&expw=2000&q=walmart+floor+rugs&simid=608042254486077621&selectedIndex=34&ajaxhist=0
to make the next boxes more comfortable. The are about $7/each but I found mine on clearance for $2/each. The design for this coop makes the lip for the nest boxes too shallow to keep bedding inside, so the hens were laying on bare wood. I am sure that the starlings think they are spending the night in a 5 star bird hotel, complete with a free breakfast.
The starlings are also roosting in a little box like area created up by the top corner of the coop by the 2 x 4 frame. Just this morning walking out the door I found the thing to fix this, a piece of heavy corrugated cardboard that I should be able to bend and shove in that spot. It is light and won't harm my hens.
My other solution is going to be for this weekend, when we get a break from the weather. I have a 5 pound bag of wild bird seed, and I plan to put this out in a feed bowl in the quarantine coop enclosure, along with water. The door is open and my cats can have a field day and create some good old carnage.

 

[ducks4you]

I blanket Luke also. I used to not because it flattens the coat and they lose the air trapping qualities that help insulate them. I would only do it before if it got below 20 or was cold, wet, and windy. But he's a hard keeper and I have to really push the feed at him to help him maintain a normal weight, so this year I began blanketing when it got down to freezing, and keep him blanketed. I have a variety of different blanket weights for normal cold or extreme cold, because I don't want to go the other way and have him sweat.
It's a controversial point among horse people, but this winter Luke has held his weight well, without me having to give a lot of supplemental grain over his normal ration.

I have owned hard keepers and most people think that you aren't feeding them. You have to keep trying different recipes, try out supplements and really work to keep weight on them. My Arabian, "Corporal" (1982-2009, RIP) was a skinny 4yo when I bought him and he NEVER had any fat rolls, unlike my 3 current horses. He looked the best when he was muscled up.
ANYway, I understand!!

 

[majorcatfish]

amazing how just 2 hours make a difference hoping that the sun will melt more...

@thistlebloom don't worry bagged up some for you will put into the freezer for you....

was wondering why our lowlife brother @seedcorn hasnt been posting, the dw has been saying where are all these dishes coming from?
found him hiding in the freezer.guess he owns money again...

 

[Nyboy]

OMG major see you eat ice cream snickers too I always have a box in my freezer

 

[thistlebloom]

That's so thoughtful of you Major, thanks! Every little bit helps.

I think you better count those Snickers bars...

 

[baymule]

This is the coldest winter since 1957. The record low in 1957 for Tyler, Texas is 11F degrees. The new low record is 10F degrees. Brrrr.... We got two inches of snow Tuesday. It got up to 40F today and a lot of snow has melted. But it's still cold!

So naturally guess what showed up last night? Meet Winter, ewe lamb. Daughter of Lady Baa Baa.

 

[thistlebloom]

Awww!

 

[baymule]

Tuesday

Today

Tuesday

Today

I told y'all Texas knows how to throw a snow party! It is gone in a few days!