Our temperatures have been below freezing since Sunday.We are having some serious winds but, it has been mostly dry which is what I love. Clear skies and below freezing temperatures don’t make me as cold as when it is any temperature and raining. Rain chills me to the bone.
Here is what our pond looked like one morning. The wind had blown hard all night long and the bit of leftover snow was blown onto the frozen pond.
Since I’m so much better from my surgery and Michael has been doing double duty for almost two months, I’ve decided it is time to resume my morning chores. Monday I went out alone thinking it would be a quick chore day. As I approach the barn I see the bunny waters are frozen. I took them inside to soak in a sink full of hot water but there was no water. I was grateful when Michael showed up not too long after me. The temps when we go out in the morning have been 24°. The buckets of water for the animals are all covered with ice, the bunny waters are frozen solid, and the chicken water is half way frozen. I guess I should have expected that.
The pipes in the barn are staying clear with all the heat cable and foam Michael put on them. However, we do have a weak link…..the hose from the water heater to the sink. Michael says we can’t remove it to drain each night so the water in it freezes every night. Makes it a bit more difficult to thaw the bunny water as well as other waters.We decided to break out the heated buckets for the goats. The first day we just left the water dripping in the sink hoping that would prevent the pipe from freezing.It didn’t help. Still frozen the next morning.
We have all of our heat lamps hung in the kidding stalls in preparation for kidding season which is due to start soon, so this morning Michael moved one of them to the sink area.
I think it was a brilliant idea. I’ll know it was brilliant if it isn’t frozen in the morning.
To help the bunnies, when we do the evening chores we are going to dump out the cold water and fill it with hot water. Hopefully, they won’t freeze completely. I think we also need to hang a heat lamp above the water in the chicken coop.
I know it isn’t as cold as a lot of states, but the cold temperatures do emphasize the need to keep the water flowing for the animals.
Stay warm,
Karen
You two are always working and thinking. We’ve had rain, but no freezing. Hope the drought is over,
Happy NEW YEAR!!
Aunt Pinky
Yes, the CA drought being over would be a great thing.
I’m looking forward to warmer temps. Kidding begins this week. The goats and babies handle the weather with no problems…..it’s me that doesn’t handle being cold.
Happy New Year,
Karen
Wish I could show pics from here but the mountains are white with low clouds and about a foot of snow outside the window and this is the 4th day of no school. Just read about your surgery and hope you are doing well.
Only once in my life, eight years ago, did the Willamette Valley get a lot of snow (18 inches) It is rare to get snow. Which is good because 90% of the people are not equipped to drive in it. We’ve had below-freezing temps more than snow. I’m glad because we really needed some freezing to kill the bugs. Haven’t had freezing temps for many winters and the bug population was HUGE.
When Michael reads your comment he will be jealous. He is a snow junky.
Enjoy it. Take care and thank for continuing to follow our journey.
Karen