This cold spell

[ally mac]

Do you think this, the coldest spell for years, could have any benefits in the loft. Killing any bugs, eggs etc that could be lurking in the loft?

[blaz]

it will kill any eggs or bugs in the loft no problem.

[Guest stb-]

definatly Ally  will kill of lots of nasties  

[Guest Owen]

About the only benefit I can see is the fact that I have to work hard to see to the birds these days. My physical fittness has improved no end.

When it comes to killing off the bugs, I would rather do that with a coat of paint.

[Guest joshdonlan]

its great   i havent heard much about the superbugs either  :-/ swine flu?

[Guest spin cycle]

sunlight is the best disinfectant you can get...so probably not. birds probably give off enough heat to just about keep frost out of nooks + crannies JMO

[ally mac]

I kow where your coming from Owen, Its not that i have problems (not that I'm aware of), just you here so much about sick birds maybe there might be some wee benefit?

[ally mac]

sunlight is the best disinfectant you can get...so probably not. birds probably give off enough heat to just about keep frost out of nooks + crannies JMO

 

Not enough to even stop their droppings from freezing in my loft, need  a right good scrape!!!!!!!!!!  

[DOVEScot]

I would relate to the fact that when I had a motor bike I never got any problems with bugs, I was out in all weathers and I can remember a bad winter back about 1978 I travelled 20 miles every day in these conditions :-/

[Guest Owen]

ally mac

my hens are in an outdoor aviary with box perches to sleep on and just a flat board over their heads to keep the rain off. They have plenty of food and fresh warm water twice a day. I reckon if there were any weak ones there, they would be on the floor with their legs in the air by now. Some days they are a bit fluffed up but they look good most of the time. There is fluff on the dung every day and they will bath any time, given a chance. I checked some of them for bacteria in the throat a while ago. There was hardly anything at all. Even the bugs can not live where they are. The important thing is that when I pair up they will all go down very quickly which makes my life a lot simpler.

The down side of all this is, the fact that cleaning the perches off is a bit of a pain, but I think that is a small price to pay.

My cocks are penned seperately in their nest boxes in a very airy and quite cold section. When I let the loose twice each day in the loft they fight like dogs. And they are in cracking condition. My worry is that they may be a bit too protective of their boxes and attack the hens when the time comes. Time will tell.

 

[ally mac]

My stock cosks are in their boxes too Owen, I have a lot of new doos and am trying to get them used to their boxes. I let them all out this morning and when I nipped home at lunch time they were all in the aviary. All looking a picture too. This weather certainly doesnt seem to be getting them down.

 

I never gave a thought to them being too protective of their boxes.

 

Al.

[greenlands]

sunlight is the best disinfectant you can get...so probably not. birds probably give off enough heat to just about keep frost out of nooks + crannies JMO

 

Noticed that when we just had frost,looking onto the top of the loft from the bedroom window you could see where the birds had perched over night by the melted frost.

Lindsay

[tommy.walsh]

the cold weather will only make the birds stronger

[phillips]

all my yearling hens are really struggling with this cold spell and ive got heaters

their not daft  :-/

[Babybird]

I would relate to the fact that when I had a motor bike I never got any problems with bugs, I was out in all weathers and I can remember a bad winter back about 1978 I travelled 20 miles every day in these conditions :-/

 

Duncan, my Mum and Dad thought that winter was a particularily cold one, I arrived 2 June 1979 so am living testament  ;D ;D ;D

[Tony C]

I dont know what it is about these extreme cold snaps but the pigeons always come through it looking the better.

[Guest IB]

Seasons are changing, we used to have really cold winters and really hot summers both did their bit to make sure disease levels were low.

 

Not exact year, but think 1961/1962 where it froze over November through to April was my coldest, delivered newspapers in that, toughens you up. Enamel coated metal drinkers that were blocks of ice, bare hands sticking to them, burned with boiling water trying to thaw them out in kitchen sink, fresh water in only to see it start to freeze over before again before I got out the loft.

 

Temperature-wise, think 1982 real cold spell -18 in Glasgow City Centre, was my night shift week, 5 railways in Scotland closed including west coast main line At Abington, they'd cut sheer walls through ice with only a few inches clearance either side, passengers were told not to stick their heads outside carraige windows passing there. One morning left office at 7.30 am with trains broken down after running into pockets of frozen air all over Central Scotland, but folk were still expected to get into work.....

 

Changed days now. Snowed in because neighbours won't clear their own bit of pavement & road in their street, a wee bit of snow there's a rush on shops and workers are told to bide at home.  

[holmsidelofts]

The cold weather will do them good. harden them up and will get the internal fat off them, which will help you with hens laying quickly. Hope it doesnt last to long as i want to pair up but wont do it in this weather as its to cold and you loose to many eggs.

looking at the forecast tomorrow and monday is forecasting persistent snow with blizzards in some areas so here we go again, im only just getting over the last load, lol

[Taylorsloft]

snowing in Aberdeen again  :'( :'(

[Guest spin cycle]

 

Not enough to even stop their droppings from freezing in my loft, need  a right good scrape!!!!!!!!!!  

 

you're probably getting lower temps. inland. i'm on coast so we're a little 'warmer'.....only problem is windchill as its straight of north sea

[ally mac]

 

you're probably getting lower temps. inland. i'm on coast so we're a little 'warmer'.....only problem is windchill as its straight of north sea

 

Were on the coat too pal, I'm not a 1/4 mile from the sea, -8 last night but milder today.

[sapper756]

At times/conditions like now.I keep a close eye on my birds, any that appear to be struggling with the cold, in my opinion, will be no good when the hard races are upon them :-/ JMO

[ally mac]

At times/conditions like now.I keep a close eye on my birds, any that appear to be struggling with the cold, in my opinion, will be no good when the hard races are upon them :-/ JMO

 

Do you come across many? so far all seems fine here  

[sapper756]

 

Do you come across many? so far all seems fine here  

 

No, only one yearling cock, that seems a tad uncomfortable with the cold :-/

[Guest spin cycle]

 

Were on the coat too pal, I'm not a 1/4 mile from the sea, -8 last night but milder today.

 

ouch...i saw on forecast where scotland's temps were lower than ours. my birds seem to be loving it to. i think,as long as they've shelter, they prefer this to very hot weather.