Do you remember it being colder

[356]

People from nearby Embarass were upset to lose the state record. The word was that all of the lights from TV cameras kept the thermometer from recording the actual temp.

My uncle (on my wife's side) lived in Embarrass (my niece is still there) and claimed the record was stolen from them. The family farm is down by the river just south of Tower and that thermometer read -64 according to my father-in-law.

I lived off-grid the winter of 1979-80 in a cabin north of Hwy 1 in Itasca County. Keeping warm was a challenge for this California boy who wanted to "live off the land." The first time the thermometer read -42 I thought it was broken. It's a wonder I am still alive!

 

[Telemark]

I do have my metal stud wading shoes that I use when needed. May need to look into some of those tire straps in the future, but can't get them in time for this event.

I wonder if there is something you could ziptie to your tires for the same effect.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I wonder if there is something you could ziptie to your tires for the same effect.

Cables/Chains

For tracking elk in icy/snowy mountains I used to screw short sheet metal screws into the soles of my boots. These were stiff soled near mountaineering style boots so they held them well. They worked better then the various micro spikes i tried and didn't add so much weight to my feet. I wonder if that wouldn't work for slow vehicle travel if there's enough tread in tires?

 

[chucker66]

We had -31 here this morning in NW Wis. Its 10 above in my chicken coop. They were very happy to get warm water and warm mash. Basically I take chicken feed crumble and add hot water to it to make a mash. They love it and I'm still getting eggs. Funny you show Grand Rapid's weather as they are coming down here for a wrestling tournament tomorrow. Won't be much warmer here LOL

 

[Mortenson]

Good luck everyone.

 

[sandbur]

Is there a pressure gauge on it so you can monito the pressure and throw sand on your fire once the tank pressure is where it should be?

There is a gauge on our tank that tells how full it is. I have no idea what was on my Dad’s tank way back then.

You don’t have to tremendously heat anything, imo. Just get the tank a bit above -44.

SD probably knows more.

 

[Mtyhunter]

We had -31 here this morning in NW Wis. Its 10 above in my chicken coop. They were very happy to get warm water and warm mash. Basically I take chicken feed crumble and add hot water to it to make a mash. They love it and I'm still getting eggs. Funny you show Grand Rapid's weather as they are coming down here for a wrestling tournament tomorrow. Won't be much warmer here LOL

We hatched some eggs this year, have 4 hens and a really nice coop for mama. Getting 4 eggs almost everyday for 3 months now, been paying off. First go around with chickens for us, so we're still learning. Good idea on the crumble mash, gonna make some tonight, I'm sure they'll eat r up. Put some visquine over the north side of coop to keep the draft out. Bought an infrared plate heater that i mounted inside the coop. this heater sure doesn't seem to get very warm, so not sure I'm impressed with it yet.
It's been down in the teens and 20's here in oklahoma, and the chicks have done fine. Curious to see how they'll do with negative temps this weekend. Knowing my wife, I'll come home from work today to find a temp shelter for the chickens in our garage, lol.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

We had -31 here this morning in NW Wis. Its 10 above in my chicken coop. They were very happy to get warm water and warm mash. Basically I take chicken feed crumble and add hot water to it to make a mash. They love it and I'm still getting eggs. Funny you show Grand Rapid's weather as they are coming down here for a wrestling tournament tomorrow. Won't be much warmer here LOL

That's just from the chickens heating it up? I haven't checked on ours but there's no supplemental heat and we had -24 real temps this AM. There is some insulation in the coop though.

 

[chucker66]

That's just from the chickens heating it up? I haven't checked on ours but there's no supplemental heat and we had -24 real temps this AM. There is some insulation in the coop though.

Yes I have 25 in there and they seem to do fine. Its 12x12 plus lots of roosting so they can get away from each other. I close the vents when its this cold as the poop gets frozen and doesn't smell. Once it get about 20 I open them up for fresh air. Works really well for them from what I can tell. Fresh air is more important that heat when it comes to birds. They are pretty tough.

 

[Foggy47]

When it gets this cold.....I find it amazing that birds feet don't freeze solid and break off.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Yes I have 25 in there and they seem to do fine. Its 12x12 plus lots of roosting so they can get away from each other. I close the vents when its this cold as the poop gets frozen and doesn't smell. Once it get about 20 I open them up for fresh air. Works really well for them from what I can tell. Fresh air is more important that heat when it comes to birds. They are pretty tough.

Our coop must only be 4'x8' or so. With 9 chickens to heat it they probably kept it at least as warm as yours. The whole roof apex is a vent but I wouldn't be surprised if most if it is covered by snow right now anyway so not great venting.

 

[Brian662]