Gloves are my biggest problem. I've spent SO much on gloves in the past 10 years and have yet to find anything that keeps my fingers from going completely numb and still have enough flexibility for me to do anything. ski gloves, motorcycle gloves, arctic camping gloves.... Gonna try a pair of refrigerator gloves this year.
oh man, tell me when you find a good pair. Have you tried the rechargable heating gloves? (I am always afraid they will fail. Sometimes I use HOT HANDS packs in my gloves if im real cold.)
Writing from northern MN, with current temp -20F and windshield-45F. I can confirm that these are great cold weather practices. We find it especially important to allow most animals the choice in being in or out, with open sheds like you have. Keeping them dry and out of wind is more important than keeping them warm, for most animals. We have a heated water bowl just like that blue one in your chicken pen. Instead of putting the water directly in the bowl, we set an ice cream pail of water into the heated bowl. The pail has a lid on it with a hole cut in it for the hens to drink through. This way, instead of daily cleaning of the heated bowl, we just swap out the ice cream pail for a fresh full one once or twice a day. This makes cleaning easier and reduces water splashing onto the bedding in the coop. The layering tips are great. One caution is that if you wear a scarf, it should be tucked into your jacket and not out where it could get hooked on anything and cause a fall. Great video. Wishing everyone success during this cold spell.
Be safe we are still getting snow here in eastern Kentucky. Love being home and I’m thankful I don’t have to go out and drive. But chores in the snow kind of sucks.
Sage advice, it's in the single digits here currently, and instead of twice daily checks, feedings, and waterings it's at least four times during this time of year since we have to break up ice, and bring out warm water. (Although in the really hot summers we may go out, and check water an extra time). We also have a well, and on the coldest of days we have to do well, and water watch and check water, and pressure throughout the night. We've got it all figured out by this point. Strongly agree with warm jacket, coveralls, hats, scarves, and gloves, preferably waterproof, and good layers of socks, and very good quality warm, waterproof boots. I often break a sweat in my winter getup even in sub zero temps. Great episode, especially for the folks going into their first winter, or a colder winter than they may be used to. A face mask if it's exceptionally windy, and or icy as well. 100% on point with the equipment, especially the diesels. Good tip about starting/stopping too. Batteries like to drain, and go out in the cold, our ATV will do that from time to time, and then we're moving everything with the wheelbarrow, lol!
@@tesshomestead8019 Yeah, we've been homesteading for a decade now, got this down to a science. No it doesn't first of all, secondly, the animals appreciate the warm water.
@@tesshomestead8019 I'm not interested in your lame, weird, power tug conversation. No they don't, and I don't need advice from a internet troll. Go away.
What kind of temps are you expecting? For dressing in cold weather,, I live in Finland and -30celsius is quite normal in the middle of winter. I wear mostly wool from head to toes. Felt boots with wool socks, couple layers of wool pants and shirts and felt or down insulated top layer. on my head wool balaclava and a fox fur hat. For cold weather the wery best clothes are those that can be found in nature, wool, fur, down, leather.
I had never heard that about cotton! Probably because we don’t have deadly winter storms here. I don’t even own a proper winter coat! I did buy a raincoat last year. My first as an adult 😂 I was thinking about you guys when I saw the storms on the news. Glad to see you’re okay. We’re having heatwaves down here. I’m so over it.
@ I think I probably would too, as long as I get myself the right kind of clothing first. I shiver when it’s 8°C, but if I had a coat I’d probably be fine. You can always add another layer of clothes. You can’t always remove another layer! I took a spray bottle of water to bed with me last night to spray exposed skin so the fan actually cooled me. 2 more aircons are on the list for the moment the sale is finalised and it’s completely mine. Not gonna happen this summer though. Another hot one tomorrow and then 4 mild days before it heats up again. Ugh.
I'm huddled up under the blankets watching from Hawaii, it's terribly cold here (50 degrees) 😉 I can't imagine 50 below anymore, wishing you the best of luck with the storm!!!
To add to the equipment list, metal parts can break easier in the cold when being force, hubby tried to force the gear shifter a couple of years ago in the UTV when we had an extreme cold spell. Broke it completely off in the middle of our long drive Christmas Eve, needless to say nobody available to help us, left it overnight in place and towed it back to the barn the next day. we were frozen from the wind even though we have all the gear to wear.
I've thought about getting a Freeze Miser. My deer sled has really helped getting things moved around the homestead during winter. Moving hay flake by flake.
Fun fact: you dont actually lose more heat from your head than other parts of your body. It is a part that's often uncovered (especially the face), which is why you'll lose more heat there than places with clothing. The parts that actually give off the most heat: armpits, groin, etc.
I have a horrible time with my feet getting cold. I have found that replacing my boot insoles with YakTrax or Little Hotties Thermal Insoles, wearing a little bit bigger boot (for air insulation) and making sure my socks aren't tight on my toes really helps with keeping my feet warmer.
I have a hard time with the feet too sometimes, a light wicking sock and then a thick fuzzy sock, and a slightly bigger boot with room for 2 socks works good for me!
That was awesome!! I didn't think of the extra bedding. I'd add face masks to the clothing. Game changer for me. I mean the hood kind, not the covid kind.
We got 8 inches over night last week and its been below freezing for weeks. I had to turn off my water and have relied on barrels of water with stock tank heaters and heat lamps in the shelters
Animals can easily eat 1.5-2x normal amounts of hay in this kind of weather, so be really generous with feeding, BUT think about how you feed or they are likely to make a mess of most of it and still run short. So feeders and such to keep their feet out of it for one. Water, even with liquid water available, offer them a bucket to drink and check their mouths for their saliva feels. There is often a delay in how much they will drink and how much they should when weather makes big jumps in temperature. You can also do a CRT check (=capilary refill time, shows bloodcirculation in the gums) and feel on the inside of the hindleg, high up where the udder/reproductive bits are for an indication of bodyheat. Of course you need to check such things under normal conditions to know what feels normal for your animals. For everybody : the basics start with stay dry but drink plenty of water (or anything NOT alcoholic) to keep bloodcirculation optimal, otherwise feeding for warmth won't bring that warmth everywhere it needs to be.
Gloves are my biggest problem. I've spent SO much on gloves in the past 10 years and have yet to find anything that keeps my fingers from going completely numb and still have enough flexibility for me to do anything. ski gloves, motorcycle gloves, arctic camping gloves.... Gonna try a pair of refrigerator gloves this year.
Same thing here. Today, tomorrow and Wednesday will be rough. I love having chickens but the single digits and below is the worst!
oh man, tell me when you find a good pair. Have you tried the rechargable heating gloves? (I am always afraid they will fail. Sometimes I use HOT HANDS packs in my gloves if im real cold.)
Great winter weather tips!…your calfs are very cute….nice to see you making videos often again
Writing from northern MN, with current temp -20F and windshield-45F.
I can confirm that these are great cold weather practices.
We find it especially important to allow most animals the choice in being in or out, with open sheds like you have. Keeping them dry and out of wind is more important than keeping them warm, for most animals.
We have a heated water bowl just like that blue one in your chicken pen. Instead of putting the water directly in the bowl, we set an ice cream pail of water into the heated bowl. The pail has a lid on it with a hole cut in it for the hens to drink through. This way, instead of daily cleaning of the heated bowl, we just swap out the ice cream pail for a fresh full one once or twice a day. This makes cleaning easier and reduces water splashing onto the bedding in the coop.
The layering tips are great. One caution is that if you wear a scarf, it should be tucked into your jacket and not out where it could get hooked on anything and cause a fall.
Great video. Wishing everyone success during this cold spell.
Cool, I like that Ice Cream Bucket idea! thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tips. I learned a lot.
Be safe we are still getting snow here in eastern Kentucky. Love being home and I’m thankful I don’t have to go out and drive. But chores in the snow kind of sucks.
Do you guys get snow often? Or is this one of those historic storm things for you guys?
Sage advice, it's in the single digits here currently, and instead of twice daily checks, feedings, and waterings it's at least four times during this time of year since we have to break up ice, and bring out warm water. (Although in the really hot summers we may go out, and check water an extra time). We also have a well, and on the coldest of days we have to do well, and water watch and check water, and pressure throughout the night. We've got it all figured out by this point. Strongly agree with warm jacket, coveralls, hats, scarves, and gloves, preferably waterproof, and good layers of socks, and very good quality warm, waterproof boots. I often break a sweat in my winter getup even in sub zero temps. Great episode, especially for the folks going into their first winter, or a colder winter than they may be used to. A face mask if it's exceptionally windy, and or icy as well. 100% on point with the equipment, especially the diesels. Good tip about starting/stopping too. Batteries like to drain, and go out in the cold, our ATV will do that from time to time, and then we're moving everything with the wheelbarrow, lol!
You know warm water freezes faster then cold water
@@tesshomestead8019 Yeah, we've been homesteading for a decade now, got this down to a science. No it doesn't first of all, secondly, the animals appreciate the warm water.
@ they do yes . I’ve been doing it for 40 years
@@tesshomestead8019 I'm not interested in your lame, weird, power tug conversation. No they don't, and I don't need advice from a internet troll. Go away.
STAY SAFE 👍👍
-21 / -33 with wind chill, here in central WI.
@TRuth.T I am in NW WI and it is -24 at my house at 10:30 at night!!!
What kind of temps are you expecting? For dressing in cold weather,, I live in Finland and -30celsius is quite normal in the middle of winter. I wear mostly wool from head to toes. Felt boots with wool socks, couple layers of wool pants and shirts and felt or down insulated top layer. on my head wool balaclava and a fox fur hat. For cold weather the wery best clothes are those that can be found in nature, wool, fur, down, leather.
I had never heard that about cotton! Probably because we don’t have deadly winter storms here. I don’t even own a proper winter coat! I did buy a raincoat last year. My first as an adult 😂
I was thinking about you guys when I saw the storms on the news. Glad to see you’re okay. We’re having heatwaves down here. I’m so over it.
I would choose this weather over heat waves any day Monique 😆
@ I think I probably would too, as long as I get myself the right kind of clothing first. I shiver when it’s 8°C, but if I had a coat I’d probably be fine. You can always add another layer of clothes. You can’t always remove another layer! I took a spray bottle of water to bed with me last night to spray exposed skin so the fan actually cooled me. 2 more aircons are on the list for the moment the sale is finalised and it’s completely mine. Not gonna happen this summer though. Another hot one tomorrow and then 4 mild days before it heats up again. Ugh.
I'm huddled up under the blankets watching from Hawaii, it's terribly cold here (50 degrees) 😉 I can't imagine 50 below anymore, wishing you the best of luck with the storm!!!
I also do a neck warmer I crocheted, not a scarf but a nice round slightly tight round warmer
To add to the equipment list, metal parts can break easier in the cold when being force, hubby tried to force the gear shifter a couple of years ago in the UTV when we had an extreme cold spell. Broke it completely off in the middle of our long drive Christmas Eve, needless to say nobody available to help us, left it overnight in place and towed it back to the barn the next day. we were frozen from the wind even though we have all the gear to wear.
Got down to eight here a bit north of Knoxville, TN! Loving the wood heat!
I've thought about getting a Freeze Miser. My deer sled has really helped getting things moved around the homestead during winter. Moving hay flake by flake.
Merino wool base layers are far and away the best!
This is such great info!!!
Fun fact: you dont actually lose more heat from your head than other parts of your body. It is a part that's often uncovered (especially the face), which is why you'll lose more heat there than places with clothing. The parts that actually give off the most heat: armpits, groin, etc.
I did morning farm chores with -38 Windchill this morning. Thankfully I calf share so I didn't have to milk the cow.
Stay warm.
We are in Northern Wisconsin
oooh my. That's a cold one
I have a horrible time with my feet getting cold. I have found that replacing my boot insoles with YakTrax or Little Hotties Thermal Insoles, wearing a little bit bigger boot (for air insulation) and making sure my socks aren't tight on my toes really helps with keeping my feet warmer.
I have a hard time with the feet too sometimes, a light wicking sock and then a thick fuzzy sock, and a slightly bigger boot with room for 2 socks works good for me!
Great advice Aust👍!
Stay cozy❤
JO JO IN VT 💞☃️
Cold as heck in SWVA
Brrrr! Thanks for this list! I'm a new farmer.
That was awesome!! I didn't think of the extra bedding. I'd add face masks to the clothing. Game changer for me. I mean the hood kind, not the covid kind.
We got 8 inches over night last week and its been below freezing for weeks. I had to turn off my water and have relied on barrels of water with stock tank heaters and heat lamps in the shelters
Animals can easily eat 1.5-2x normal amounts of hay in this kind of weather, so be really generous with feeding, BUT think about how you feed or they are likely to make a mess of most of it and still run short. So feeders and such to keep their feet out of it for one.
Water, even with liquid water available, offer them a bucket to drink and check their mouths for their saliva feels. There is often a delay in how much they will drink and how much they should when weather makes big jumps in temperature. You can also do a CRT check (=capilary refill time, shows bloodcirculation in the gums) and feel on the inside of the hindleg, high up where the udder/reproductive bits are for an indication of bodyheat. Of course you need to check such things under normal conditions to know what feels normal for your animals.
For everybody : the basics start with stay dry but drink plenty of water (or anything NOT alcoholic) to keep bloodcirculation optimal, otherwise feeding for warmth won't bring that warmth everywhere it needs to be.
You've been busy!!
❤️🙏
Not the dramatic music and the clickbait weather channel clips spliced in. 🥴
What state are you living in?
@stevensaxon8888 They live in PA