The Big Chill
- January 24, 2011
- Category: Daily Diary
- (21) Comments
Mountain Man has told me many stories of the old days when the temperature in the Northeast Kingdom would routinely plunge to 30 below zero. I listened intrigued but I never really understood what it meant to experience such cold. It had never happened to me.
Until this week. On Monday, The Weather Channel announced we were in for a cold weekend. Estimates ranged from 16 below to 30 below not including wind chills and I started worrying about the chickens, guineas and turkeys. Yes, they are in an enclosed coop but I still worried.
I put out a request for information on Facebook and I was told that in extreme cold, chickens combs can freeze and break off leaving a bleeding and possibly dying chicken. Luckily Brenda of Split Rock Ranch Llamas told me to grab a jar of Vaseline and start greasing combs and wattles and they’d be fine. If you think teaching turkeys to toboggan is tough, just try chasing them around to put greasy goo all over them. But by Saturday morning, all turkeys, guineas and chickens were greased and ready for the big chill.
And did it ever get cold. 27 below last night not including wind chill. As I walked from the house to the barn, I renounced any desire to move to Alaska. I’m happy to announce it’s now a toasty minus 11, the sun is shining and all poultry survived intact. Here’s some pictures from the week that was.
The sun was cloaked in clouds.
Mountain Man continued to work on firewood.
While I headed to the coop to try to catch birds.
Mountain Man found a piece of spalted maple in his firewood logs. It was rescued and will have a new life as cabinets or possibly flooring.
Logan and I take time to enjoy a snowy hike.
Yes, it’s been a cold week but there’s something beautiful about a frozen landscape.
The light is unlike any other time of year whether it’s beautiful sunrises.
Or afternoons where clouds morph into lovely colors.
And the moon rises.
Maybe it is worth living through those 27 below zero days. What do you think?
Oh I do! Our coldest so far has been 10 below with windchill factor!
I think we can always find the beauty in any situation!
And the saying~This too shall pass~is one of my faves!
Stay warm! xo, misha
Date: January 24, 2011
I agree, the light is different and I like it. I like the cyclical changes we go through and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Date: January 24, 2011
I don’t know, I got chilled just looking at the pictures….
Date: January 24, 2011
Its a pleasure to read your stories, serene and beautiful.
Date: January 24, 2011
Hi there, Wow, that’s chilly. My dad spent some years growing up in Alaska…and it got cold there!! Now that it’s a toasty Minus 11, you can celebrate spring, right ?
): Just kidding!!! I think the coldest I”ve ever experiences was aroun d 9 Degrees Fahrenheit one winter…but that’s it.. I’m glad you are doing okay…and all fowl are doing well!!!! Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather 
Date: January 24, 2011
thgank goodness that it did not get that cold here. it was cold enough though.
Date: January 24, 2011
It has been cold here, too! I no longer have chickens and I wish I had known about the Vaseline trick when I had them! I’m so glad it worked for you. Stay warm!!
Date: January 24, 2011
I’ll certainly admit that your mountain looks like paradise in all seasons, however I’m afraid my wattle would freeze in those freezing temps. I’m a tropical girl, born on the island of Sicily, brought to the USA after the war as the toddler of a war bride, raised in Southern California and never spent time chipping ice or shoveling snow. I doubt I could change at 65 years of age as my bones ache in temperatures below 40 (can’t even image below zero).
ps – That’s one fine and very big log of spalted maple that Mountain Man found. I’m sure he will make something beautiful out of it.
Date: January 24, 2011
I’m not sure. It’s been cold here too, about10 below and I find my joy in life ebbing when I have to go feed horses…..
Stay warm! The photos are simply lovely..
Date: January 24, 2011
No, absolutely no way would I want to live there –that is just WAAAAY toooo cold! I’m surprised you didn’t bring your chickens, guineas and turkeys into the house to warm up! I know I wouldn’t be going on any hike in those temperatures–you are tougher than me! I fell sorry for Mountain Man working out in those cold temperatures too!
Date: January 24, 2011
Just think, we’ll complain in 6 months when the temperature get over 100 degF. Life would be boring without variety! Stay Safe.
Date: January 24, 2011
What?! You aren’t bringing the gang in to keep them warm????
Stay warm, pally!
Date: January 24, 2011
It sure is beautiful but I don’t know…it was 2 degrees here last night and that was cold enough for me! Glad your little family came through ok, though!
Date: January 24, 2011
It’s a real exeperience to live through cold – for a short period of time. And so lovely too. So, yes – it’s worth it!
Date: January 25, 2011
It was 14 below here in Upstate New York. I liked it. I went outside walking at night, and what a delicious moment of solitude and wonder. The stars were crinkling and everything was so still! Plus, these cold temps kill off bug larvae. Bring it on!
Date: January 25, 2011
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
I like cold weather BUT……………….
Whitetail Woods Blog / Deer Hunting and Blackpowder Shooting at it’s best.
Date: January 25, 2011
i just read a portion of one of grammie’s diaries and in 1938 it dropped to 24 below in randolph center. i cannot imagine the wind chill factor. that was amazing information about the vaseline. i will pass that on to my chicken friends. poor little things. we used to have wild turkeys and they would come down to eat the corn… i blogged about it…’trying to teach turkeys’ but since i have spotted the coyote i haven’t seen them this fall…great post!!! and stay warm….brrrrr.
Date: January 25, 2011
Your photos are beautiful, but I think I’ll stay put in my rainy neck of the woods. Just looking at your pictures gave me the shivers!!
Date: January 26, 2011
I can just see the looks those creatures gave you as you greased them up!
I too, dislike the cold but marvel at the beauty of the frozen ground and trees.
Date: January 26, 2011
Yes, It was a cold week..we had 33 below one night then -22 and then -18.. and today it was almost 32 degrees above zero..Yahoo Sweatshirt weather! Your photos are beautiful, I didn’t know about the Vaseline..we used to have chickens when I was growing up and no one ever had waddle problems..and neither do the wild turkeys in the woods.
I am looking forward to spring
Date: January 27, 2011
My dear, I would not change places with you for a moment! It is very beautiful but I am quite content to enjoy your photography and read about your adventures from the much more acceptable temperatures of northern California where, if it gets down to 45 degrees, we are having a real cold spell!
Date: January 28, 2011