Winter Descends with Windchills at -50 degrees F

    Winter has taken time to settle in.  It rained and gave above average warm temperatures when it should have given frost and snow instead.  The warmer start to the season was easier on the birds, but not a good sign for when winter actually came.  The extremes in weather and the changes in the seasons are not good. 
    We went from lots of rain and unseasonably warm temperatures to a lot of snow and extremely cold temperatures forced down from the switch in arctic air flow caused by the rapid warming and melting of our polar ice cap.  As the decades have rolled by the changes in our climate are more obvious than ever.  Being an avid urban farmer - in the past a rural farmer - the weather is part of daily life.  The changes are noted, and the unpredictability troubling.  It's becoming harder to grow and raise things as their climate is changing.  Having feathered friends in my backyard with unpredictable weather has posed challenging in its own way. 
    Recently my hens have endured and have triumphed two very cold days.  -25 degrees F without the windchill.  -50 degrees F with the windchill.  Having just the three birds I was troubled that this cold might be too much for one or all of them.  But they are very hardy birds, and the rotation of fresh water, thawed out food, and warm oatmeal/pea/romaine mash helped fill them with calories to help stay warm.  Providing adequate shelter from the wind made a huge difference as well.  I was lucky enough to have off work due to the cold to provide the rotation in water needed.  I don't think they could endure a week or weeks of this extreme cold without a heated shelter, but they can get through a few days by sleeping, huddling, and relying on their stored fats.  They are amazing at handling the winter weather. 

Warmer weather kept grass exposed for a long time.  Lots of rain
and freezing rain.  Seemed more like a rainy tundra.  

A dusting of snow came, but melted right away.  

Some snow cover.

First significant snow.

First significant snowfall happened December 31st.  Then
it all melted due to above normal temperatures in January. 

Another snowfall happened the end of January just in time to
blanket and insulate the barren ground from cold temperatures.  

-20 degrees F windchill is fairly more normal for our area. 
Ducks don't mind it much.  They crust over with ice and huddle up.

Oat and peas in warm water mash for calorie intake boost.  

-50 degrees F with the windchill.  -26 degrees F without windchill. 
Ducks would not leave their coop - which is good - they were smart
to stay protected from the blowing icy wind and frigid temperatures. 

The sun beating down on the birds helps significantly during
the day to help keep their body temperature up.  They lay in the sun in
a bundle of feathers and only get  up when brought thawed water and
calorie mash.  It is -46 with the windchill even with the sun shining.