We had the coldest night of the winter last night (-6C according to the thermometer in the greenhouse). The ice on the pond is so thick that an attempt to smash a hole in it for the birds to drink from resulted in the stone used as an implement breaking and the ice remaining solid! Just as a test, I, Susan, stood on the ice and it took my weight.
Frozen pond with gash made trying to break the ice
We’ve put a saucer of water out for the birds today, along with some seeds. Despite it still being -1C at 10:45 blue tits are pecking at the entrance hole to the bird box, this usually means that they will move in soon. It seems way too early for nest building, perhaps they just want somewhere warm to snuggle up.
thanks for the reminder I must get my bird boxes up. Norfolk being on the East coast gets the coldest weather whilst her in Devon on the West coast we supposedly get the warmest. It certainly does not feel like it at the moment
I know what you mean it is SO cold. Over here in France we were minus 11 last night with a wind chill of minus 16, we’ve had to put out lots more fat balls for the birds as they had started trying to nibble the seeds in the chicken coop. Our pond is also totally frozen too , today my husband, dad and two border collies skated across it with not a single sign of a crack!
Our chickens are having their water filled up 3 to 4 times a day as it freezes within a couple of hours. More snow fell this morning, and apparently more tomorrow, and more next week. I have just looked at the long range forecast, and we don’t peak above freezing until next weekend (if we are lucky)!