Yep, the dog days of summer are here - HOT!
What do you do to help keep your flocks cool in this weather?
Mine free-range so have plenty of access to shade and cool dirt, the ones penned up all have the same in their giant runs. I put out bowls of fresh cold water and offer them treats of fresh fruit, but mostly that's all I can do.
I don't trust fans in the coops, too scared of a fire risk :-/
They pant, they hold their wings off their body and mutter but so far
knock on wood, everyone's still accounted for...
knock on wood, everyone's still accounted for...
Miss Daisy, my latest white leghorn addition:
She's 6 months old and lays like a dream :-)
Lucky she's white, it's my big fat black hens that are suffering
through this summer - although they are all affected.
At least it's not freezing!
5 comments:
I leave the hose on a slow constant run, it creates a puddle in the dirt, and the chickens love it. They stand there for hours, lay in the cool dirt around the puddle, and drink fresh water all day. I think wading in the little puddles cools off their feet and maybe their bodies at the same time?
Miss Daisy is a beauty! My birds are hot too but seem to be doing ok so far. It hasn't been too hot here.
I know it's really hot here in California. Sounds like they are doing pretty good. How sweet to give them water and fruit. I agree with you on the fan.
elle suis tres jolie!
Glad it's not so hot anymore.. around our parts! But, for a while there it was awful! What a beautiful hen, we no longer have any leghorns and want more soon!
The Chicken Keepers
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