104 today. The chooks like the frozen watermelon. Thanks for the tip Trisha. I'll bet it's hotter where you live. We are waiting for the cool ocean breezes to make their way over the mountains. Layers seem to be ok. Pullets and young cockerals are panting hard. I just wet down their pen again. Any other hints for hot weather?
Yeah, It's going to be a scorcher up here
I heard 105 to108 for at least the next week. I have water misters going most of the day. The birds absolutely love the misters, but the water is horrible for their feather condition. My blue roo looks like he got doused in peroxide (bleached from the sun) and stuck his beak in a power outlet (feathers are frayed from the water). I'm not kidding...he loves the misters and it doesn't help that the water pools on his wide back and the hens use his back as a drinking fountain.
The birds that love to stand under the misters for long periods have feathers that are all separated like they've lost all the oil to them. Many of them are starting too look like the blue roo. Oh well, at least it keeps them comfortable. If I could let them free range there wouldn't be a problem, but stuck in a dry pen during the heat of the day is just too hot when it gets to 105+. My broody hen and chicks are the lucky ones and they are enjoying free ranging with the cool dirt and grass all day long. They hardly pant at all.
Oh, I'm still getting quite a few eggs from my hens, I'm so proud of some of them as several of them have been laying non-stop since fall. Most of the ones that aren't laying are either broody, raising chicks or coming back from being broody. I just hope none decide to crowd in a nest box and overheat trying to lay eggs.
I have tons of frozen veggies from the garden like overripe tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and cucumbers to feed them. That also helps to keep them cool.
Trisha
