All Set For Another Scorcher Here Today

[Australorp Fan]

Has anyone tried feeding a higher protein ration in hot weather? I've read cutting back on carbs helps out layers in the heat and the higher protein helps keep up egg production.
Thanks

 

[HHandbasket]

Yes, I'm giving my girls lots of extra protein in the cool mornings. This morning it was scrambled eggs, mealworms, and 2 big, juicy earthworms. They enjoy eating treats from my hands, but they don't want to be picked up and held. That's ok. I have a folding chair I've started taking out there and sitting in the henhouse, and they come and sit around me and see what I'm doing and peck around me for treats (which I invariably always have, of course).

Sooner or later, I'm sure they'll get up on my lap on their own, or at least some of them will. We're going to all be living together a very looooooonnng time, so I can be patient.

 

[Morgan7782]

I.. Am.. About.. To.. MELT. It is 9am here in Sacramento and 83 degrees already!!!! ::dies from heat stroke::

I've already wet the yard and patio for my outside girls. Cleaned the brooder and put fresh shavings in with the inside chickies. Everybody is hot. My mom refuses to turn on the a/c until 1 or 2pm, so I am making the hose worth it's money!! Joon and Munk are walking around the wet concrete, enjoying the coolness of their wittle feetsies

hot hot hot here in Sacramento, whew!

 

[HHandbasket]

Girrrrl, I hear ya! I was out giving my chooks their morning proteins, and I've got some yummy melon, some cucumber, and some lettuce greens I picked from the garden chilling in the fridge. They seem to do better when I bring them cool, crisp veggie treats in the afternoon. My birds are all outside (well, in the coop/hen). They are in shade for most of the day, but there is about an hour or so in the afternoons that gets pretty hot on that part of the yard... couldn't be avoided, though we are thinking of adding roll-down bamboo shades to the sides of the run that face the afternoon sun.

Supposed to be 98 here today. Mmmm. I love it. My chickens, though, they don't love it so much. None of my animals do.

BTW, I'm about to "fire" my cat... she laid there on the back walk and watched 2 mice zip past her. There's an empty property next to us & there are a lot of mice that come into our yard from there. We have considered getting a 3rd cat, since #1 and #2 are laying down on the job.

 

[gryeyes]

Oh I'm right here with ya. 103 yesterday - I about died! I came from the Central Coast and this kills me. I look at my girls and feel so sorry for them.

It's supposed to be 100 today but that was the forecast yesterday and it hit 103 here in W. Sac. I'm on a well, here, so I also worry about wasting water....(but obviously not as much as my land-lady does! - She's not happy about the stock tank for the duck pool.) Since I'm on a couple of extra days off, maybe I won't shower tonight to make up for some extra yard watering JUST for the chickens. (Obviously I have no plans to go anywhere without showering for a couple of days!!!)

 

[barredrockgrl]

I think the entire country is getting it. Record highs in Southern NJ as well. It was 99 here yesterday, and 96 here right now. I've been freezing water bottles and putting the large ice blocks in their water. Poor girls. Funny thing is, we had record snowfall all winter. We're normally moderate in winter/summer compared to most places. UGH!

 

[Morgan7782]

Quote:
Yep! I am from SF bay area lol, biiiiiig difference! And absolutely about the not showering, I would probably do the same thing heh. I have the hose on a dribble on my strawberry patch and the girls are laying there right now. I also have a few bottles freezing in the freezer! I am lucky that my yard has shade throughout the day and lots of it! The girl's favorite thing to do is perch in the orange tree, guess it's cooler there lol. They are free in the yard from about 8am to 8pm, there is always somebody home here. My younger girls are happy inside lol, but they are getting cabin fever a bit being in the brooder tub. I feel bad because they went from a large coop and run to being kept in the house for quarantine, at least they have the joy of air conditioning though!

I will have to try the cut up fridgetator cucumber, we have a fresh one from the garden I will cut up. Hopefully they will enjoy that! I am also looking into getting a cheap misting system set up, hhopefully that will pan out!

stay cool all!!

The one thing good about Sacramento is I don't notice real bad humidity. For that I am grateful!! Rather have dry triple digits then human 90's.

 

[PriceFamilyFarms]

It's 95 outside right now with the heat index of 101. I'm cooked! The birds are all doing OK though. They got a tons of carrots, celery, cucumber cantaloupe and watermelon left over from a baby shower my wife hosted yesterday. I took all the leftovers and tossed them in the deep freeze last night and have been taking it out little by little and giving it to the flock.

The ducks are relaxing in their new mini ponds and have the misters going. Yesterday I let them all free range and at one point they climbed on the deck and hit the swimming pool...silly ducks!!

I just do what I can and then come in the office to cool off with the AC for a bit while I check emails. I really hope it's not going to be like this the whole summer!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I am so looking forward to the 82* that they are calling for on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Tony, you said ya'll had the bad storm and hail and all the other day...Your what an hour from me? And guess what? We haven't had any rain except a couple few minute drizzly showers in 2+ weeks...All these storms hit Durham, Greensboro, Henderson, and even ROXBORO which is 15 minutes away from me- but right here on the VA line we haven't seen rain in over 2 weeks...get thunder and lightening! but no rain! Its nuts - my yard is half dead! I don't have to mow it this week atleast!

I can't wait till tomorrow's 82 as well Chook A Holic