So my broody was all squashed out over her 4 little eggs. Sooooo...I gave her 5 more. She seems to be covering them all. I don't expect all of them to hatch, and I already have a home for 2. I'll see what we have in 21 days, or so.
Arizona Chickens
- Thread starter paynemom
- Start date
I just realized that the chicks are due the same day my baby is due!
I pee in my backyard all the time
Ditto there. Sometimes, when you're out there, it's just so much more work to get inside. During summer, this is especially common when we're swimming. With up to eight kids in the pool, between my two and my six younger siblings... Yeah, we may have tile, but that's a lot of water being tracked inside. Besides, my best growing oleander is my watering hole of choice...
I dont hesitate to water my compost pile as well when I'm working in the backyard.....but saving your nectar and pouring a circle around your yard every couple of days is another thing. I guess if your far enough away from any neighbors do whatever works.
Congratulations! I don't recall hearing you are expecting. That's exciting, but they sure grow up quick. The 11th is my baby's one-year birthday. It seems like just yesterday, she was doing nothing but nursing, pooping and sleeping, in no particular order! Now, she's walking, climbing stairs, crawling up the slide and causing general mayhem anywhere she goes. I don't know if it is just the timing for when we got our chicks, but the baby and all of our chickens seem to have an extra special bond. They love her as much as she loves them. It's been exciting watching them grow together.
Too cool! Do you go to the hospital or have them at home - if you have them at home you could have your midwife pull double-duty - LOL
Thought I would share this great summer heat info from SpikesChooks who lives in Australia - definitely helpful ideas for us Arizonans!
I have become quite adept at this problem as Australia suffered serious heat waves here during my very first summer of keeping chickens. (mostly around 30C/90F, but several days got to 44C/112F). It's a relief in many ways we are now cooling into a mild autumn. Here's my top tips:
Shade is really important. If you don't have any tree or natural shade areas, try sails or tarps to keep the sun off them from the hottest direction. It is best to have a gap betwwen the shade and their run/coop, which could hold the heat in otherwise. Some people put short pieces of timber up to prop the shade away from the run. Or try a freestanding shade structure.
Keep their water in the coolest, shadiest part, and have several containers. Freeze large drink bottles of water and lay then in the containers (last a lot longer than ice cubes). Replace with new ones through the hottest part of the day. Replace any water that has got warm - they won't drink it, even if they are dehydrating and close to death, apparently.
Freeze protions of fruit and veg and give them that as a cold treat. I use grated carrot, zucchini, applesauce, watermelon chunks. Give it to them still frozen - they'll be curious and take a little, then eat more as it begins to thaw.
Cut down on corn as you enter late spring - I have heard this several times, as it tends to give them more fat in their body, which is what gives them potentially fatal heat stress.
Hose down their run, coop, surrounding area. Better still, install an overhead mister. I found one 4 metres long, enough for running down the centre of the roof in their run, which cost about $90. (about $94 US dollars). It uses 1 litre of water an hour, which is good, I think. During the heat wave it was on for at least 8 hours. And, yes, once they got used to the slight hissing noise, they deliberately came out and stood under it.
You can hose them, but better to just wet their feet and lower bodies, especially if they are panting heavily and showing signs of stress.
Contain them. I felt sorry for them one day - they hate missing their free-range afternoon - and let them out. They still ran around chasing each other's bugs and quickly began panting heavily. Back into the run for a misting, girls!!!
It sure kept me busy this summer - and I'm lucky I mostly work from home and I also only have four chickens to look after. I am a member of an Aussie facebook chicken group and lots of people had deaths this year from heat stress. So sad
Interestingly, I found the breeds varied as their heat tolerance. The Australorp handled it the best - they are just one tough chook as they are very cold tolerant too. My RIR suffered the worst through the heat and I kept a closer eye on her.
I only did all these things during the very worst heat waves - mostly shade, replacement cold water and keeping an eye on them should suffice. When you start complaining about the heat, I'll be moaning about the cold. Funny old world, huh?!?
I have become quite adept at this problem as Australia suffered serious heat waves here during my very first summer of keeping chickens. (mostly around 30C/90F, but several days got to 44C/112F). It's a relief in many ways we are now cooling into a mild autumn. Here's my top tips:
Shade is really important. If you don't have any tree or natural shade areas, try sails or tarps to keep the sun off them from the hottest direction. It is best to have a gap betwwen the shade and their run/coop, which could hold the heat in otherwise. Some people put short pieces of timber up to prop the shade away from the run. Or try a freestanding shade structure.
Keep their water in the coolest, shadiest part, and have several containers. Freeze large drink bottles of water and lay then in the containers (last a lot longer than ice cubes). Replace with new ones through the hottest part of the day. Replace any water that has got warm - they won't drink it, even if they are dehydrating and close to death, apparently.
Freeze protions of fruit and veg and give them that as a cold treat. I use grated carrot, zucchini, applesauce, watermelon chunks. Give it to them still frozen - they'll be curious and take a little, then eat more as it begins to thaw.
Cut down on corn as you enter late spring - I have heard this several times, as it tends to give them more fat in their body, which is what gives them potentially fatal heat stress.
Hose down their run, coop, surrounding area. Better still, install an overhead mister. I found one 4 metres long, enough for running down the centre of the roof in their run, which cost about $90. (about $94 US dollars). It uses 1 litre of water an hour, which is good, I think. During the heat wave it was on for at least 8 hours. And, yes, once they got used to the slight hissing noise, they deliberately came out and stood under it.
You can hose them, but better to just wet their feet and lower bodies, especially if they are panting heavily and showing signs of stress.
Contain them. I felt sorry for them one day - they hate missing their free-range afternoon - and let them out. They still ran around chasing each other's bugs and quickly began panting heavily. Back into the run for a misting, girls!!!
It sure kept me busy this summer - and I'm lucky I mostly work from home and I also only have four chickens to look after. I am a member of an Aussie facebook chicken group and lots of people had deaths this year from heat stress. So sad
Interestingly, I found the breeds varied as their heat tolerance. The Australorp handled it the best - they are just one tough chook as they are very cold tolerant too. My RIR suffered the worst through the heat and I kept a closer eye on her.
I only did all these things during the very worst heat waves - mostly shade, replacement cold water and keeping an eye on them should suffice. When you start complaining about the heat, I'll be moaning about the cold. Funny old world, huh?!?
Oh very nice to hear.. We have been very blessed that our neighbors are ok with our rooster Kent..
We have anther neighbor that is getting 8 of our baby chicks. I think they will be ok with a rooster as well..
Hey I would love her number.. I have a friend that goes up there just about every other week.. I will PM you..
Wow that is great.. Can't wait to hear about them... What breed?
What!?!? You mean you're not keeping track?? This is #6. I have 4 boys and 1 girl. Oldest is 7. I totally know what you're talking about with the 'mayhem'! And I think it's awesome that kids grow up with animals!
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