Arizona Chickens

[countrygirl74]

Hmmm... that's funny cuz my EE's are doing great! One of them just roams around fine and the other is too although she does spend a lot of her time standing in the terra cotta planter tray. The ones I see that are visibly panting the most and holding their wings out are my RIR and my Cochin. On the hottest day recently, a couple girls took a break from laying but they are already all back to it, even the EE.

It's nice to come on here and focus on something else besides the fire... had a headache today from random crying. I posted some of my favorite photos of Wade (one of the youngest hot shots that was lost) on my Facebook page and that made me feel better, remembering his contagious smile.

My husband had to photograph the memorial service at ERAU with all the congressmen, governor, etc. He came home crying, mostly because he saw Wade's little brother and it was so hard to see him so distraught. All the firefighters that could get away to be there were crying and holding each other - It was just heartbreaking... Too close to home...

 

[maryhysong]

You know, it seems the breed to die from the heat the most are the Easter Eggers. I'm hoping my four Ameraucana do not fall in to that less-hardy category. They seem to be doing well so far, but they are younger and not nearly as feathered as a grown adult.

Well I have a variety of birds; I had 8 EE girls and right through Fri they were all laying almost every day with no sign of problems until Sat. Since then they are laying half as much. I have 4 BOxBR girls and 3 pure BO and as soon as the heat was over 100 every day egg laying dropped to 2 or 3 a day. I have 8 Welsummer and Wellie/leghorn crosses and those girls have been holding pretty steady at about 6 a day.

I think it might just depend on the individual bird. I figured the BO would have the hardest time with the heat since they are fluffier than the rest, but maybe the fluff helps insulate them from the heat. I have chicks from the girl that died so I will be watching them next summer for any issues. I know it could have just been a fluke but could also be genetic so I may not carry that line any further. I am trying to breed for hardiness in my climate. I don't want to breed birds that need a lot of pampering or extraordinary measures to stay alive or to be productive. I will do simple things like wetting down pens and shallow pans of water. And with this extreme heat I've started putting out some ice for those in the hotter pens that don't have as much shade. But I am not willing to do fans and stuff. Now if it was 120+ here I would consider do a bit more.

 

[City farm]

My daughter works at Cutter. This was their sign. She said people who flew with their dogs were making them walk on the tarmac and the owners refused to listen to her about how hot the ground was for their pet. The dogs were jumping as their pads were burning. I said to tell the owners to take their shoes off and walk on the hot tarmac!

Unbelievable.... I do think they use a laser thermometer ?? 187' is scolding...

 

[countrygirl74]

Anyone need a good laugh today?
http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=EADC17C55558EC771C29B1DCA1C1EC92

 

[Arizona Son]

Hi all, got a quick question here. I have a Cuckoo Marans hen that recently started laying, even in this ridiculous heat. Anyway, her eggs are TINY, like smaller than my bantam Cochins eggs! I know that typically a pullets first few eggs are soft shelled, or oddly shaped, etc. But this has been going on for over 2 weeks now. She lays almost every day but always these super small eggs. I never heard of half size eggs on a continual basis from a LF breed. Could this be a side effect of the summer heat? Anybody have any light to shed on this matter?


Did anybody else in the Tucson area get clobbered by those high winds & dust storm? I took some moderately heavy damage out here at my place, including some storm related chicken deaths from a gate blowing over & falling on & partially crushing one of my coops. Lost my oldest Ameraucana hen

The wind got under my carport & mangled that too, lucky me! Neighbor has a mini weather station & recorded winds of 69 miles per hour, which is just beneath hurricane strength! Branches ripped off of trees, shade cloths all messed up & ripped & twisted. What a mess

 

[Arizona Son]

Anyone need a good laugh today?
http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=EADC17C55558EC771C29B1DCA1C1EC92

ROTFFLMFAO!

Gateway livestock, hahahahahaha!

that was great!

 

[pipemum]

Sorry to hear about the chicken deaths, Arizona Son. My house made it through fine, but a bunch of neighbors had uprooted trees, knocked down fences, and powerpoles were down all over the place.

 

[parentwarrior]

I have been lucky. My shade, misters and fans blowing through the mist are working great for this high heat. I have yet to see them pant even. They look comfortable. The floor of their pen is a muddy mess under the misters but they do not seem to mind.
Kris

 

[desertmarcy]

Did anybody else in the Tucson area get clobbered by those high winds & dust storm? I took some moderately heavy damage out here at my place, including some storm related chicken deaths from a gate blowing over & falling on & partially crushing one of my coops. Lost my oldest Ameraucana hen

The wind got under my carport & mangled that too, lucky me! Neighbor has a mini weather station & recorded winds of 69 miles per hour, which is just beneath hurricane strength! Branches ripped off of trees, shade cloths all messed up & ripped & twisted. What a mess

Sorry about the damage, hard to do clean up and repair when it is so hot. All calm over at Ina & Silverbell as far as I can tell.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Anyone need a good laugh today?
http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=EADC17C55558EC771C29B1DCA1C1EC92

Countrygirl - LOVE your avatar! Wishing there was something that could be done to support everyone who is hurting right now. We lived in NY when 9/11 happened. Our town lost 30 members. It's just devastating to lose key members of the community such as your area has. The healing is slow and steady and one day, someone laughs and that makes it OK for others to do the same when they are ready. Hugs to you and yours

The link was great! I thought she was telling my story!