Arizona Chickens

[parentwarrior]

We put our little chicks out about 1 1/2 weeks ago they are doing really good we went out and purchased a self standing mister ($10 Lowes)and when I get home from work at 4 I turn it on. As soon as the mist hits them they start to scratch and play. I did have to bring the chicks in last night because they are still sleeping on the ground thy were soaked. I wish they would start to roost that would have prevented them from getting wet

I have a portable mister, they work great. I have my box fan blowing through the mister droplets. It distributes the mist and makes the air cooler around it. My guys were comfortable at 115. If it really heats up I add a block of ice in front of the fan too. I found that if I freeze ice in a plastic Tupperware type container and pop it out, it lasts longer than ice frozen in a plastic bottle. I wonder if the plastic heating up melts the ice quicker. A night I angle the fan up to where they sleep. If it is really hot, sometimes I leave the mister angled on them then too until I go to bed at 11 and it cools off a bit.

 

[pdx2phx]

Quote:
wow...cool photo!! Sorry about the bad mechanic experience...I hate dealing with that stuff.

 

[udubchick]

With chickens, a pool and a koi pond, we've had some unfortunate accidents along the way. I just wanted to add a little on this as we've (unfortunately) got some experience with chickens & water...

We've saved some that fell in right in front of us (some float and some sink immediately), and we've saved some that had been in the water for a while. If they don't panic and sink, I think the cold can get them sometimes before drowning does. We have had some that aspirated (a little) and drank pool water too, and they have thankfully all have recovered. Some were definitely worse off than others in terms of body temperature and water aspirated.

What's worked for us has been using gravity/very light massage to drain out as much water as possible out of the crop and lungs (upside down for a couple of seconds at a time - not continuously though) grab towels, my multi speed hairdryer and a hot pad, and plan to sit on the bathroom floor for a while drying/warming her up.

I absorb as much water as possible with the towels, and use the warm setting with low speed on the hairdryer, or higher heat/low speed for drying feathers/warming faster but be sure to protect her skin from the intense heat. If she's cold I massage constantly to keep blood flowing as I'm warming her up...legs, under wings, chest, etc.

The worst one I had was one of my tiny slender Modern Games. I didn't think she'd make it as her head/neck was flopping down onto her chest and lolling back and forth, eyes squeezed shut, and she kept stretching her legs out straight behind her. She was extremely cold. Even after she was bone dry she was still very cold....I warmed her for at least an hour with the hair dryer and massaged her the whole time. Once she was dry and able to hold her head up on her own, and legs underneath her I just sat on the couch with the hot pad under some towels underneath her for another hour or so and she was finally able to rest a little. We kept her inside for a day or so since she had been so far gone, but usually we've been able to put them back outside once they're dry and warm, also figuring that the relatively low humidity outside would be good for her.

If they're cold don't let them go to sleep (think hypothermia treatment)....think constant mild annoyance with the massage. I've had one or two of them peck and "swear" at me in Chickenese when I've been treating for cold because I wouldn't leave them alone long enough to just stretch out and fall asleep (die).

I welcome the attitude as to me that's a good sign!

Great info! Thanks for sharing. I'll keep this in mind in case I have an incident like this....and I'l definitely be protecting my girls from the irrigation ditch after all the feedback. Thanks everyone!

 

[Litolbear]

We also do the ice and fan during the day if it's to hot. I freeze old gallon milk containers and then wash them off and refreeze them I have my daughter place one in there cage around noon sometimes they will sit on them.

 

[Di Gibbs]

We bought soup from costco that came in these reusable black lidded bowls, and they are probably three cups of water. I freeze these and then put just the frozen ice bowl shape in with the girls, they each get their own and they stand on it and lay around it and as it melts into the dirt it cools the dirt. I also add ice cubes to their water. You can see some fun they had with it here:
http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/stampin_with_di/2012/06/got-ice.html


Hugs & Pecks,
Di

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/grd/3219159208.html


Saw this today. Very cute.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

 

[Demosthine]

I want to send a great big THANK YOU out to AzBootsie for allowing me to come out yesterday and help process one of her roosters. I only watched, mostly, because we didn't have time to do more than one. I got a late start because my four-month old decided to wake up and eat late. Then I had to leave earlier than expected because I took my little sister with and she had to be to her piano lesson that afternoon. But it was still a great experience and I learned a lot. I am a very visual person and just watching her gives me plenty of confidence to do it on my own.

Thanks Bootsie. I look forward to helping more next time!

Everyone on this Forum has been truly wonderful and such a help.

 

[City farm]

We put our little chicks out about 1 1/2 weeks ago they are doing really good we went out and purchased a self standing mister ($10 Lowes)and when I get home from work at 4 I turn it on. As soon as the mist hits them they start to scratch and play. I did have to bring the chicks in last night because they are still sleeping on the ground thy were soaked. I wish they would start to roost that would have prevented them from getting wet

. Our girls are 6 weeks old.
We have the "A" frame and our girls will not go upstairs into
the penthouse to sleep yet....
They go on the ladder to play and upstairs to see what is going
on... NOTHING..
So yours are fine.. However them being soaking wet... Awhee..
I bet they love it this time of year.. Or not...

 

[AZBootsie]

I want to send a great big THANK YOU out to AzBootsie for allowing me to come out yesterday and help process one of her roosters. I only watched, mostly, because we didn't have time to do more than one. I got a late start because my four-month old decided to wake up and eat late. Then I had to leave earlier than expected because I took my little sister with and she had to be to her piano lesson that afternoon. But it was still a great experience and I learned a lot. I am a very visual person and just watching her gives me plenty of confidence to do it on my own.

Thanks Bootsie. I look forward to helping more next time!

Everyone on this Forum has been truly wonderful and such a help.

You are welcome any time!! Nick felt silly that he had insisted on being home when you came out....since you are sooo nice and showed up with children. You all should see Demosthine's Baby. Beautiful!! Davan loved meeting your little sister. They exchanged numbers, so mayber there is a friendship starting there.

It is a little easier to do the roosters, when they haven't pigged out all morning. Next time I will be more prepared...cage the ones we plan on doing...withhold breakfast etc.

Thank you for making the drive out. It was great to meet you!!