Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Fancychooklady]

Morning, it's a beautiful day here. Teila you would be surprised at what they scratch up . Mine dig up all manner of glass and old marbles from the neck of old bottles.
One of my silkies swallowed a mane hair from the Shetland. It would have been 30-40 cm long . I tried to retrieve it but the part that she had swallowed had already entered the gizzard . All I could do was cut it as close to the beak as possible. That was several months ago and she is happily brooding Sussex eggs for me ATM.

 

[Fizzybelle]

Go Agnes!!! Congrats

I agree on the Brizzi storm - it just made it more humid. Are you northside too.

My Silkie laid every day that she was not clucky, summer and winter. To be completely honest she missed a couple of days in winter but never two in a row.

Did you know dunking in water is one way to break a clucky. Are you dunking a Silkie? That could be risky.

I'm on the east side if Brisbane Are you getting that nice strong wind on your side today? it's fantastic, really helping keep things cool.

I was aware of the dunking thing as a way to break a broody, but I will be more mindful of that though if it's risky to anyone. I had an instance of heatstroke despite all my preventative measures and am eager to not have it happen again. I have the bucket there in case of extreme heat and circumstances. Everyone's fine today though, just been hosing the grass under the trees where they're foraging. If anyone gets really hot and is panting too much I think I'll bring them upstairs in the kitchen for a while where it's cool.

Oh and this little terror is three months old today!




Beatrice still has a fair bit of growing to do but has settled in with the others finally, it took some time but we got there

 

[Anniebee]

Go Agnes!!! Congrats

I agree on the Brizzi storm - it just made it more humid. Are you northside too.

My Silkie laid every day that she was not clucky, summer and winter. To be completely honest she missed a couple of days in winter but never two in a row.

Did you know dunking in water is one way to break a clucky. Are you dunking a Silkie? That could be risky.

Fizzybelle -

I agree with MyHaven.

Dunking a Silkie could be risky, for several reasons. The main risk I would see ( and perhaps this is what MyHaven is referring to ) .... Silkies don't dry off the way other chickens with slick feathers do. Even a hot breeze, blowing through her down ( Silkies have downy fluffy feathers as you know - and can be fragile because of those ) ... might cause her skin to become cool - and saturated, which would not be a good thing at all. Their skin is ultra thin, and if they get wet for prolonged periods of time, it can result in a lot of respiratory troubles - not something they come back from too easily. My little Silkie Moppitt ( my avatar ) succumbed to just that - after a storm and a coop that leaked which I was totally unaware of , and therefore saturated her. She developed at first the respiratory troubles, on anti-biotics, but it turned quickly to pneumonia and I had to have her put to sleep. She was too weak by that stage to have any chance of recuperation.

Have always said, if ever I have any more Silkies, they will be kept indoors - and allowed out to free range on only the warmest of days - all seasons. And NEVER on a wet day. I wish I'd known then, what I know now.

Congrats to Agnes on her egg ... that's good news.

Cheers .........

 

[Anniebee]

I'm on the east side if Brisbane Are you getting that nice strong wind on your side today? it's fantastic, really helping keep things cool.

I was aware of the dunking thing as a way to break a broody, but I will be more mindful of that though if it's risky to anyone. I had an instance of heatstroke despite all my preventative measures and am eager to not have it happen again. I have the bucket there in case of extreme heat and circumstances. Everyone's fine today though, just been hosing the grass under the trees where they're foraging. If anyone gets really hot and is panting too much I think I'll bring them upstairs in the kitchen for a while where it's cool.

Oh and this little terror is three months old today!




Beatrice still has a fair bit of growing to do but has settled in with the others finally, it took some time but we got there

Fizzybelle ....

Agnes is doing well - laying her little eggs. They will probably get a bit bigger as she goes along.

Good photo there of your 3 month old chicken.

I posted a response to MyHaven and would like to re-iterate here ( if I can ) the reason I believe it is risky to dunk in water, a Silkie. :

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I agree with MyHaven.

Dunking a Silkie could be risky, for several reasons. The main risk I would see ( and perhaps this is what MyHaven is referring to ) .... Silkies don't dry off the way other chickens with slick feathers do. Even a hot breeze, blowing through her down ( Silkies have downy fluffy feathers as you know - and can be fragile because of those ) ... might cause her skin to become cool - and saturated, which would not be a good thing at all. Their skin is ultra thin, and if they get wet for prolonged periods of time, it can result in a lot of respiratory troubles - not something they come back from too easily. My little Silkie Moppitt ( my avatar ) succumbed to just that - after a storm and a coop that leaked which I was totally unaware of , and therefore saturated her. She developed at first the respiratory troubles, on anti-biotics, but it turned quickly to pneumonia and I had to have her put to sleep. She was too weak by that stage to have any chance of recuperation.

Have always said, if ever I have any more Silkies, they will be kept indoors - and allowed out to free range on only the warmest of days - all seasons. And NEVER on a wet day. I wish I'd known then, what I know now.

Success ! - was able to copy and paste my comments on reply to MyHaven.

Anyway, good luck with it all ......

Cheers .......

 

[Anniebee]

I have one dorking out. Others are pipped and half zipped.



I'll post better pics when they are dry and fluffy.

I found this one in SA who's posts eggs. If that doesn't work I could get some for you and send them I go near that breeder next weekend.




Good luck

Congrats on the new little Dorking darling ... no doubt by the time you read this, the others will have appeared too ...

Looking forward to seeing them all fluffed up and gorgeous.

Cheers ......

 

[Anniebee]

To MullyAly ....

.... you will find a lot of friendly help and chat here .... it's a wonderful thread.

Cheers .......

 

[Fancychooklady]

I'm on the east side if Brisbane Are you getting that nice strong wind on your side today? it's fantastic, really helping keep things cool. I was aware of the dunking thing as a way to break a broody, but I will be more mindful of that though if it's risky to anyone. I had an instance of heatstroke despite all my preventative measures and am eager to not have it happen again. I have the bucket there in case of extreme heat and circumstances. Everyone's fine today though, just been hosing the grass under the trees where they're foraging. If anyone gets really hot and is panting too much I think I'll bring them upstairs in the kitchen for a while where it's cool. Oh and this little terror is three months old today! Beatrice still has a fair bit of growing to do but has settled in with the others finally, it took some time but we got there

It is also a good idea to keep electrolytes on hand in hot weather. I have no problem with dunking silkies in hot weather , they don't mind having the trees overhead sprayed with the hose either. Silkies however shouldn't be left at risk of being drenched to the bone in the colder months. They have no feather shaft and when wet they take a lot longer to dry off. http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-heat-stress-dehydration-and.html

 

[Fizzybelle]

Fancychooklady, that's an idea, spraying the trees too, though I risk spraying my neighbours deck. I do have some vetafarm spark liquid to add to water. They don't seem to mind the taste of that at all, I think it's sweet actually. Chilled watermelon is always a winner around midday, for them and myself.

I've only dunked them once the temperature hit 35 degrees, using cool tap water, and all were dry within half an hour. I'd never wet any of them in winter unless they seriously needed a bath, and then they'd get a full blow dry.

I appreciate the advice though Anniebee, as I know it comes from wanting the best for Aggie If she's panting badly, or any of them, I'll bring them upstairs where it's cool. The hosed grass though seems to be something they all really enjoy. They get moisture from the grass and it cools their feet. Fingers crossed the worst of summer is just about over for us and our chickens. Some of the heat waves going on around the country have been terrible.

The girls had some crickets as a treat today. Boy were they popular! Somehow I managed to make sure everyone got a couple.

 

[User395221]

Oh and this little terror is three months old today!

What type is Beatrice? She's pretty.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Fancychooklady, that's an idea, spraying the trees too, though I risk spraying my neighbours deck. I do have some vetafarm spark liquid to add to water. They don't seem to mind the taste of that at all, I think it's sweet actually. Chilled watermelon is always a winner around midday, for them and myself.  

I've only dunked them once the temperature hit 35 degrees, using cool tap water, and all were dry within half an hour. I'd never wet any of them in winter unless they seriously needed a bath, and then they'd get a full blow dry.

I appreciate the advice though Anniebee, as I know it comes from wanting the best for Aggie If she's panting badly, or any of them, I'll bring them upstairs where it's cool. The hosed grass though seems to be something they all really enjoy. They get moisture from the grass and it cools their feet. Fingers crossed the worst of summer is just about over for us and our chickens. Some of the heat waves going on around the country have been terrible.

The girls had some crickets as a treat today. Boy were they popular! Somehow I managed to make sure everyone got a couple.

The birds tend to acclimatise , here in tassie our birds suffer more because just as they are adjusting to the heat , it snows.
Frozen peas, corn or beans added to their water is also a cheap but effective way to cool them down.