Barnevelder breeders lets work together and improve the breed

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Wellies aren't 100% either, but it's fun to see how it works out!

 

[ruffledfeathers1234]

I was just wondering how everyone elses barnies are taking the heat. Mine havent been laying very good lately due to the near 100 degree temps here. And one has decided to go broody

Hopefully laying will pick back up soon and I will be able to make my broody give up and quit sitting.

 

[tls_ranch]

Mine do ok until they have to deal with extended periods of temps in the 100's. We're only in the mid to upper 90's right now and most are still laying. It's hard on just about any breed when temps hit 100 Barnies do love to cool off under water misters when the temps soar.

Trisha

 

[crazychicken]

Mine have just started laying,however, I am getting at least 2 eggs a day from 3 hens. I don't think we have hit triple digits yet though... I think the highest we have hit is 90 something.

 

[RachaelS]

We are at 103 today

However, none of mine are old enough, but poor guys are so hot, they LOVE frozen bottles of water to stand on

 

[tls_ranch]

When temps go over 100+ I turn on the mister and they'll hang out under it all day. If they get too wet they go and lay in the sun for a bit and go right back to the mister in the shade. I'm worried about my two "stupid" broody hens that won't quit. They are two of my best hens

and I don't want them sitting on the nest in temps in the 100's. I'm trying to break them because I really don't need any chicks either. I have two pullets that will be starting laying in just a few weeks and it'll be interesting to see how they handle the summer heat as new layers.


Here's some eye candy

I took some pics of my two blue cockerels. I need to get some good pics of their sister because she's going to be a looker. I also have a cool very, very dark blue pullet that looks black-laced when you first see her. I wonder how she'll look when she moults into her big girl feathers.

He's holding his wings a bit low in this picture.

This is the second cockerel. I don't like his color as much, but he has a shorter back.

Here's one of my "momma" hens and some of the 30 chicks they hatched out. The two hens share the chicks, but for the most part the chicks stay with the hen who hatched them.

 

[Happy Chooks]

That first boy is stunning Trisha!

I spent part of the day yesterday, just sitting in the coop, watching the boys. My favorite boy (one of yours Trisha) was laying down snoozing. One of the pullets came up and laid down next to him, then she started pecking at his beak. He just laid there, with his eyes closed, letting her do it.

Here he was a couple weeks ago.

 

[tls_ranch]

He's a looker Kelly I like his tail set and he's nice and dark too.

Trisha

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks for your thoughts on him Trisha. I'm going to keep 2 roosters. I'm going to have a hard time on deciding the second one to keep.

 

[ruffledfeathers1234]

Trisha thanks for the advice about misting them with water. They really enjoyed it when it got hot. I didn't know that a chicken liked to get wet because they usually run when I'm around with the waterhose.