California - Northern

[debs_flock]

Really, does a newbie with 15 (5 day young) chicks need to have lights on these chicks in this heat? Need some help here. I've got a fan on them seem pretty comfy, drinking two quarts of water a day. Its pretty HOT HOT HOT in the shop I've got a fan on them. Is that alright?

It depends on the temperature of the room they are living in, not how hot it is outside. My babies live in the house and I am a prima donna, I keep my A/C at 75 degrees. If they are in a shop that is the same or close to the outside temp of 95-100, they will be fine during the day without any kind of heat, but as Kelly said, they need something to maintain overnight.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Looking for another picture and found this one. It isn't helping much.

Beautiful!

Well it cooled off here overnight to 81 degrees lol. Can't believe it can be that temp at 5:30 am.

It "cooled" down to that here as well. We rarely ever sleep with the A/C on, but we did last night. Just miserable. 104 degrees here yesterday. Supposed to get down into the 90's on Thursday. I can't wait.

and of course mr. bobcat decided to amble past the chicken pens again this morning -- he can't get in, but he likes to visit, apparently -- totally freaking the flock out and making it even more impossible to sleep.

Be careful thinking the bobcat can't get in. They are very sneaky animals. Is your run completely covered with wire? Bobcats can climb a fence easy.

 

[lawatt]

Be careful thinking the bobcat can't get in. They are very sneaky animals. Is your run completely covered with wire? Bobcats can climb a fence easy.

both of the coops are completely encased in hardware cloth, including a skirt around the perimeter to deter burrowing animals, and both have panel roofs. i've seen the bobcat visit numerous times, always in the very early morning, but if he CAN get in, he's certainly biding his time -- the main coop has been there for a year now and no predators have gotten in.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: I hope you are right an he cannot get in.

 

[lawatt]

I hope you are right an he cannot get in.

i live in an area with a LOT of predators, so we built the coop specifically with them in mind -- i take them very seriously, and decided it was worth the investment to do everything i could to protect the flock. so while nothing is absolutely 100%, like i said, i'm pretty sure if he COULD get in, he already would have done so -- he's clearly a local resident, and my meadow is on his usual route. he (or she, i don't actually know the gender) has very long legs! and since he seems to visit mostly in the early dawn, around 5-5:30, i don't let the chickens (or the cats) out to free-range until later in the morning at the earliest.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I don't need a goat... but we do keep hoping we can find enough space for a mini cow... (do you think Sunnyvale will allow one?

)

Dexters can live on a half acre. I have a cutie pie heifer who is smaller than I prefer, that I have decided not to keep.

I don't NEED a goat either, but I want one. But I won't be getting one, as we go out of town fairly frequently. Too much trouble to get someone to come milk for you while you are gone.

If you don't wean the babies, you can share milk. Separate them for the day or night when you want the milk. Leave them with the mom when you want them to do the milking. I've always done it this way with my cows.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote: Has anyone tried making their own with supplies from the hardware store or garden center? We do our own drip systems so I'm going to use the 1/2" tubing and add the brass fittings. I'll cap off the ends and at the hose connectors, that way I could make them to the exact size that I want need and ad a timer. Right now I have one of those snake ones, positioned where all the coop and or runs, come together. It's not very efficient because it's just two misters on it. Now to find the time to do it.

Quote: We're going to Fort Brag for a week in August. We usually go 2-3 x's a year but with my back surgeries we haven't gone for two years. I need an ocean fix like crazy!

Well it cooled off here overnight to 81 degrees lol. Can't believe it can be that temp at 5:30 am.

I put our a/c up to 85 instead of turning it off. I couldn't believe when I heard it kick ON in the middle of the night!

Quote: I'm with you Deb, I set mine at 76!

 

[OR4-hmom]

Pam, we are thinking alike. We have the 1/2" blueline in most of our raised beds. There is a MISTING emitter, it sprays a fine mist not a spray of water. If it plugs up we just replace it with a new one. The 1/2" replacements ends for regular hoses will work fine in the black tubing and don't leak the way the drip system ends do. Just throw a 90 in to turn corners, zip ties to attach it to the wire, easy to take down at the end of the season.

 

[OR4-hmom]

Just to keep thngs interesting the tiny ants, (sugar/greese ants), are all over the runs wire and 2x4's. Didn't notice them until I opened the gate and rained them down all over myself. At least their bite isn't as bad as the red and black ones.

 

[Grandmas Basket]

We're going to Fort Brag for a week in August. We usually go 2-3 x's a year but with my back surgeries we haven't gone for two years. I need an ocean fix like crazy!
I put our a/c up to 85 instead of turning it off. I couldn't believe when I heard it kick ON in the middle of the night!
I'm with you Deb, I set mine at 76!

Ft. Bragg is my hometown. All relatives left there are in the cemetery so we are free to play tourist on our visits. We usually take the dogs and stay at Shoreline Cottages as there is a lovely dog beach a short walk away.

I'm out and about. Melting temps even an hour ago. This heat streak is obviously building. Everyone hang in there these next couple of days.

We make most of our chook supplies, but opted for the premade Costco Misty item. I have a compact coop/run and can get by with the shortest mister. Decided getting tested product with fast set up better for us than DIY option. Delivery is on the 5th, so will be ready the next heat wave. Meanwhile, my girls are getting used to seeing me come at them with the hose. I have learned to let the water run until all the accumulated hot water in the hose is out before I turn it on them. The first time poor babies got a hot shower when I neglected to take the time to flush it completely!