California - Northern

[jenniferlamar70]

Ouch!  That's tough!  You probably do everything you can to conserve water then?  I used to leave out pans of water for some of the chickens to stand in but they and the wild birds would poop in the water and then turn around and drink the filthy water so I stopped doing that.  I only use the Brite Tap nipple valve waterers now so nothing will poop in the clean drinking water any more.  If you set up a mister line tube how did you plan to deliver the well water to the hose lines - you would still have to run the pump, no?  Such a dilemma.  I hope someone with expertise can help advise.

Yes we work really hard to conserve electricity which means not running our pump non stop and finding alternative way to hest and cool our home and coops. If we did use a misting system we would just hook it up to our faucet/hose.

Something that I found to be quite useful is taking gallon milk jugs and filling them about 3/4ths with water and freezing them. Then I put them in the shade of the coop, inside the coop, and then one other one in another shady spot so the birdies have places to go. I also freeze food in ice trays and spread it out during the mid afternoon hours when it's that uncomfortable, sticky heat.  I have a mist system too, but the birds enjoy the treats and I have noticed a difference in the coop's temperature with the milk jug in there. Depending on your waterers too for them, and if you don't have room for milk jugs in your freezer, maybe taking frozen water bottles and putting them in the waterer to make ice water for them to drink.  Hopefully some of my rambling helps! This heat really sucks!

I do freeze gallon jugs and put them out in the coop. I haven't done the treats yet though. I'll have to give that a try. Thanks.

 

[Sylvester017]

Does anybody know wher I can get free wooden crate pallets around Santa Cruz?

GL finding them! The ones here in So Cal - if you find them discarded behind stores or supermarkets - are usually so busted up they aren't worth the gas to drive home with them. My house contractor had a stack of them he left in my front yard but said I could have them for $15 each only because that's what he spent on the deposit to get them - and you know what? they weren't worth $15 as they had cracked lumber in them too. I opted instead for him to leave me the leftover lumber from my house remodel since I already paid for those materials! I should be able to make a shady lean-to or two for the chickens from the leftover plywood pieces.

 

[Sylvester017]

I was thinking about trying those waterers. They look nice. I guess you must like them

Yes, I do like the Brite Taps - only because I got tired of any other method of trying to keep drinking water clean from chicken or wild bird poops! I have 3 Brite Tap-Rubbermaid combos of nipple waterers. Each Brite Tap is suggested for every 12 chickens. I have only 4 backyard hens but ordered 3 Brite Tap combo jugs plus the Brite Tap Sun Covers. I like the portability of the Brite Tap moving it easily around the yard, the water stays very cold and clean in the insulated 2-gallon jugs, DH adds a half-dozen ice cubes from the top lid on heatwave days, the interior of the jugs or the Brite Tap valves never build up algae. We can go up to 2 weeks without changing out/cleaning the Rubbermaid jugs. I have 2 jugs out in the yard in the shade so that if one runs out of water (or leaks which is extremely unlikely) there is a 2nd one set out as backup. The 3rd jug is in the coop run. The jugs can be stand alone or hung by the Rubbermaid jug handle. These are not cheap but in terms of time saved, clean water, portability, and ease of cleaning, we counted the cost as worth it. Our tap water is disgusting for either animals or humans so we use 5-gallon bottled water for our drinking and cooking. We find our SoCal tap water has too much harsh mineral build-up so only use bottled water in the Brite Taps - keeps the Brite Taps from accumulating rust/lime. Can't help feeling like I'm saving the chickens' internal organs by not feeding them chlorinated fluoridated heavy mineralized tap water! Apparently chlorination and fluoridation interferes with shell quality of eggs. I put a fine piece of bridal tulle net over the air spout on the lid to keep out tiny insects getting inside the jug. We made steps for different sized hens to reach the nipple valves. I got a lot of support from Mark at http://www.chickenwaterer.com/Chicken-Poultry-Waterer-s/1817.htm when I had a problem transitioning my older set-in-their-ways chickens from open bowl water to using nipple waterers. I have a little Black Silkie that will stand under a nipple valve and take a shower under it! She loves water and drenches herself from head-to-toe to stay cool.

 

[Stephine]

Hi!

What donyou think about transitioning chicks from the brooder in the house to the new coop with this weather?
We are in Sonoma and days are between 80 (at least) and 102, nights 50-52. Right now they are nine/eight weeks old and in our house with the AC at 80 during the day and temps never under 70 at night because we close all windows asI am afraid the chirping will attract predators and the window screens will not be keeping anyone out...
I think I can forget about keeping them locked in their coop for a week to teach them where home base is as they will die of heat stroke. I ordered a mister and they have shade in the run, but the temps they'll have to handle are very varied. Right now they start panting at 80, even in the house...
The coop isn't quite done yet, but will be very soon. What are your experiences, moving chicks out in the wine country? (or anywhere else with these huge temperature variations)

 

[ronott1]

Hi!

What donyou think about transitioning chicks from the brooder in the house to the new coop with this weather?
We are in Sonoma and days are between 80 (at least) and 102, nights 50-52. Right now they are nine/eight weeks old and in our house with the AC at 80 during the day and temps never under 70 at night because we close all windows asI am afraid the chirping will attract predators and the window screens will not be keeping anyone out...
I think I can forget about keeping them locked in their coop for a week to teach them where home base is as they will die of heat stroke. I ordered a mister and they have shade in the run, but the temps they'll have to handle are very varied. Right now they start panting at 80, even in the house...
The coop isn't quite done yet, but will be very soon. What are your experiences, moving chicks out in the wine country? (or anywhere else with these huge temperature variations)

I would put them out in the coop. You will need to get them into the coop at night but can keep them out during the day. It is a bit of work but they will still learn that they need to go to the coop at dusk. It takes longer, like two weeks. I assume you have a nice run? and that the coop is secure for raccoons and etc?

I have an auto timer and I set it to come on based on accuweather hourly forcast--when it gets to 95. I adjust the time to turn off the water when it goes below 95 according to the forecast. I adjust daily and do not run the mist system if it is not going to be over 95 that day.

 

[Stephine]

I would put them out in the coop. You will need to get them into the coop at night but can keep them out during the day. It is a bit of work but they will still learn that they need to go to the coop at dusk. It takes longer, like two weeks. I assume you have a nice run? and that the coop is secure for raccoons and etc?

I have an auto timer and I set it to come on based on accuweather hourly forcast--when it gets to 95. I adjust the time to turn off the water when it goes below 95 according to the forecast. I adjust daily and do not run the mist system if it is not going to be over 95 that day.

What a great idea! I'll see if I can figure out how to do that here. What do you think about them starting to pant when it's only in the low 80s? Is it because they are still young?

 

[h2oratt]

What a great idea! I'll see if I can figure out how to do that here. What do you think about them starting to pant when it's only in the low 80s? Is it because they are still young?

No they all do it. They will a climate. What breeds do you have?

 

[h2oratt]

Yes, I do like the Brite Taps - only because I got tired of any other method of trying to keep drinking water clean from chicken or wild bird poops! I have 3 Brite Tap-Rubbermaid combos of nipple waterers. Each Brite Tap is suggested for every 12 chickens. I have only 4 backyard hens but ordered 3 Brite Tap combo jugs plus the Brite Tap Sun Covers. I like the portability of the Brite Tap moving it easily around the yard, the water stays very cold and clean in the insulated 2-gallon jugs, DH adds a half-dozen ice cubes from the top lid on heatwave days, the interior of the jugs or the Brite Tap valves never build up algae. We can go up to 2 weeks without changing out/cleaning the Rubbermaid jugs. I have 2 jugs out in the yard in the shade so that if one runs out of water (or leaks which is extremely unlikely) there is a 2nd one set out as backup. The 3rd jug is in the coop run. The jugs can be stand alone or hung by the Rubbermaid jug handle. These are not cheap but in terms of time saved, clean water, portability, and ease of cleaning, we counted the cost as worth it. Our tap water is disgusting for either animals or humans so we use 5-gallon bottled water for our drinking and cooking. We find our SoCal tap water has too much harsh mineral build-up so only use bottled water in the Brite Taps - keeps the Brite Taps from accumulating rust/lime. Can't help feeling like I'm saving the chickens' internal organs by not feeding them chlorinated fluoridated heavy mineralized tap water! Apparently chlorination and fluoridation interferes with shell quality of eggs. I put a fine piece of bridal tulle net over the air spout on the lid to keep out tiny insects getting inside the jug. We made steps for different sized hens to reach the nipple valves. I got a lot of support from Mark at http://www.chickenwaterer.com/Chicken-Poultry-Waterer-s/1817.htm when I had a problem transitioning my older set-in-their-ways chickens from open bowl water to using nipple waterers. I have a little Black Silkie that will stand under a nipple valve and take a shower under it! She loves water and drenches herself from head-to-toe to stay cool.

Wow what a nice set up. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Stephine]

No they all do it. They will a climate. What breeds do you have?

Lots! ;o)
I have 2 Light and 2 Buff Brahmas, 2 RIR, 2GLW, 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 PBR, 2 Welsummers and one Welsummer rooster.

 

[ronott1]

What a great idea! I'll see if I can figure out how to do that here. What do you think about them starting to pant when it's only in the low 80s? Is it because they are still young?

No they all do it. They will a climate. What breeds do you have?

Lots! ;o)
I have 2 Light and 2 Buff Brahmas, 2 RIR, 2GLW, 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 PBR, 2 Welsummers and one Welsummer rooster.

Like h2oratt posted, it is normal for them to pant at 80. They will start spreading their wings when it is a bit hotter.

The breeds you have will be fine in the heat you get in Sonoma County especially with the mist system, shade and plenty of water to drink.

Post pictures!