Chickens and the eclipse

[Chickassan]

As many of you are aware on August 21 there will be a total solar eclipse. I am located in a swath of the U.S that will experience 2:14 seconds of totality, that's a lot of eclipse folks! This will be my first eclipse with chickens and I'm unsure how they are going to react. I am planning on documenting the entire event.So what are you going to do to kind of take your flocks minds off the sun going away? My big idea is to load up the treat bowl and hope for a miracle. Any other suggestions are very welcome! I am hoping for semi silence so I can film, but if it's anything like they usually behave I'm not going to get it.

 

[itspebbl]

That will be really neat! I won't be home during the eclipse, so it all be fascinating to see how chickens react

 

[Chickassan]

I'm hoping they don't look up. All those horror stories about not looking at the eclipse still have me a bit wary. I know it's fine when it's total but not fine when it's getting there. It should be very interesting, I plan on posting pictures and video here so anyone who missed it can watch, or for those with schadenfreude.

 

[centrarchid]

I will be in the middle of the action as well. If we stay home for it, chickens will be watched possibly with time lapse camera. I have seen chickens in partial eclipses back in the 1970's and 1990's so see they do realize something is up.

 

[Chickassan]

I can't wait! I haven't seen an eclipse since I was a child. I remember it turning the shadows of the leaves into half moons on the sidewalk. I was in elementary school back then. I do hope you get to watch it centrarchild you know it's going to be amazing.

 

[SueT]

What are they saying about traffic in path of totality...is it going to be crazy? We'd like to drive up and experience it but wonder if there'll be a bumper to bumper jam....

 

[centrarchid]

I live in the path of totality. The county and towns are bracing for some serious tourism associated with the event. Some people appear to be renting space to observe the event.

We will be watching it in part for the kids. Astronomy has been ingrained in them as we go out and look at heavens almost every day / night. "Moon" was one of their first words for both kids.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'm hoping they don't look up. All those horror stories about not looking at the eclipse still have me a bit wary. I know it's fine when it's total but not fine when it's getting there. It should be very interesting, I plan on posting pictures and video here so anyone who missed it can watch, or for those with schadenfreude.

At first they will head to roost but because a total eclipse dosen't mean total dark they will not have enough time to make much ado over it.

If you have a welding helmet you can stare into the Sun to your hearts desire.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

They probably won't notice. As chickengeorgeto says, total eclipse doesn't mean total darkness.

 

[centrarchid]

2:00 AM on moonless night does not mean total darkness either. Smoking dope if one assumes birds will not be impacted by such conditions that occur out of sequence and more rapidly than typical.