Cochin Thread!!!

[wildwoodcochins]

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Went to close the coop up last night and found a skunk in there eating eggs. Uuugggghhh
Tried to scare it out but it would not leave, gave me a warning mist though. I had to reach in the pen it was in and roost a hen that was sitting on eggs so I had to step within inches of the skunk. Scary! I guess I need to close up some openings to the coop :/

 

[ki4got]

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Went to close the coop up last night and found a skunk in there eating eggs. Uuugggghhh
Tried to scare it out but it would not leave, gave me a warning mist though. I had to reach in the pen it was in and roost a hen that was sitting on eggs so I had to step within inches of the skunk. Scary! I guess I need to close up some openings to the coop

a hose on a fine mist sometimes works without causing a spray... they don't like to get wet much either. especially if it's directed at their heads. and water dries so even if everything gets soaked, it's not horribly critical. yeah bedding's a pain to clean but still, cleans easier than skunk spray. LOL

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Thinking of all you Cochin lovers that are having to deal with the excessive heat. Hoping all is well with you.
Craig

 

[dallas1]

Thinking of all you Cochin lovers that are having to deal with the excessive heat. Hoping all is well with you.
Craig

Bin kinda mild weather wise past few days but Thursday it is pose to hit 104. have to run the fan for the poor birds.

 

[mjgigax]

Thinking of all you Cochin lovers that are having to deal with the excessive heat. Hoping all is well with you.
Craig

Thank you!
So far so good here

I soak the shade cloths at noon and again at 4:00. 5:00 seems to be the hottest time of day. I also have gallons of frozen water everywhere. I am now glad for that extra large freezer we never seem to have much in. Have any of you, that deal with heat, ever plucked breasts and bellys? It was a suggestion from another heavy feathered chicken breeder on the OK thread.

 

[Desirai]

My poor cochins are also suffering from this heat. I don't know how to help them, I feel so bad for them.

They have shade, water and fresh cool dirt. But they pant sooo hard and look so miserable.

If I was able I'd bring them all into the house, but I can't..

I've been giving them cold watermelon the past few days, I don't know if it is helpful but they like it.

 

[mjgigax]

My poor cochins are also suffering from this heat. I don't know how to help them, I feel so bad for them.

They have shade, water and fresh cool dirt. But they pant sooo hard and look so miserable.

If I was able I'd bring them all into the house, but I can't..

I've been giving them cold watermelon the past few days, I don't know if it is helpful but they like it.

They sure do love mellon of any flavor! I gave mine cool peaches yesterday. As usuall the Partridge pen ate ever bit and the Buffs ignored them. Yesterday evening I separated my 6 Self-blue babies from the Mottles and Mille Fleurs in the grow out pen. The Self-blues all stuck together and didn't roam out in the grass in the yard so I thought they woundn't mind. But they fussed anyway.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Here in Denver, we hit 105 again today - for the 2nd straight day in a row. Which also set an all-time record for 5 consecutive days over 100. Somehow, the incubator temp is holding steady (Yea! - because I have fertile eggs finally!). Mine are all still in breeding cages, and that building stays pretty cool. They are loving fresh greens (kale), straight of the fridge - nice and cold! They stay somewhat quieter in the breeder cages, which actually keeps them a bit cooler as they're not running around.

Not so good for me, as my house is 110 years old, brick, and no air-conditioning. Just lots of fans pushing lots of hot air around.

But our main concern out here, as I'm sure you've probably heard, is all the fires. Another one started just west of Boulder this afternoon, and the one in the Springs got worse. They put the Air Force Academy on pre-evac about an hour ago. One of those huge C-30(?) water transport planes flew over my house about 1/2 an hour ago - from north to south, so probably on its way to Colo. Springs.

Between the heat and the wind, we just can't catch a break. Too many folks have lost their homes, some have been under evacuation for 2 weeks now. People are scrambling to find shelter for their livestock - including their chickens.

 

[Desirai]

Oh my gosh. We aren't having fires here fortunately. I could not imagine having to evacuate my house and leave my babies behind. Just thinking about it makes my heart sink!!!

How in the world would I evacuate 12 chickens and 2 horses? The horses aren't even mine but I try to take care of them.

But our temperatures are also in the 90s and 100s.

 

[ChickcrazyCharlie]

Well I guess I'll stop complaining about a little mud in my chicken coops. At least all this rain is keeping the temp down. I hope all your birds make it through the heatwave.

Charlie