Colorado

[21hens-incharge]

I give mine watermelon in the evening when it starts to cool down. I also give them an apple on a string or other such hanging thing to peck at. Mostly they just park it in whatever shade they can get too.

It is rather unpleasant in the sun and not much better in the shade. I think I will dig out some more metal roofing pieces and try to rig up more shade in the morning tomorrow.

We were out on the motorcycle for a large part of the day today. Nice when moving but dang hot at the red lights.

Dear flies are brutal to deal with. You are either sucked dry by them or drowning in deet.

 

[uzisuzuki]

I tried out watermelon chunks frozen in ice blocks. It seemed to go over really well with everyone. I had been using frozen water bottles in their water & near their dust bath areas & letting them free range early in the morning & in the evening. If I ever get a full paycheck, I want to get them a box fan to help move some air through heir area.

 

[samsr]

My weather station says it is 99 at the moment. Way hot, but I still have things to get done outside. I am getting some wood moved so I can move a couple cars that I need to work on as well as move one of my friends food truck. Then I can get the new coop moved into place and get up spome t posts for the fencing that I don't have yet. Then I need to get the inside set up with the waterer and the hanging feeder. Lots to do in the next 10 days before the meaties get here. I decided to get Cornish cross since I only live at 5400 feet. if these don't work out then I will get red rangers the next time.

 

[21hens-incharge]

WATER drink lots of water. Man I do not envy you having to do all that in this heat. All of my chickens are wilted in the shade right now. Try not to over do it in the sun! Heat exhaustion is miserable. Be careful and take care of yourself in this endeavor.

 

[suncatcher]

Frozen veggies were a big hit, they were not on the ground very long!

Yep, heat stroke is no fun! I always know when I have not had enough to drink as I get a headache right away. I was not made for the heat, my people come from the north, I know some people like the heat, but not me!!! Mid day you will find me inside, I get everything I need to do outside done early morning or later afternoon.

Hope your meaties do well, I think someone on here raised some last month, and they did ok.

So do you just put the frozen water bottles on the ground??? May have to try that.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Frozen veggies were a big hit, they were not on the ground very long!

Yep, heat stroke is no fun!  I always know when I have not had enough to drink as I get a headache right away.  I was not made for the heat, my people come from the north, I know some people like the heat, but not me!!!  Mid day you will find me inside, I get everything I need to do outside done early morning or later afternoon.

Hope your meaties do well, I think someone on here raised some last month, and they did ok.

So do you just put the frozen water bottles on the ground???  May have to try that.

Yeah, I just put them in the ground so they can lay by them & they sweat off onto the dirt for them.

Today's been the hottest day here so far & the chicks aren't doing as well as the adult flock right now. They're just panting away while the adults seem to be handling it better. Each flock got their own watermelon ice block again, so I'm hoping they hang in there. about all I can do is make ice blocks for them right now. Payday can't come soon enough, for me & them!

 

[emptynesters970]

Hello Colorado! New to BYC and found you by accident while searching heat threads. Glad to get ideas about how to help our ladies beat the heat.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Hello Colorado! New to BYC and found you by accident while searching heat threads. Glad to get ideas about how to help our ladies beat the heat.

Howdy!

and here!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hello Colorado! New to BYC and found you by accident while searching heat threads. Glad to get ideas about how to help our ladies beat the heat.

Also a

from Loveland. Lots of really great people on here. I am sure you will find tons of useful information. Glad to have you aboard!

I am still at 9:30 PM reading 84 degrees outside. Inside the coop is reading 82. Gotta love that shade tree!
Changed all the waters tonight to save some time tomorrow morning. My gals seem to have drank a lot today. Stopping by the store after work for more watermelon and maybe some other fruits or veggies for them.

 

[COChix]

Hey gang so we have finally gotten ourselves settled after our return from vacation. Yuck the heat has been brutal, our temp gauge hit 101 around 6:30pm tonight. Right now the adult flock isn't doing to bad at night but that is because there is only 7 total in the main coop. Everyone else has been staying with Mamacita and her chicks. Tomorrow this all ends for the mischievous bunch of now young pullets. They are eight weeks old now and are crowding Mama and chicks in the small coop. She has pretty much adopted the Fiesty Fifteen and they follow her around and eat from her beak etc. They have all gotten big and are getting a bit pushy at times with mama so I think it is time for her to get the break she deserves and it is time for the brats to be knocked down on the pecking order. We have already introduced them to the parent flock face-to-face and they all did great, no issues. They have been free ranging with the adults but always end back with Mama and babies by dusk for bed time. So tomorrow all access to the enclosed run and small coop will be blocked. They need to learn to roost with the big flock. It should be interesting tomorrow nig
ht at dusk to see what they do. They have followed Rocco around as he does call them for food that he finds. Some follow but as soon as the roo turns around they scatter. It is pretty cute to see dad's kids following him around.

First young male to crow.

Here are a few updated shots, I absolutely love Mamacita and her chicks. She has taught them how to roost on the highest roosts in the run by day 20. I am sure they have been doing it for a few days, I just finally caught it. She takes her job very seriously and she is good at it! She charges the fencing when the roo tries to court her through the fencing.