cooped up versus covered in ash

[Suzilla Bean]

Hop your neighbors will cut you some slack, under the circumstances.

They've been a lot more understanding since the Covid-19 egg crisis.

 

[Owenp_2]

26 miles from the Bobcat fire and 82 miles from the El Dorado Fire.

OOOh thats close kind of.

 

[CHlCKEN]

OOOh thats close kind of.

Ya, please stay safe. The air quality will affect more than just your chickens, make sure it isn’t badly affecting you.

 

[Suzilla Bean]

There are no N-95 masks made for chickens.

 

[Xouie]

I know how you're feeling. Mine also abruptly went from free range to completely cooped up inside. I explained "If I can't go outside neither can you." Their spokes-hen pecked me on the arm -- hard. Negotiations were not successful. Then I took a chair out to the shed and read a book aloud to them whenever I had a break. Ok, it sounds stupid, but they seem to have calmed down with these little social sessions.

Would extra treats and human interaction time help them cope?

 

[CHlCKEN]

There are no N-95 masks made for chickens.

not a bad idea...

 

[Suzilla Bean]

I know how you're feeling. Mine also abruptly went from free range to completely cooped up inside. I explained "If I can't go outside neither can you." Their spokes-hen pecked me on the arm -- hard. Negotiations were not successful. Then I took a chair out to the shed and read a book aloud to them whenever I had a break. Ok, it sounds stupid, but they seem to have calmed down with these little social sessions.

Would extra treats and human interaction time help them cope?

The alpha chicken has a history of pecking me hard so I don't get close to her. We've reached an understanding. That's why I can't get too close to them.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

i’m not anywhere near the fires, but know plenty of people with chickens and ducks who are. coops are not gonna protect them be try much and they’ll have long term health issues. please bring them inside of your house.

 

[MarkJr]

I haven’t altered their routine. Let em out in the morning, lock them up at night. They are limiting their movements themselves. Taking to deep cover like it was 100 degrees.

So far, ten days later, no real issues.

 

[piminuse]

Lots of folks are unable to bring their birds in or keep them coop confined (at least not for long periods). A few alternatives I've seen:

Ez-up or pop-up tents with sides as a temporary run
Old school blanket fort/teepee with wet sheets
Converted truck bed

My mom is in the Alameda fire area with air quality in the 500s and has her birds out the entire time and hasn't seen any ill-effects (thus far). I'm further from fires, but I have the space in the garage to shove 12 upset birds and would rather not risk potential health issues. The smell is awful, I feel bad, they're stressed, but I don't know the long term effects and I would rather a week of inconvenience than losing them.

It's a crappy situation for everyone having to make this decision, so don't feel pressured to do one thing or another based on what the internet says. Follow your intuition and do what you think is best for your flock.