Dixie Chicks

[Ravynscroft]

Blame the Aurora Borealis... gotta be some weird cosmic rays you're getting up there...

Or it's a sign... move, Alaskan, move!!

 

[Outpost JWB]

@Alaskan , That's something I have never heard of in chicks. And btw, don't google that. I'm afraid it might put you on some list.....

We got MORE rain yesterday. It is so swamped here. I feel like we live in the bayou! Haven't seen any alligators...(yet). Our garden is DONE. Its sitting in water. Literally. I should've planted watercress and threw some pond lilies in there. Still cannot pull the weeds because it rips the dirt, I mean MUD, out of the ground and you are left with huge holes and puddles. Have to say we are very fortunate though. Not far from us, on Saturday, a family of 6 were in their mobile home when it got washed down the river. They put a life vest on the 5 year old, but it turns out the 5 year old, a 7 year old, and their pregnant mother all drowned.

2 other children are in the hospital still. Thoughts and prayers for their family.

Yesterday DD and I spent 5 hours back at the coop. If the chickens are IN the coop, they are above ground. The second they step out into their lot, they get dredged into soupy, mucky, chicken poop swamp. UGH! We put down boards to walk on. It rained (poured) twice while we were out there. We switched around cages because I noticed one of the rabbit's trays was filling up quickly. Rabbits do pee a great deal, but we found the roof was leaking. Poor rabbit. Then we put pine shavings in the nest boxes (We normally use straw) and all over the ground. The chickens were confused and the rabbits were eating the pine shavings. We only threw a handful in the rabbits' cages.

Well, suppose to rain again today. Thunderstorms and more chances of flooding. I am glad we have 2 boats sitting in our driveway!!!

This morning my throat is killing me

. Luckily I have a short work day. 5 1/2hours. I should've wore a face mask or something when we were working on the coop. You all have a good day. Gotta get ready for work. Going to have to do something with the pullet pen because they are in sitting water. I should get ducks from @minihorse927 !!! It's tempting. Have a great day.

 

[Mahen100]

JWB sounds awful...surely has been monsoon weather...we've had a break in rain here...but no relief from the heat. Hope you get a break and things dry out for you there.

 

[BriardChickens]

That's bad about the rain outpost.... Our rain has scaled back to a nice balance of rain at night and sun during the day.

Today is already turning out to be a typical monday

but at least I can focus on my new incubator going out in the mail this morning.

 

[Mahen100]

Well, I think I just had my first ever heat-related loss. Dufus, a Penciled Plymouth Rock 2.5 or 3 year old hen, was fine this am when I let the flock out. Everyone free ranged. Dufus is particularly friendly, jumping up in the swing each time I sit down...so she's gotten more than her share of treats this spring...which may have contributed to her downfall...I thought at first she was "sunning" but she was in an area of shade, so I left the house and thought she'd jump up when I approached....there was another chicken inspecting her, but not touching her. Dufus was warm, limp, dead, no marks or injuries visable,,eyes closed, feathers intact. Only thing I noticed was her face was very very red

I didn't have the heart to autopsy....double bagged her as is and put her in the freezer. I washed my hands very good, washed off the area where I laid her on the porch, and sprayed the area with "Vetricin" against bacteria. I will shower good. Is there anything else other than watch the other birds I should do? The flock seems aware, but doesn't seem in physical distress.

 

[Ravynscroft]

@Outpost JWB so sorry for all the rain... maybe put some pallets down in the runs if they stay flooded, heard those worked good for some people in Texas when they were getting flooded too...

@BriardChickens awesome score on the bator!!

@Mahen100 sorry for your loss...
It's been horrendously hot, but haven't lost any here... I refresh midday with plenty of cold water... and spray down a corner of each run for them to cool down too... maybe put some frozen water bottles/soda bottles in their waterers to keep the water cool...

 

[Ravynscroft]

Oh, lost a couple of my best OEGB's to a predator... pulled them through the bars and dragged them off... moved the bantams and have traps set... :/

 

[BriardChickens]

@Mahen100 so sorry for your loss.

I haven't lost any to heat, so can't tell you what it looks like. I have a kiddy pool in the middle of the run for the ducks. I know everyone drinks from it and a couple of large trees blocking the sun from the run during the hottest time of the day.

 

[BriardChickens]

Oh, lost a couple of my best OEGB's to a predator... pulled them through the bars and dragged them off... moved the bantams and have traps set...

yikes! Hope you catch whatever it is. I Still haven't caught the fox that got my original 6 quail and Cayuga duck pair. It's been 9-10 weeks since the quail got taken.

As for the incubator, I did say one more hatch this year. But I am itching for more, not that I have something I'd want to hatch!!

Wait, I do, I have a coturnix quail that just started to lay!!

 

[Mahen100]

Thanks, folks. I still have a predator...a possum, that is alluding my live trap...but not the bait I put in it. The chick I lost wasn't bothered by a predator though. I have to catch it and get a secure place for the two week old chicks and mama hen soon.