Nothing. Her feathers weren't even ruffled. Neither she nor any of the other birds have been acting sick, lethargic or unusual in any way, it's as if she just fell over dead. The pen is chain link, the 'links' being about 1.25-1.5 inches square. I had 'chicken wire' around the entire lower half, mainly to keep smaller pullets in, but I plan on getting some half inch hardware cloth and attaching it to the bottom of the fencing and into the ground. Perhaps the heat? It has been over 90F for the last three weeks. They do have sufficient water, I have a three gallon water dispenser that I keep filled.
Chip or Dale lol ummm Osiris, Anubis, Rah, Scrat, Clover, Munk, Ivy, Honey, Freya,umm.. I do I got more but brain fart lol
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Originally Posted by junebuggena
Is the water getting heated by the sun at all? I think this most recent loss is due to temps being too hot. They need lots of shade and lots of COLD water.
No. the waterer is never in the sun. it sits against the north wall of the coop, which is itself under the 'roofed' section of the pen. I have a 10'x10' aluminized tarp over the northern section of the pen, silver side up. The entire pen is only in the sun for a couple of hours in the late morning anyway. Still, even in the late afternoon when the entire pen is in the shade I can see some of the hens 'mouth breathing'. I will add some ice cubes to their waterer though, that's a good idea regardless. Better yet, a large chunk, it'll melt slower.
