EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[BullChick]

I saw two more apples. It excites me that they are growing. It saddens me that I can’t eat them because of the damage.
I walked into the garden. I have to work in there, but I saw encouraging news there. No tomatoes to speak of, but the vines are big and strong. I don’t see why I can’t have a ton of tomatoes if I just keep after the grass that keeps growing up around them.
Aaaaaaaand I think I have a problem. I didn’t think much of it when my one Pekin was laying in the shade of the vegetation in the pen. It is shade after all. I thought she was just comfortable in the spot where she and the other Pekin had been laying eggs. Now I’m thinking she’s gone broody too.

 

[kwhites634]

I know, @Farmer Connie . Me too.

 

[Pensmaster]

I saw two more apples. It excites me that they are growing. It saddens me that I can’t eat them because of the damage.
I walked into the garden. I have to work in there, but I saw encouraging news there. No tomatoes to speak of, but the vines are big and strong. I don’t see why I can’t have a ton of tomatoes if I just keep after the grass that keeps growing up around them.
Aaaaaaaand I think I have a problem. I didn’t think much of it when my one Pekin was laying in the shade of the vegetation in the pen. It is shade after all. I thought she was just comfortable in the spot where she and the other Pekin had been laying eggs. Now I’m thinking she’s gone broody too.

It really is contagious fortunately mine haven’t caught it this year. Wait maybe because I sold them all. Well at least the broody ones.

 

[Pensmaster]

I saw two more apples. It excites me that they are growing. It saddens me that I can’t eat them because of the damage.
I walked into the garden. I have to work in there, but I saw encouraging news there. No tomatoes to speak of, but the vines are big and strong. I don’t see why I can’t have a ton of tomatoes if I just keep after the grass that keeps growing up around them.
Aaaaaaaand I think I have a problem. I didn’t think much of it when my one Pekin was laying in the shade of the vegetation in the pen. It is shade after all. I thought she was just comfortable in the spot where she and the other Pekin had been laying eggs. Now I’m thinking she’s gone broody too.

Tomatoes don’t like to set below 55 or over 90. What’s the temps like. I have quite a few blossoms but nothing set yet either. Usually have my first red cherry tomato by the 4th but that’s not happening this year.
Lots of pollinators due to the oregano plant from Israel that I decided to leave. Best pollinator plant I’ve every had. Numerous varieties.

@Akrnaf2

 

[BullChick]

The nights have averaged in the fifties with highs in the low eighties. This week is mid-sixties and low nineties.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Tomatoes don’t like to set below 55 or over 90. What’s the temps like. I have quite a few blossoms but nothing set yet either. Usually have my first red cherry tomato by the 4th but that’s not happening this year.
Lots of pollinators due to the oregano plant from Israel that I decided to leave. Best pollinator plant I’ve every had. Numerous varieties.
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@Akrnaf2

Very nice! They really make a very good job!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

 

[BullChick]

What on earth?

 

[Pensmaster]

What on earth?

Protect your hose at all cost.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have a problem. There's a heat wave coming through here that's the worst one I've seen in years, possibly ever in the whole time I've lived here. Daytime highs are into the 90s Fahrenheit for possibly three days in a row, and a few of those nights have a low of mid-60s. Then it's high 80's for a while after that. I suspect I am going to have very unhappy chickens, and I'd like to not lose any. They start looking bad at about 84*F (one starts panting at 70*F) and this is almost ten degrees over that with no break overnight. How does everyone else keep them alive? I have pools for the ducks that I'll try and put in a shady area, and put shade boards over individual pens in an attempt to keep the direct sun off. Anything else? They've never gone for cold stuff before, like the ice pops with corn I saw someone make once, but I might try it because this weather looks just crazy. I think I remember Kristen talking about a misting system or something but I can't do that.

I wish it was winter. My air conditioner isn't heavy duty enough for this stuff.

We've had mid 90s with heat index from 100-110.
Luckily we had a cold front move through. It got down to 72 Sunday and Monday night and a high Monday of only 90F.
However, we're in for another week in the mid 90s. Trouble is, we're at 90% humidity too.

A bazillion is right. There's a seasonal stream behind the coop, but I doubt it'll last long in 90* weather. There's also a real stream, but them finding that would result in more deaths than the heat. It's pretty fast. One area they spend time in is old pine growth mixed with a young stand that gives nice and even cover. Still, shade only goes so far to cut down on the temperature.

I'm also a tad worried about the goats. Their enclosure isn't ventilated for this weather. Maybe I'll put them in the chicken run (shaded during some times of day) since the chooks aren't using it.

So I guess the battle plan at this point is ample water, shade, pens moved to shady areas, and monitoring them carefully. If I see any in distress I'll bring them into the basement, which is 60* year round. I'm not sure if I have a sprinkler, and I don't feel like buying one, but I'll rummage through the shed/basement and see if there's one I've forgotten about.

How do you people deal with this on a regular basis??

Footbaths do wonders for the chickens.

For those with insufficient shade, I prefer shade cloth to tarps. Rain will go right through.
90% shade cloth is ideal. You can get remnants cheaply at FarmTek. If the remnants don't fit your needs, they'll cut any dimension you need.
https://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ScroungeCentralDisplay?catalogId=11551&categoryId=231453&group=CL_RB&E10=Y&top=N&breadcrumb_trail=|Shade+Remnants&breadcrumb_categoryIds=|231453&maxRecords=20

Our stock is born to it; makes a huge difference.

How many hackles would stand on end if a quiet little pool suddenly appeared in that creek? All it would take is some judicious rearranging of some decent-sized rocks, and filling in with smaller stones or debris to form a little dam. How big is the stream?

Or a couple beavers.

Having heat hardy birds is a godsend. It probably wouldn't work for Banty or anyone else who lives near the arctic circle. Winter would then be a problem.

I tell you what should work like a champ, but it would be readily visible from a distance, depending on the terrain, and have to be replaced periodically...hay or straw bales.

A couple hogs making a wallow in there will likely seal the leaks.

Hey
Question: My radial arm saw has no provision for catching sawdust, which just blows out through an elbow & coats everything with a layer of sawdust. It's an old Craftsman, & Sears says they don't use anything, but suggested I use one of the bags that fit chop saws. They don't fit, either; won't spread open enough. Lowe's doesn't have PVC to fit, either. I need something to slip over 1 9/16".
Any ideas? I can get a picture if it'd help.

They make all dimensions of reducers for this task.
Home depot has a whole section for them.

Please tell me what insect repellent you use on your trees. Now that I actually have fruit, I will need to do more than sprinkle the leaves with Sevin once in a while.

It isn't a one size fits all. There are leaf pests, borers that go into the wood and those that infest the fruit. They all require different control. The latter are actually lay on the flower or bud and end up as worms in the fruit. Be careful what you spray on flowers or you'll kill honeybees.
This may help.
https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1193&context=bulletins
Parasitic nematodes can be helpful too.