FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[jwtyrcha]

Has anyone been seeing hummingbirds yet? We've had one (I think it's just the one) show up at the feeder for the past week.

Plant some coral honeysuckle or fire spikes, hummingbirds would fight over them at my old house. Haven't had a chance to plant coral honeysuckle here at the new house yet, but I am surely going to!

 

[HenKeepers]

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone give me some tips for a White Delaware that just does not seem to be acclimating to the heat in Miami? She is 7 months old and an excellent layer, but the afternoon heat in Miami seems to be really uncomfortable for her. We are only in April. This is Miami. The future does not look good.

 

[N F C]

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone give me some tips for a White Delaware that just does not seem to be acclimating to the heat in Miami? She is 7 months old and an excellent layer, but the afternoon heat in Miami seems to be really uncomfortable for her. We are only in April. This is Miami. The future does not look good.

And welcome to the FL state thread!

I can tell you a bit about our set up...we're farther north but you're right, it's too warm for this time of year.

* Shade, all the natural & man-made shade you can provide your birds with. Our shed/coop has trees on 2 sides and the run is covered with a shade cloth.
* Lots of water. I put out extra waterers and sometimes put a frozen water bottle in the biggest one, depending how hot it is. I also give them a large shallow plastic pan of water, some drink out of it and some like to stand in it.
* Cool treats like cucumbers, watermelon, grapes, etc. Some people freeze the treats.
* I keep them in their covered run during the hottest part of the day, they can go out in the morning and early evening when it's a bit cooler.
* For the coop, we remove their solid door and replace it with one DH made out of hardware cloth. The same with the windows, take out the storm windows and replace with hardware cloth screens. Also put a box fan up to help keep the air circulating (not so it blows on the birds, but up higher).

I'm sure there are other ideas out there, that's what I can think of right off the top of my head.

Good luck!

 

[chickrunfun]

Hello from Ormond Beach! I am a newbie to chickens and a new mom to 4 little peeps. Looking forward to learning much from this site and having lots of fun with my chickens! See you around the forums! Wendy

Welcome to chicken lovers r us CUTE babies!

 

[LynneR]

We got three duckies this weekend

 

[chickrunfun]

And welcome to the FL state thread!

I can tell you a bit about our set up...we're farther north but you're right, it's too warm for this time of year.

* Shade, all the natural & man-made shade you can provide your birds with. Our shed/coop has trees on 2 sides and the run is covered with a shade cloth.
* Lots of water. I put out extra waterers and sometimes put a frozen water bottle in the biggest one, depending how hot it is. I also give them a large shallow plastic pan of water, some drink out of it and some like to stand in it.
* Cool treats like cucumbers, watermelon, grapes, etc. Some people freeze the treats.
* I keep them in their covered run during the hottest part of the day, they can go out in the morning and early evening when it's a bit cooler.
* For the coop, we remove their solid door and replace it with one DH made out of hardware cloth. The same with the windows, take out the storm windows and replace with hardware cloth screens. Also put a box fan up to help keep the air circulating (not so it blows on the birds, but up higher).

I'm sure there are other ideas out there, that's what I can think of right off the top of my head.

Good luck!

Our Jeanie loves to stand in the kiddie pool we set up with a pile of flat rocks stacked along one area,. She gets up to her "knees" and just stands there, sipping and looking around.
Not terrible hot here in Tampa, yet, but we have an "intake box fan set in the window above the entry door (screened) and an "out take" fan on the opposite, far end of the house window. Kept it nice in there last summer
Jeanette and I been talking about setting up a mister in the coop too, last summer was UGH here. Someone somewhere on here had pics of their chickens...swimming...said the enjoyed it and that helped cool them off.

 

[chickrunfun]

We got three duckies this weekend

AW! Cute! I want a duck so dang bad it's killing me!

 

[LynneR]

AW! Cute!  I want a duck so dang bad it's killing me!  

If you are nearby, we got them at Foxes Feed in Odessa. Odessa is northwest of Tampa in unincorporated Hillsborough county.

 

[chickrunfun]

If you are nearby, we got them at Foxes Feed in Odessa. Odessa is northwest of Tampa in unincorporated Hillsborough county.

still working on the wife about ducks....even thought of slipping a duck egg under our broody hen, Jeanie.
" Well I have no idea, how that happened, hon. Honest!"

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Shade and water are the most important for the summer months. I have planted trees in all of my pens. All of the pens have shade/rain tables for the birds to get under and they do use them.