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

[jessschlles4]

Uhhg, the heat. Don't remind me quite yet! I love beach weather and lots of sunshine, but boy, I dont love being drenched in sweat! How does everyone plan to keep their flocks cool this summer? I plan to have them in the shaddiest spot, but I imagine the stale heated air with no wind cant be great for them. Maybe fans and chicken bathing? Any fun ice block recipes??

 

[KayRKay]

Hello everyone, Kay here also representing NW Florida, in Pensacola

 

[Red Banks]

Hello everyone, Kay here also representing NW Florida, in Pensacola

Welcome Kay!

 

[N F C]

Hello everyone, Kay here also representing NW Florida, in Pensacola

Hi Kay, welcome to BYC and the FL state thread!

 

[AlHawk]

I've planted BOSS on the sunny side of the run. The next time I trim my palm trees, I'm taking the fronds and strapping them to the roof of the run. The idea being to block the majority of the direct sun; not water proof. We're on the coast so we have a breeze most of the time. I have an old pool deck with all sand under it that they use for bathing. They love it under there. If I can't find them, I look under the deck first, then in the bamboo then in the brush pile. They have a lot of places to hide and get cool. I hope it's enough.

 

[Red Banks]

I've planted BOSS on the sunny side of the run. The next time I trim my palm trees, I'm taking the fronds and strapping them to the roof of the run. The idea being to block the majority of the direct sun; not water proof. We're on the coast so we have a breeze most of the time. I have an old pool deck with all sand under it that they use for bathing. They love it under there. If I can't find them, I look under the deck first, then in the bamboo then in the brush pile. They have a lot of places to hide and get cool. I hope it's enough.

It sounds very nice for them. Thousands of chickens are thriving in Key West!

 

[jwtyrcha]

I've planted BOSS on the sunny side of the run. The next time I trim my palm trees, I'm taking the fronds and strapping them to the roof of the run. The idea being to block the majority of the direct sun; not water proof. We're on the coast so we have a breeze most of the time. I have an old pool deck with all sand under it that they use for bathing. They love it under there. If I can't find them, I look under the deck first, then in the bamboo then in the brush pile. They have a lot of places to hide and get cool. I hope it's enough.

What is BOSS? Hubby and I are planning to put up a pergola type run for the girls around the coop, with a roof directly over the coop to shield them from the sun, hoping this will work to beat the summer heat.

 

[AlHawk]

BOSS is Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.

I bought them off of Amazon. Couldn't find them locally without buying a bag of bird seed and picking them out.

I also bought some sunflower seed from Home Depot but they're not black oil sunflowers; just normal sunflowers. BOSS is hi in "good" oils and nutrition for birds.

 

[N F C]

I can get large bags of BOSS from TSC and ACE hardware stores. The chickens really love them. Wild birds love them too so don't be too surprised if you find more of them in your yard (or coop, like I did).

 

[poppycock1974]

I can get large bags of BOSS from TSC and ACE hardware stores. The chickens really love them. Wild birds love them too so don't be too surprised if you find more of them in your yard (or coop, like I did).

Are sunflower seeds to be given the same as the treat guidelines or can you put out more than the 10% of their diet rule?