Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

What happened!

Shenandoah stole my pillow today I

 

[micstrachan]

I’m off to San Francisco now. My chickens are okay with my house keeper. I will keep you all posted .

Wave on your way by!

 

[MaryJanet]

Yep that's hot!

How do u keep your chickens cool? We get hot and humid here (+35C and very high humidity), and o find it challenging to keep horses and chickens cool ... Fans full tilt in the barn.

I'm not sure how I'd do it in a hot and humid climate (although those are the conditions in which jungle fowl live, so if there's enough deep shade and fresh, cool water they should be fine).

Here the climate is very dry and hot. So I installed a misting system in their run. Today the forecast is for 35C (which means it will go up to around 37C at my house) so the misting is running at 8.30am to give it chance to get ahead of the heat.

The misting nozzles produce a super-fine spray which evaporates - it's important the hens' feathers don't get wet because dry feathers insulate them against the heat.

Like most of us, I'm sure you'd remember from school that evaporation uses up the heat in the surrounding environment, leaving the environment cooler.

The misting system reduces the temperature by roughly 10C. Coupled with some shade, it keeps the hens dry and cool.

 

[BY Bob]

Shenandoah stole my pillow today I

Was it a feather pillow

 

[MaryJanet]

A Memory
Everyone who reads here regularly will recognize that Aurora truly hates the snow. Well 3 years ago Aurora was not in charge. Her sister Maleficent was. So great was Maleficent's hold on her that Aurora would go out and explore the snow with her.
View attachment 2954249

Mal always had that 1 tail feather that seemed out of place. So endearing.

And some rare video proof.

@Ribh, @micstrachan, @MaryJanet, @Aussie-Chookmum, @ChicoryBlue, @LozzyR, @Chicken poppy

Mal was such a good hen

 

[MaryJanet]

Unpleasant Finding

I went inside for about 10 minutes to make myself a cuppa coffee. I knew all the girls were either in or behind the run, pretty well protected, and Lexi the dog was out there as well. When I came out, everyone was still hiding in the run, except for Roxy and Flash. I found them behind the run and Flash was standing a bit like a penguin. I can’t remember if I posted the video, but yesterday I took a video and commented that I did not like the yellow color in her face. I caught her and walked her over to the sun. I held her in my lap and warmed her up and she seem to enjoy it. Then she suddenly got nervous and ran for cover. There must’ve been a hawk or something that I did not see. So I went back inside, crushed up a calcium citrate, and put it into baby bird formula with a little bit of Nutridrench. I caught her again, brought her back out into the sun and offered her the treat. She gobbled it right up. However, as I watched her with her treat, I noticed that her left pupil is irregularly shaped. I am beyond bummed. I think most of you know that that is a sign of ocular Mareks. That combined with her yellow skin has me very concerned. I’ll try to get a photo.

I'm so sorry Michelle

 

[Ponypoor]

It actually occurred to me but I need to be out there to harass them with it.

Still it might be fun.

Eggs-actly my thoughts!

 

[Ponypoor]

I'm not sure how I'd do it in a hot and humid climate (although those are the conditions in which jungle fowl live, so if there's enough deep shade and fresh, cool water they should be fine).

Here the climate is very dry and hot. So I installed a misting system in their run. Today the forecast is for 35C (which means it will go up to around 37C at my house) so the misting is running at 8.30am to give it chance to get ahead of the heat.

The misting nozzles produce a super-fine spray which evaporates - it's important the hens' feathers don't get wet because dry feathers insulate them against the heat.

Like most of us, I'm sure you'd remember from school that evaporation uses up the heat in the surrounding environment, leaving the environment cooler.

The misting system reduces the temperature by roughly 10C. Coupled with some shade, it keeps the hens dry and cool.

Good to know, it's usually humid here with our heat, but occasionally it will be very dry.

 

[Ponypoor]

Shenandoah stole my pillow today I

Wasn't sure how to reply but did she doodoo on your pillow??

 

[Ponypoor]

Was it a feather pillow

@Bob - good one