Well, I left my 4 week olds outside in the coop last night. I had a heck of a time getting them in the coop from the run at dark, but locked them down about the time the sun went down. They completely panicked. They were chirping and fussing so loud I could hear them 30 yards away at the porch. My DH said to give them a little time, and in an hour they had all settled in and were quietly cheeping to each other. Of course I worried about them all night and didn't sleep worth a darn. Of course they were fine this morning.
I decided to leave them out because the overnight temp was going to stay around 80, and the brooder is simply too small for 7 active 4 week olds.
The temp is 99 right now and it is only 2:45, so I'm providing them with cooling wading pools every couple of hours. A friend gave me some covers for stove burners that have roosters painted on them, and I turn them upside down and fill them with water and a few ice cubes. I did that yesterday (same temp then) and they caught on in a flash. I also put a plastic bottle with frozen water in the run area and wet down part of the grass. They are alternately scratching the newly damp areas and wading in the ice water. I caught one standing on the icy water bottle.
My Welsummer (who has been really standoffish) flew up to my shoulder when I was in the run today (sitting down playing with them). That is a huge step for her, and even the GLW, who has been as skeptical as any of the chicks about being held, was glad to see me.
I am so ready for fall. (Last winter after a week of being snowed into the house, I was so ready for summer). I choose to live in Kansas, I choose to live in Kansas, I choose to live in Kansas (repeated continually).
I decided to leave them out because the overnight temp was going to stay around 80, and the brooder is simply too small for 7 active 4 week olds.
The temp is 99 right now and it is only 2:45, so I'm providing them with cooling wading pools every couple of hours. A friend gave me some covers for stove burners that have roosters painted on them, and I turn them upside down and fill them with water and a few ice cubes. I did that yesterday (same temp then) and they caught on in a flash. I also put a plastic bottle with frozen water in the run area and wet down part of the grass. They are alternately scratching the newly damp areas and wading in the ice water. I caught one standing on the icy water bottle.
My Welsummer (who has been really standoffish) flew up to my shoulder when I was in the run today (sitting down playing with them). That is a huge step for her, and even the GLW, who has been as skeptical as any of the chicks about being held, was glad to see me.
I am so ready for fall. (Last winter after a week of being snowed into the house, I was so ready for summer). I choose to live in Kansas, I choose to live in Kansas, I choose to live in Kansas (repeated continually).
