Illinois...

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

My CX water intake has reduced greatly. Really weird since its extra hot.
Reduced by a couple gallons a day. I was filling 2.5 gallon waterer 3 times a day. Then yesterday a t second fill up noticed it half full, then again in evening. Same story today. I know they don't sweat like we do, just concerned with the sudden drop off. They will be 8 weeks Tuesday/ Wednesday.

 

[NotAFarm]

Are they eating less?
If they are eating less due to the heat, they will also drink less since they don’t need the extra moisture to digest the feed.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Are they eating less?
If they are eating less due to the heat, they will also drink less since they don’t need the extra moisture to digest the feed.

Food consumption is steady. I wish it dropped off, not enough feed to get to new butcher date.
No sign waterer ever leaked.
Again I'm likely worried about nothing. Just odd drinking at least 30% less.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Had the most wonderful afternoon with @Faraday40 and the kids. There was building the longest Slip-n-slide we could with tarps and an actual slip -n-slide, trampoline jumping, bike rides, nerf gun shooting and of course swimming in the creek! It was hot, but so worth it. And of course lots of chicken talk amongst the moms. Cant wait to do it again!

 

[Faraday40]

Had the most wonderful afternoon with @Faraday40 and the kids. There was building the longest Slip-n-slide we could with tarps and an actual slip -n-slide, trampoline jumping, bike rides, nerf gun shooting and of course swimming in the creek! It was hot, but so worth it. And of course lots of chicken talk amongst the moms. Cant wait to do it again!

Aww. I agree. Both kids can't wait to go back. It was another days of "first"s. (They never went swimming in a creek/pond before, and loved it.) My son is love with your dog and talked about him during the ride home.

We made it home in time to put our chickens to bed, but did have a little scare. There was a pile of many black laced feathers in the middle of the yard. The laced are locked up, so we quickly located both our "Poof Poof" and "Trouble" Both are safe but Trouble's missing some feathers by her tail. No blood or any scratches. She's one tough old bird and I bet she fought back. Our tiny little Sebright has a habit of beating up the giant orpingtons. She can really put the 12-15 lb roosters in their place! I'm so thankful all are accounted for.

The one sad part of today was poor Cookie. I gave her 6 incubator eggs a week ago. (My fancy SLOs) They're due to hatch this Wed/Thurs. Not exactly sure what happened but 2 eggs were missing this morning. I think another hen pushed her off the nest and smooshed - then ate - the eggs. They were there yesterday afternoon but simply vanished. Then tonight, I discovered another hen in Cookie's nest. I pushed the hen out only to discover a cracked bloody egg. Poor Cookie is down to only 3 eggs.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Then tonight, I discovered another hen in Cookie's nest. I pushed the hen out only to discover a cracked bloody egg.

This is what was happening to my hens in the big coop. All the other hens kept chasing the broodies out of the box and sitting to lay their eggs. The chocolate and bottom of the totem pole lav couldnt stand their ground. One or two eggs did get smooshed, but was infertile. My cal Sky stood her ground, but then the other hens would just squish her to get in and sit on her. That's how I ended up with garage broodies. Glad those days seem to be gone....for now. It also seems Sky is now done with her chick as of tonight. She was on the perch and her baby stuffing itself under the lav mom.

But I'm sure cookie will adopt whatever you give her if anything is coming out of the inky soon, even with these babies. She's such a special mom!

And also I think my DS enjoyed your DD company today. He just said that today was the most fun he's had all summer.

 

[Faraday40]

Cookie's in broody jail. No in or out of the nest unless I say so. I can't take if she loses another egg and must protect the last 3.

What's funny to me is how often I have used this thin netting to contain chickens.
This is what I use when I introduce new birds. I make a hanging wall with thin plastic mesh and clothes pins. On both sides the hens will talk smack, but never actually attack. Hen says, "I'd totally beat you up if this wall weren't here!"



Of course here's my toughest bird. Little Trouble lost most of her tail from whatever attacked her yesterday. Other than funny-looking, she's doing well.

For @Molpet
Turkeys are growing and will be 3 months old in a couple days. Our new neighbors are moving in and love the turkeys. The 2 white look male and will drop wing / strut. Their faces can get red. The brown is smaller with some head fuzz.

 

[Molpet]

Turkeys are growing and will be 3 months old in a couple days. Our new neighbors are moving in and love the turkeys. The 2 white look male and will drop wing / strut. Their faces can get red. The brown is smaller with some head fuzz.

Glad the neighbors like them. Hope they aren't upset come Thanksgiving and Christmas

I agree 2 jakes and a jenny

 

[Molpet]

This is what I use when I introduce new birds. I make a hanging wall with thin plastic mesh and clothes pins. On both sides the hens will talk smack, but never actually attack. Hen says, "I'd totally beat you up if this wall weren't here!"

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

My first hatch..... so excited!