Nearly lost my favorite pullet today. Breaks my heart how hot it is outside. Tomorrow heat index is expected 111-degrees. Much of the country is in heat warnings.
She is on the left right next to the fence in this photo.
Rooster has varied color on his neck hackles because he's in molt.
At last, I hauled a limb in from the woods and tied it up for their access. The on on the limb is showing her pale salmon colored breast=plumage in this pict.
These females are so alike that I can only tell my favorite because of her leg band, and the two adults by seeing their legs are less yellow because they have been laying longer (They are still a bit heavier and have bigger combs than their daughters). Having cookie-cutter chickens is a good thing in a flock, from what I hear.
Found the favorite pullet in front of the nesting box seemingly unable to move and panting like crazy. She was on a pullet egg -- and squawked like a broody hen when I went to take her out of the house and put her on the ground -- dipped her feet in a water dish for a bit and then set her down.
I'm fearful about tomorrow's heat. Plans to make a run to a gas station for bags of ice, and to turn on a sprinkler in their run.