Lost 2 today.....

[4 ever Orpington]

I am devastated. I live in Southern California and we had a record shattering heat spell today. 118°. I had fresh water out for my chickens, fresh cold watermelon, a fan, a mister and various containers storing ice. We had 4 chickens total. This afternoon I went to check on my girls. They were only 2 years old. They were behind the ice block. Together. They had passed. A buff (my hugger) and my Cochin. I don’t know what else I could have done. We buried them beside the coop under the fox statue.
I would like to get 2 more buffs and raise them from chicks again. They seem to be the friendliest. My question is this. I have a barred rock and an Americuana, both 2 years old. Will it be possible to integrate chicks into the flock they are old enough to go into the coop?

Buffs are precious! So sorry for your loss!

 

[LittleCheepers]

Well, my originals and my littles are not completely integrated just yet, but they’re getting closer every day.
I built a new coop this past winter/spring and moved the littles into it first. My originals hung out around the run off and on for about 6 weeks. I would feed all of them together several times by throwing out treats next to the run. They were still separated by the wire. Last week the littles turned 11 weeks old and something just made me go ahead and let them out one evening, about an hour before roosting time. Of course the four old biddies came running/waddling across the yard to check them out. I was worried, but that’s my MO. They all did surprisingly well. Only a few pecks. The littles can run/fly to get away from the hens and it’s not bad because they aren’t confined. There is still quite a size difference in the hens/pullets, but the five cockerels are almost the size of my hens, just not as fluffy as my BO’s.
Now when I let the littles out (they don’t venture too far from the coop), the hens will come over as if to say Hi then mosey on to do their own thing. However, the originals have now started going inside the coop/run some. I look at that as a plus because that is soon going to be their coop/run as well.
The littles have ventured over into the originals’ run and even snuck in a dust bath in the good, soft, well-turned dirt. But the older ones aren’t too keen about them being in there. The other day I was collecting eggs and saw my little Dominique dust bathing in the originals’ run and saw the hens were headed that way so I decided to hang around. My head hen, a BO, snuggled down into an adjacent hole and started dust bathing with her. It was neat to see that. Two of my others came in and tried to run her off, but I didn’t let them. I know I shouldn’t have interfered, but I did. Both big and little continued to dust bathe. My last old biddy came up and was successful at stopping my little Lena (named after my DH’s grandmother who raised “dominikers.”) But now, the precious part. Lena scurried out of her hole and scooted in beside Biscuit, my head BO. They both just layed there for several minutes cooing back and forth to each other. I almost teared up. It was so sweet of Biscuit to take the little one “under her wing.” And of course I snapped a picture. Made me proud.
I think they may just be helping me in the integration process.

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That is too precious! How awesome that you were able to see that and even more special to have a picture!

 

[New2Chicks97]

Sorry you lost two of your girls.
I know I would be devastated to lose any of ours. And UGH that heat . It is in the 80’s here and I was just thinking how hot that felt compared to the 70’s we have been having. 118.....I would be melting.

We did integrate a new fully grown Favaucana girl we adopted. She is older than all of our girls as she is a year old and ours are just getting old enough to lay. We just put her out when they were free ranging. The only two that attempted to even pick on her were the Buff Orpington and the Wyandottes. Our Easter Eggers were unfazed and haven’t even bothered her. Good thing half of our girls are EE. Makes for a pretty laid back group.

I hope your find some awesome little ones to add to your flock.

 

[BarkingDog]

So sorry to hear that.
I am in Los Angeles and we saw our girls struggling like I’ve never seen before. One was near unconscious so we picked them up and put them in dog kennels in an air conditioning room. Same today, let them out at 5:30 am and put them back in At 11am. We had ice, misters and plenty of shade but this heat wave almost took them out. I’ve read other posts where people say it’s a matter for the hens to get used to but when it gets over 106 it’s way to tough on them . Hope your other girls are fine, again sorry for your loss!

 

[Trux]

Well, my originals and my littles are not completely integrated just yet, but they’re getting closer every day.
I built a new coop this past winter/spring and moved the littles into it first. My originals hung out around the run off and on for about 6 weeks. I would feed all of them together several times by throwing out treats next to the run. They were still separated by the wire. Last week the littles turned 11 weeks old and something just made me go ahead and let them out one evening, about an hour before roosting time. Of course the four old biddies came running/waddling across the yard to check them out. I was worried, but that’s my MO. They all did surprisingly well. Only a few pecks. The littles can run/fly to get away from the hens and it’s not bad because they aren’t confined. There is still quite a size difference in the hens/pullets, but the five cockerels are almost the size of my hens, just not as fluffy as my BO’s.
Now when I let the littles out (they don’t venture too far from the coop), the hens will come over as if to say Hi then mosey on to do their own thing. However, the originals have now started going inside the coop/run some. I look at that as a plus because that is soon going to be their coop/run as well.
The littles have ventured over into the originals’ run and even snuck in a dust bath in the good, soft, well-turned dirt. But the older ones aren’t too keen about them being in there. The other day I was collecting eggs and saw my little Dominique dust bathing in the originals’ run and saw the hens were headed that way so I decided to hang around. My head hen, a BO, snuggled down into an adjacent hole and started dust bathing with her. It was neat to see that. Two of my others came in and tried to run her off, but I didn’t let them. I know I shouldn’t have interfered, but I did. Both big and little continued to dust bathe. My last old biddy came up and was successful at stopping my little Lena (named after my DH’s grandmother who raised “dominikers.”) But now, the precious part. Lena scurried out of her hole and scooted in beside Biscuit, my head BO. They both just layed there for several minutes cooing back and forth to each other. I almost teared up. It was so sweet of Biscuit to take the little one “under her wing.” And of course I snapped a picture. Made me proud.
I think they may just be helping me in the integration process.

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Mothering instinct

 

[Melanie9565]

Well, my originals and my littles are not completely integrated just yet, but they’re getting closer every day.
I built a new coop this past winter/spring and moved the littles into it first. My originals hung out around the run off and on for about 6 weeks. I would feed all of them together several times by throwing out treats next to the run. They were still separated by the wire. Last week the littles turned 11 weeks old and something just made me go ahead and let them out one evening, about an hour before roosting time. Of course the four old biddies came running/waddling across the yard to check them out. I was worried, but that’s my MO. They all did surprisingly well. Only a few pecks. The littles can run/fly to get away from the hens and it’s not bad because they aren’t confined. There is still quite a size difference in the hens/pullets, but the five cockerels are almost the size of my hens, just not as fluffy as my BO’s.
Now when I let the littles out (they don’t venture too far from the coop), the hens will come over as if to say Hi then mosey on to do their own thing. However, the originals have now started going inside the coop/run some. I look at that as a plus because that is soon going to be their coop/run as well.
The littles have ventured over into the originals’ run and even snuck in a dust bath in the good, soft, well-turned dirt. But the older ones aren’t too keen about them being in there. The other day I was collecting eggs and saw my little Dominique dust bathing in the originals’ run and saw the hens were headed that way so I decided to hang around. My head hen, a BO, snuggled down into an adjacent hole and started dust bathing with her. It was neat to see that. Two of my others came in and tried to run her off, but I didn’t let them. I know I shouldn’t have interfered, but I did. Both big and little continued to dust bathe. My last old biddy came up and was successful at stopping my little Lena (named after my DH’s grandmother who raised “dominikers.”) But now, the precious part. Lena scurried out of her hole and scooted in beside Biscuit, my head BO. They both just layed there for several minutes cooing back and forth to each other. I almost teared up. It was so sweet of Biscuit to take the little one “under her wing.” And of course I snapped a picture. Made me proud.
I think they may just be helping me in the integration process.

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Thanks for all the info. I’m so nervous about raising baby chicks again and integrating. Chickens can be so mean!

 

[Melanie9565]

Thanks for all the info. I’m so nervous about raising baby chicks again and integrating. Chickens can be so mean!

your girls are super cute!

 

[Melanie9565]

Sorry you lost two of your girls.
I know I would be devastated to lose any of ours. And UGH that heat . It is in the 80’s here and I was just thinking how hot that felt compared to the 70’s we have been having. 118.....I would be melting.

We did integrate a new fully grown Favaucana girl we adopted. She is older than all of our girls as she is a year old and ours are just getting old enough to lay. We just put her out when they were free ranging. The only two that attempted to even pick on her were the Buff Orpington and the Wyandottes. Our Easter Eggers were unfazed and haven’t even bothered her. Good thing half of our girls are EE. Makes for a pretty laid back group.

I hope your find some awesome little ones to add to your flock.

This heat was unusual I just heard someone else in our area lost 3. I have never seen it this hot here. Glad your integration went well. I’m trying to find a couple of speckled Sussex chicks.

 

[Melanie9565]

So sorry to hear that.
I am in Los Angeles and we saw our girls struggling like I’ve never seen before. One was near unconscious so we picked them up and put them in dog kennels in an air conditioning room. Same today, let them out at 5:30 am and put them back in At 11am. We had ice, misters and plenty of shade but this heat wave almost took them out. I’ve read other posts where people say it’s a matter for the hens to get used to but when it gets over 106 it’s way to tough on them . Hope your other girls are fine, again sorry for your loss!

My husband and I were just saying that 105° They are a little stressed but ok when proper measures are taken. 118° is insanely hot even for us here in Los Angeles. They seemed stressed, but fine. Laid eggs and were walking around. I left for a bit and came back and 2 were gone. That quick. Today was better. Only 105° in the foothills.

 

[Mimi13]

My husband and I were just saying that 105° They are a little stressed but ok when proper measures are taken. 118° is insanely hot even for us here in Los Angeles. They seemed stressed, but fine. Laid eggs and were walking around. I left for a bit and came back and 2 were gone. That quick. Today was better. Only 105° in the foothills.

This day and time I’m not sure if any person is without A/C (I’m certain there are), but I honestly cannot imagine the stress, the anxiety, the everything else it brings on. I haven’t been to LA in the summer months, so I was wondering if you have humidity in conjunction with the heat? Here in Alabama you can cut it with a knife and I hate it. I feel for all the older people who are suffering from the heat as well.
I do worry about my chickens and my two outside dogs suffering from the heat. The horses do get hot, but several of them will roll in the water at the edge of the pond. My oldest dog is an outside dog. He will be 11 the 17th of this month, but he seems to be holding up fairly well. Both the dogs get under our big deck, along with our four original hens and stay cool. They lay next to the vents under the house. Unfortunately we have too much cool air under the house. I suspect an air duct leak, but they enjoy it.
I am sorry for your loss and hope you can find a couple of the Sussex. I know you will love their personality.