"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

Pics
Date sort Score sort
forgetful said:
bigoledude said:
 
How do y'all keep your birds cool in these cauldron-like summers?  And, what measures do y'all take for mosquitoes and gnats?  

I am going to have some eggs in the Hideous-Bator very soon.  Finally!!!  Anyway, y'all know it won't be long before the chicks are old enough to live outside.

My question is concerning the coop and run during the dog-days of summer.  I know about the frozen bottles in their water.  I plan on having very good ventilation in the coop covered by hardware cloth.  If you've ever watched NFL football games in hot climates, they use VERY FINE misters with fans to cool the players.  I had an irrigation business for years and used these misters in customer's backyards to lower the temps around 10 degrees on brutally hot days.  So the chickens will be able to get into the mist if they want to cool off.  Of course, I will provide some shade for them.  Any other ideas for keeping the ladies cool?  

I've already mentioned how bad the gnats and mosquitoes get here up against the marsh.  So, I was thinking of hanging rags with some sort of repellent soaked on them.  Hoping the chickens will walk through the hanging rags, swiping themselves to rid themselves of the tormenting bugs.  As I've written here before, we used this method in the "olden days" on our cattle and they would walk in a huge circle head-to-rump, round and round through oil soaked sacks to rid themselves of biting flies.  Think it'll work?  

Thinking of putting a high CFPM (cubic feet per minute) fan with a timer inside the coop to help keep the gnats and mosquitoes at bay during dawn and dusk when the bugs are at their very worst.  What do you guys do for biting bugs?

Trying to keep 'em cool and bug free? .
Click to expand...



You've already had some replies, but here's my two cents. lol. Permethrin10 eradicated the gnat and mosquito problem for my chickens, and we live in the middle of woods. As far as keeping cool, I use shallow pans filled with water for them to stand in. It gets changed daily, because it will become disgusting and attract bugs despite anything you are using to ward them off. Shade is an absolute must. If you put a fan on the coop it will double as cooling and a bug repellant. I would be careful with the mister and be sure it isn't soaking the ground. A wet coop or run attracts bugs.

In my opinion, if my birds are in a coop and run that is covered, with a water dish to stand in, they typically fair very well. If they get a fan in their coop I believe they set for the summer. I find bugs more of an issue than the heat, because bugs will drive the chickens crazy and work them up to where they can't stay cool. I keep my coops and runs extremely clean. The heat amplifies all of those lovely chicken smells and seems to draw the bugs in more than anything.
Click to expand...


I just bought some permethrin. I want to be sure I don't kill my chicks. When you sprayed the yard, did you keep them off of it for a certain amount of time? I noticed the ratio is 1:200 to spray directly on the chicks and 1:19 to spray coop and yard. Is this the amount you used?
 
lakones said:
Ve seen the term Mottled used, what exactly does it mean? Just that there is too many light colored feathers? Someone told me that in reference to 1 or 2 of my isbar chicks and I think I have 1 or 2 Ameracuana chicks like that too.
Click to expand...

Mottled is two colors. My orust are mottled birds. I haven't seen a Isbar one yet. I have one that looks like yours so we will see. I would cull them as breeders but are fine for someone just wants pullets that lay colored eggs. A roo I would cull unless some one needs a roo for a mixed flock.
Pam
 
Ron Skekel said:
Mottled is two colors. My orust are mottled birds. I haven't seen a Isbar one yet. I have one that looks like yours so we will see. I would cull them as breeders but are fine for someone just wants pullets that lay colored eggs. A roo I would cull unless some one needs a roo for a mixed flock.
Pam
Click to expand...


I was just reading the thread Turk linked above. At least with Ameracuanas it seems some folks are breeding for mottled. They are beautiful none the less.
 
lakones said:
I was just reading the thread Turk linked above. At least with Ameracuanas it seems some folks are breeding for mottled. They are beautiful none the less.
Click to expand...

I think so too. Though I haven't seen an Isbars yet. My orust are completely mottled I love there color.
700
 
My son had two maniac little terriers. One was a fierce hunting Jack Roussel and the other was a Patterdale that was fabulous on coons and possums. Together they were the most incredible team I'd ever seen!

Two nights ago he let them out to run off something unknown outside. They both are gone now and, we believe it was coyotes. Coyotes are notorious for sending one lone coyote towards the dogs as a lure. When the dog starts to chase after it, he retreats to where the whole pack is waiting.

I was closer to these two than I've ever been to any dogs in my life. We've had great dogs all of our lives. My brother raised field trial champion Labs and Beagles. But, these two were beyond special. My grandson and my son were always amazed how they's come running to me and be just as lovable as a canine can be. They both told me many times that they never reacted that way with anyone else.

I guess as we get older.... I'm gonna miss them.
 
bigoledude said:
...
Click to expand...
My son had two maniac little terriers.  One was a fierce hunting Jack Roussel and the other was a Patterdale that was fabulous on coons and possums.  Together they were the most incredible team I'd ever seen!

Two nights ago he let them out to run off something unknown outside.  They both are gone now and, we believe it was coyotes.  Coyotes are notorious for sending one lone coyote towards the dogs as a lure.  When the dog starts to chase after it, he retreats to where the whole pack is waiting.

I was closer to these two than I've ever been to any dogs in my life.  We've had great dogs all of our lives.  My brother raised field trial champion Labs and Beagles.  But, these two were beyond special.  My grandson and my son were always amazed how they's come running to me and be just as lovable as a canine can be.  They both told me many times that they never reacted that way with anyone else.

I guess as we get older....    I'm gonna miss them.
[/quote

So sorry for your loss. That's so sad. We do tend to get attached to our animals and especially dogs. They most often become a part of our family.
 

Similar threads

cajunlizz
    • Like
    • Love
ANYONE FROM LOUISIANA ?
4 5 6
Replies
55
Views
9K
WhoDatChick
WhoDatChick

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom