Marans, Sapphire Gems, and Barred Rocks in hot climates??

[Ebz5003]

I am currently in SW Virginia and contemplating a move to South Texas with my flock, which includes about 10 Marans, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Sapphire Gems. Can these cold-hardy breeds do okay in hot climates? If so, what do you do to keep them cool? Thanks

 

[alinas2010]

We live in Wyoming, cold winters, down to -30s/40s sometimes, but in the summers temps can get up to 110. Dry heat, so not even a bad heat. Even at that, our one sapphire gem does not do well. Once it hits about 80 she struggles a bit more than the others and is the first to start panting and holding her wings out.

Once it hits about 85/90 we wet the grass, bushes and trees down a few times a day, freeze gallon jugs and let fans blow on them in the coop, deep shade, frozen berries. Spray the coop and surrounding grounds down before bed to cool everything off. Idk if spraying things down will help in a humid climate like Texas, bc it’s the evaporative cooling effect that cools the air here since it’s so dry. Maybe there are dryer parts of Texas that could work in.

I hope your girls could adapt okay. Plan to have lots of deep shade and misters maybe. AC in the coop? Good luck!

 

[C Siena]

I am currently in SW Virginia and contemplating a move to South Texas with my flock, which includes about 10 Marans, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Sapphire Gems. Can these cold-hardy breeds do okay in hot climates? If so, what do you do to keep them cool? Thanks

We have 4 BR, 2 SG and the adults did well in S Ohio during July & August. We have plenty of ventilation But they free range every day, all day. If hot or heavy rain, they go under bushes, which we were going to pull up until that became their preferred get away. We have woods and trees but their fav are the 3 overgrown Taxes (?), which we have decided to leave be for them. We have not seen any panting, having difficulty breathing in the past two summers. We also have a plastic baby pool (3'D x 10"T) with a couple inches of water that no one used.
We also have: Marans mixed, Buckeyes, RIR, CQ, BlkS and all have been well.

 

[GreenJay]

Have a BR, Sapphire Gem, and a midnight marans here in hot humid south Texas . TBH, none of my girls like the summer heat much.

Lots of shade, run has full advantage of prevailing winds (SE here) and the coop and part of the run are under a large live oak. Have opaque roofing panels over some parts of the run also. I put out a shallow tub with water that they'll walk in and and wet down a couple of areas for mud puddles too.

I don't use misters since our humidity is usually high, but I will set up the redneck AC for the ladies to lounge by...

 

[Ebz5003]

Have a BR, Sapphire Gem, and a midnight marans here in hot humid south Texas . TBH, none of my girls like the summer heat much.

Lots of shade, run has full advantage of prevailing winds (SE here) and the coop and part of the run are under a large live oak. Have opaque roofing panels over some parts of the run also. I put out a shallow tub with water that they'll walk in and and wet down a couple of areas for mud puddles too.

I don't use misters since our humidity is usually high, but I will set up the redneck AC for the ladies to lounge by...

Good to know! How do your Welsummers do there?

 

[Mrs. K]

Do contact state departments on animal health and transporting birds across state lines. It is very important to do this correctly.

It will be highly stressful to move your chickens. They hate change - new environment, new climate, new digs. At least consider, selling these and getting new chickens when you get that set up.

Moving is stressful for people, the house, all your stuff, then setting up a chicken area, unless there is a coup/run on the property? And if so, there may be disease that your chickens have not been exposed to in the dirt.

Mrs. K

 

[C Siena]

I am currently in SW Virginia and contemplating a move to South Texas with my flock, which includes about 10 Marans, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Sapphire Gems. Can these cold-hardy breeds do okay in hot climates? If so, what do you do to keep them cool? Thanks

You can do a search for Transporting chickens Texas. A number of items come up. As WV has recorded a few cases of avian flu, I think you will need to have them vet checked 3 days prior to entry into TX. It will probably take close to 2 days to travel with 1 night to sleep.

If you are going to have acreage w/o neighbors close by, maybe you can slide by, I don't know. Think about how quickly you will be able to have a coop/run ready for your 14 birds and where you will keep them before it's ready.

 

[GreenJay]

Good to know! How do your Welsummers do there?

Actually those were brown leghorns, they did okay most of the time. But my two Speckled Sussex never seem too troubled by the weather, hot or cold.

 

[Ebz5003]

Actually those were brown leghorns, they did okay most of the time. But my two Speckled Sussex never seem too troubled by the weather, hot or cold.

Oh, okay...I wondered if I had it wrong! Thanks for the info.

 

[atomic]

My mom has kept sapphire gems and I suspect I also have one in central Florida with no issues.