Michigan

[Opa]

I think that this heat is already starting to affect people. Yesterday's talk about shuckin' off clothes and rain dancing. While I could probably handle the leg shaving if it was absolutely necessary, being outdoors in my birthday suit with the sun turning things crispy scares the heck out of me.
Stay cool folks.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Thanks for the naked rain dancin'!! It worked here in Fife Lake over night! Do you know any "cooler weather" dances???

 

[sj3364]

78 degrees and steamy when I let the girls out this morning. Not a good sign of things to come. Getting my ice packs and frozen milk jugs ready.

 

[uchytil]

Reality - 90 plus, humid, t-showers, hail , and all the fixin's! I designed a hang-in AC for my rabbitry. My birds get frozen milk jugs and ice in the waterer - simple stuff and they huddle around it just fine.

On a fun note: I took the wifey and dogs to Tippy Dam yesterday (our secret deep water swimming spot), packed in the chairs and picnic. Even though it was 90 back home it was sooo nice in the oak shade with a gentle east breeze and the water was fantastic. No bugs whatsoever either which by itself is a major must have! I'll never devulge the spot.

 

[RaZ]

I should give the dogs a bath. That is a sure-fire way to get it to rain.

 

[jgervais]

Anyone know of a place near Jackson MI that will process just a few birds? Not sure I have the courage/time/space to process my own, and this EE rooster is getting too pushy...

 

[Avalon1984]

Quote:
I'd love to help you but I am up here in Muskegon. Maybe try the Meat Bird section?

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
would if I was a younger model krisrose...but not so much these days. Tho I did set in the lawn chair with the garden hose with a very flimsy house dress on, sprayhing here and there around the chicks yard and now and then my own head, I got pretty wet by time I went in. amazing how fast you dry off on a day like that. Thursday is supposed to be worse. I will have to keep my big dogs in for the week.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
oh c'mon, sounds like a good place to meet up and have a skinny dipping party, I'll bring 2 ducks.

 

[Chickmate]

I must be in the sweet spot, only 92 degrees in the shade here today. My coop and run are almost completely in the shade which makes it much cooler for the chickens on days like this. I just went out and refreshed the waterers with cold water and frozen bottles of water in the waterers. Everyone seems to be doing fine. They are out free ranging in the woods behind the coop which I have cleared of brush, so it's just tall trees, leaf litter and lots of shade.

Today I got my 4th brown egg. I think all of them have been from Scarlett my ISA hen. I have seen two of the EE's sitting in the nest boxes but no eggs from them yet. Can't wait for my first Marans eggs!

My dogs go out to do their business and make a beeline back for the house. All three cats are chillin' inside today as well. Speaking of beelines, anyone else having problems with yellowjackets? I've gotten stung twice, once yesterday and once the day before in two different areas. The first was when I was dumping water on my prickly pear cactus in the back yard and a swarm came out and one got me on the leg. Then yesterday I was watering my huge boston fern hanging on my front porch and they have invaded that as well. One got me on the thumb. I tried the toothpaste on it and it seemed to help some. Just wondering if this is the year of the yellowjacket.

Today is the last day to treat the chickens for mites, but I'm afraid to stress them out in this heat. I gave them 1/4 cc of Ivomec by mouth on July 4th and was supposed to re treat them between 10-14 days later to kill the mite life cycle. Not sure if I will try to do it tonight or just let it go and give them a dose in their water next month. I haven't seen any mites since the coop clean out, thank God.

Keep cool everyone!