New Mexico

[peterjarmo]

We hit 105'F today in Abq. This heat is tough on the chickens. I've only had some pullets for a couple months now, they're able to take this heat right? I've got them plenty of shade, fresh water, and I usually wet their run down mid-day but that's about all I figure I can do; so far so good but I hate seeing them pant all day...

 

[Rafaelsmom]

It's crazy hot. My 12 chickens drank almost 2 gallons of water yesterday. They're all hiding under tree suckers, pampas grass, vines. They all come out in the evening and are still panting and holding their wings away from their bodies. I hope we get a good monsoon season this year, and soon!

 

[peterjarmo]

I hear that, we've needed a good rain for a few years now...

My pullets are all 6mos old now and should be laying, some are even squatting when I get near them so I was confused why no eggs yet. Then today I went to the Los poblanos farm to get some of their balsamic vinegar (best stuff around) and the store clerk said all their hens stopped laying a few weeks ago because of the heat... So I'm hoping when it cools off I should be getting some eggs. Anybody else's hens stopped laying temporarily?

 

[blaundee]

Yes, most of mine have stopped laying thanks to the heat. I've lost several birds to the heat, so have taken to spraying them with the hose a few times a day... they dont like that at all, but I havent lost any since I started doing that. Then it rained today while I was gone, I wasnt expecting it so left my baby goats outside in the daypen... thankfully my sis Mary was home & able to run over to my house to put them up! LOL I cry for rain, then dont know what to do with it when I get it!!! hahaha

 

[peterjarmo]

Sorry you've lost a few birds to the heat. Have you thought of putting a mister system up in their run? The supplies are pretty cheap and not hard to put together...

 

[blaundee]

Do mister systems need electricity?

 

[colburg]

I have 60 birds in Loving NM, south of Carlsbad and they only get drinking water and shade to survive. We've hit 107 and on that day they only drank 2.5 gallons of H2O. They pant quite heavily and hold their wings out, but there's been no deaths here.

I honestly think that water and shade is all they need. The misters and other extras will make the chickens dependent on them and will weaken your flock overall.

 

[blaundee]

Easily said when you arent losing chickens.

 

[dak]

Easily said when you arent losing chickens.

Sorry for your losses. No losses here though. Shade and water is all I do.

 

[blaundee]

Steen- I cant figure out how to get to pm's on my phone unless someone sends one to me lol I want to know about your legbars.