NY chicken lover!!!!

[Prisserbabe]

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I used to have 8, now have nearly 80

haha thats awesome !

 

[Sachasmom]

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The chickens and all looked fine today, my white calls lay in the sun, go figure? Couple of my rabbits looked awfully hot but were fine this evening, I had to check on them a couple times. I did have a doe kindle today and she was fine too, but darn, it was freaking hot out there!

Its possible that there was an underlying cause for the silkies death (Are silkie feathers warmer than "normal" chicken feathers?) so anything that has a high parasite load or some other underlying issue will be more likely to drop from heat stroke. I find that young stuff and pregnant rabbits are more likely to go down from heat stroke, so I check them more often, but
I've been breeding for heat tolerance. Some of them barely looked hot today even... Its hard if you have a life/job (I don't) and can't check on stuff every 20 minutes or so, which is about the time it takes for something to go from hot to "Oh crap"

I lost a couple hens last year that all got in the same nestbox, I saved one by bringing it inside and sticking it in the shower, the other one I couldn't save, it was brain damaged.

I think there is something wrong with my cat though, it doesn't look like heat stroke or urinary blockage, so I dunno what it is. Just looks wrong to me... I might have to run him to the vet tomorrow, which means I will be skipping my docs appt for this month too to pay for that. Seriously, anyone wanna buy a bunny?

Or an Ameraucana that may or may not be a Roo?

Or maybe someone would like to buy my husband, cuz if he tells me one more time I have too much stuff and need to get rid of some of it, I am going to hurt him...

 

[featherz]

Mine were panting a lot yesterday (and will be today too, ugh). Everyone except the leghorns, who don't even notice heat unless it nears 100. I just let everyone out to free range and they camp out in the woods, which helps. Also have multiple pans of water with electrolytes and fans. Silly birds actually try to lay eggs in the heat of the day so I have fans blowing on the nest boxes, but they still look very uncomfortable. I expect that if it gets much hotter, I could lose at least my obese brahma..

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

I am in the same boat as everyone else. I have both my daughters hosing down the runs and checking waterers and chickens while I am at work. I have two glw hens that dont tolerate the heat well.

Sorry for your loss critter. I worry about my silkies as well but so far so good. I do have them parked under some pine trees and their coup and run are shady all day. So far they seem to be handling the heat well. I do throw frozen bottles of water in the runs for everyone and have bought bags of ice and frozen fruit to help them through. I am having a hard time with this heat so I cant imagine wearing a down jacket in it!

Sachasmom--I think we have the same dh. I dont know about you, but since I am the one who does all the work with the cheeps, I figure he has nothing to complain about.

Stay cool everyone.

 

[magsrags]

Just read it's gonna be about 98 here and humid today again. The peeps will be free ranging today for sure. I'll let them find their own cool spot.
Would they really wade in a small pool?

 

[Cass]

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My silkies, esp, like the water. Will go out of their way to walk in a puddle and I cured one of a sore foot by soaking it twice a day ....he squatted down in the sink and seemed to want to stay there... so they might wade in a shallow pool....If you have one around, it might be worth a try....I don't have one, so they can pant until I get home with watermelon.

 

[magsrags]

Hmmmm......I have some other containers I might try out today. Otherwise it's watermelon.

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My silkies, esp, like the water. Will go out of their way to walk in a puddle and I cured one of a sore foot by soaking it twice a day ....he squatted down in the sink and seemed to want to stay there... so they might wade in a shallow pool....If you have one around, it might be worth a try....I don't have one, so they can pant until I get home with watermelon.

 

[rancher hicks]

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Critter- I am sorry for your loss.

It's been hot for sure. I use nipple waterers which are fine in the coop but my birds seem to prefer the basic drinkers. Also I have a tub that I fill with fresh water. I think they can drink more water when they have the basic waterer as opposed to the nipples which give little drops.

You also might want to freeze "cans" of water and then drop this big ice cubes in the waterer. Give plenty of shade and even put a fan out to create a breeze.

I have hardware cloth and screening over all the windows. So I can leave them open at night. Chickens generate alot of heat.

take care and be well,

Rancher

 

[greymane]

This is our first year with chickens, but they seem to be doing fine with the weather yesterday. No panting or other issues. They were even milling about like normal. The ducks were enjoying the water. We also have a rabbit (Holland Lop) that is getting ready to kindle, but she (along with the others) seemed to be doing fine.

 

[sherpagirl]

Hi fellow NYers!

I just discovered this NY group, I'm not on BYC a lot because I find it to be too big, so maybe this will suit me better. I am in New Woodstock, NY, 20 miles SE of Syracuse. I got my first chickens, 8 Barnevelders, in spring of 2009. I have since then become pretty serious about improving this beautiful sweet breed. I hope that more people in NY will become interested in breeding them. They are perfect for this area, they love the snow (well, as long as you shovel a path ;-) I also have a flock of BCMs and a few misc. birds - a few Ameraucanas, an OLivegger, 3 BLR Wyandottes and a pair of SP Plymouth Rocks. Like most chicken keepers I have a few cockerels to find homes for this time of year - an extremely beautiful large wheatenXwhite Ameraucana, he looks like an eagle, and 2 very nice BCMs, all 3 are 9weeks old. All of my birds are nonhatchery stock. I'm also looking for a home for my BCM roo. Email me if you want to see some pictures or know more about their lines, etc. I'm not sure how to post pictures on here.

Or if you're close by, come on over for a visit!

Nice find some other NY chicken lovers!

Donna