Ribh's D'Coopage

[Kris5902]

After a hot, nasty day...

Those are some happy chooks!

 

[Ribh]

Those are some happy chooks!

Yep. Most of them really love their watermelon. It's good for getting a little extra water in them on these really hot days.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I just wanted to let y'all know that tomorrow at 8 am I go in for my spinal tap. If anyone cares to say a prayer for me I'd be very grateful. Thankfully I will be sedated, but I'll likely still have some pain/discomfort afterwards.

I'll be offline until Monday, still no internet at home, but I will check in then.

How are you CCCL. I hope your procedure went well.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It was actually finally on our news this morning how potentially devastating Saturday may be. Everyone please stay safe.

Well it's 7.30pm on Saturday and 39C (102F) outside (29c [84F] inside and the air conditioning is struggling).

I have spent most of the day hiding from the sun with occasional forays outside to spray the chook run with the hose. The poor things have wings akimbo and beaks wide open. We are supposed to get a cool change around 2am tomorrow. I think I'll give them another shower before bed.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Is it a wave or just one day? I hope the fires don't escalate too much (I'm assuming there are a few already burning near where you live).

We're back down to 20 something today after 42 yesterday. There's a delightful cool breeze.

Oh yes, there is one on each side of the highway about 16-20km away from us, but our local firies are doing a brilliant job and have them under control and we are in no immediate danger.

The firies had 3 people from the local brigade at the local shops this morning talking to people about the current situation and explaining what they were doing with the Blue Mountains fires. They were very practical and reassuring. We are so grateful to them

 

[Ribh]

Well it's 7.30pm on Saturday and 39C (102F) outside (29c [84F] inside and the air conditioning is struggling).

I have spent most of the day hiding from the sun with occasional forays outside to spray the chook run with the hose. The poor things have wings akimbo and beaks wide open. We are supposed to get a cool change around 2am tomorrow. I think I'll give them another shower before bed.

I struggle in the heat. I turned on the fan & went to bed. Slept through the worst of it. The girls have dug big holes in the run to hunker down. I watered it down & added extra mulch this morning, cleaned the pen this arvie & now the evening breeze is in & it's reasonable. About to make sure everyone is roosting.

 

[Ribh]

Oh yes, there is one on each side of the highway about 16-20km away from us, but our local firies are doing a brilliant job and have them under control and we are in no immediate danger.

The firies had 3 people from the local brigade at the local shops this morning talking to people about the current situation and explaining what they were doing with the Blue Mountains fires. They were very practical and reassuring. We are so grateful to them

Stay safe. All these fires are so unpredictable.

 

[Shadrach]

My 2 bottom girls are Tuppence & Lottie. Lottie is really tiny, only about the size of a large teacup. During the day she scavenges for herself & does pretty well amongst all the big girls but I like everyone to roost with a full crop so the evening feed I have always had Lottie in my lap so she can feed unharassed.

My Campines are also smaller & lighter than my other girls, so I have been hand feeding them as well. This can be something of a circus as everyone else is convinced they are missing out on a super special treat & want in on the action. Tuppence is one of those super sweet chickies~ easy~going & not overly assertive & within the flock rather bullied & often off on her own. I suspect the bullying is why she does so much fence hopping.

Anyway, Lottie is her running mate. They will forage together & roost together @ night & generally seem to be good friends ~& I was happy for both of them. It's always better to have a mate. Anyway the other afternoon I was having so much trouble getting Tuppence space to eat I hoyed her onto my lap with Lottie. After all, they're mates, right? And there's plenty for everyone! Not according to Tuppence! For the first time ever I saw her peck another chicken & that chicken was Lottie! Lottie took off in disgust & Tuppence settled down for a pig out.

@Shadrach, the wet feed seems to be working a treat & Tuppence seems to prefer it to the dry. I haven't noticed an increase in the amount they are eating or a reduction in water intake but it is summer & it is pretty hot.

Pleased to read the wet feed is appreciated by Tuppence.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I struggle in the heat. I turned on the fan & went to bed. Slept through the worst of it. The girls have dug big holes in the run to hunker down. I watered it down & added extra mulch this morning, cleaned the pen this arvie & now the evening breeze is in & it's reasonable. About to make sure everyone is roosting.

It seems to be cooling down a bit here. The girls have gone to roost and I've just hosed down the coops hoping for some evaporative cooling

Stay safe. All these fires are so unpredictable.

Thanks Ribh, you too

 

[Shadrach]

You are. I have John, but on those days we are both gone, I have to set up so the chooks can manage on their own because I don't have anyone I can rely on. I need to visit my mum but it is difficult to organise & John is a tad nervous as he lost one of my girls on me last year.

That is one of the problems with having other people look after you're animals. If something goes wrong, the guilt and the sorrow is more than I care to inflict on someone else.
I find it odd that so many people now are prepared to, or in some cases have to, get unqualified and inexperienced teenagers to look after their children while they go to work.