Smoke and chickens

[momto5ladies]

I'm in Northern California and am surrounded by fires. The smoke is awful as is the air quality. Doe's anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to help my girls cope with all the smoke. I've been giving them lots of lettuce hoping that might help flush their systems but I'm really worried about them.

 

[Starburst]

I've heard that hanging damp sheets around the run, hardware cloth, and windows can help. I'm sorry that I don't have any more advice. Hopefully, someone with more experience will be along to help soon.

 

[Pghelp]

I'm in NorCal too. I've tried the damp sheets for cooling them off. Not sure if it really helps with the smoke. I also set the hose to mist and put that at the edge of their run. Hoping that helps the air. Not much else we can do but I'm open to ant suggestions!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Put lightweight curtains over the hardware cloth/chicken wire/screens and keep them damp. That filters out a lot of the ash. You'll need to totally rinse them out frequently, though, as the ash will clog the fires, trapping air and ammonia inside. You can do it while they are still in place, as long as the water doesn't run into the coop. The same trick works for your house windows - damp sheets hung over your screens and cleaned frequently. Both are lessons taken from friends who went through the Camp Fire a while back.
Good Luck ... and stay safe!

MROO gave good advice here.
My best wishes to you and your flock!

 

[momto5ladies]

Thank you both for your replies. I wish there were more I could do to help the girls. So sorry to know your in the same situation PGHelp. Its awful.

 

[momto5ladies]

Thank you. I've covered one coop and will do the same in the main coop.

 

[aart]

I've been giving them lots of lettuce hoping that might help flush their systems but I'm really worried about them.

It's their lungs that will suffer, lettuce will do nothing for that.
Covering the coop might help, but eventually they need 'fresh' air....
....and over-heating might also be an issue.

Scary stuff, canNOT imagine dealing with it.
Hope someone with experience comes along to help.

 

[Spikeandbean]

I asked about this in the NorCal thread last week, and consensus seemed to be that there's not much we can do. I haven't checked the Bay Area thread, but maybe it's come up there...? I've been misting their run occasionally, and I hose their coop out regularly (it's plastic), but I have no idea if that actually does much to help. I've been replacing their water more frequently (ash and gross stuff gets on it quickly). I also haven't let my kids in to interact with them, as it tends to get the chickens excited - I'd rather they stayed mellow and relaxed. (Most of the day, they lay low in the dust baths they've dug out. I figure the air is probably best down there, anyway.) I feel pretty helpless to make things better for them, but I am thankful we're safe. Good luck!

 

[Pghelp]

Yes, mine have been very low activity which I think is healthier for them. A bit of a thrill thus morning though, the air quality was considerably better in the morning and my 4 month old pullets came boiling out of the coop all crazy and flying like usual only more so! They knew there was more oxygen to breathe! We need some rain to help with the fires and to wash this nasty air. Stay healthy all, and your flocks too!

 

[achiekitty]

I asked about this in the NorCal thread last week, and consensus seemed to be that there's not much we can do. I haven't checked the Bay Area thread, but maybe it's come up there...? I've been misting their run occasionally, and I hose their coop out regularly (it's plastic), but I have no idea if that actually does much to help. I've been replacing their water more frequently (ash and gross stuff gets on it quickly). I also haven't let my kids in to interact with them, as it tends to get the chickens excited - I'd rather they stayed mellow and relaxed. (Most of the day, they lay low in the dust baths they've dug out. I figure the air is probably best down there, anyway.) I feel pretty helpless to make things better for them, but I am thankful we're safe. Good luck!

I just found out about this thread from a similar thread.

I'm in NorCal too. I've tried the damp sheets for cooling them off. Not sure if it really helps with the smoke. I also set the hose to mist and put that at the edge of their run. Hoping that helps the air. Not much else we can do but I'm open to ant suggestions!

This may not apply to your situation; our three chickens are usually free ranging, except yesterday when the sky was orange.
They like to hang-out right next to the vent at the bottom of the house in the afternoons where they can get cool and fresher air. At first, I thought they were hanging there because it’s right next to the kitchen. but they also hang-out on the north side of the house in the mornings. More recently, they claimed another vent closer to the house, still on the north side, but closer to noon time. They come towards the kitchen vent in the afternoon when it’s shady. They just sit there, unless I have a treat for them.
But honestly, I’m still worried about them. Our 6 yr old was making a barking sound this morning according to my husband. I put Vet-RX on all of them to hopefully relieve their breathing.