So, what's more stressful (for YOU!). Too hot or too cold?

[kla37]

GR8 picture!!! I am more worried about the heat. We live in central North Carolina, and this heat wave is nuts even for us! Our winters are pretty mild. I think my fluffy butts (I LOVE their fluffy butts!) will be fine. Our winters get chilly, but not too bad. It rarely snows, and our coop and run are pretty well-built. Real roof on the coop and the run will get a real roof next week. Actually, the house may end up in Oz someday but the coop will stand up to anything....

 

[rcentner]

I am more stressed about keeping them cool, I am born and raised here in the north and myself hate the heat. Was counting the ways snow is better than heat yesterday when I was sitting in my,, just barely cooler than outside, house.
The reason I stress less in the winter is:

I insulated plenty for cold days, I bought cold hardy breeds, have water heaters. I am prepared for cold.
So I am prepared for 90-100 degrees by.....ugh.....uhhhhh...still working on that. What can I do when I am at work all day? I put the fan down for them and put extra shade over the run. idk, they are still super hot.

plus, for me, I can ride horses when it's cold and snowy (not when it's this hot)
I can go sledding with my nephew (and it's free, unlike the water parks)
I can start a fire and put on more long johns.

gimme some snow!

 

[libbyhan]

Good advice on the kiddie pool. I just went out and let the hose run down a small hill in their enclosure. They were all standing in the runoff and drinking at a spot that it pooled (and they have THREE waterers out today). I loved that their little feet were being cooled off. 2 chicks wouldn't come over and they are still panting. Poor things.

I have a brooder on our three season porch with these guys in it. I just put ice in their water and put a cup of ice in the brooder. They are all huddled at the other end, trying to get away from the mysterious CUP. I have a fan on for them and they are in total shade.

I HATE the heat. I find it hard to function and it makes me crabby. I'm hoping that I find the cold easier to deal with- even with the fuzz butts to worry about!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Too hot! I'm new to this and haven't been through a cold patch with them yet, but today it's around 100. It freaks me out when they pant. I've carried out plates of ice cubes (they like this), set up a box fan (with a frozen water bottle in front) and misted them twice. I had to close the coop for the misting as they just wanted to get away from the water. Seems to help though. Ice cubes in their water....I need more trays! Frozen water bottles in the coop at night. Their run is in the shade MOST of the day, except of course, for a while during the hottest part of the day. But they always have some shade. Someone in my area lost a chicken yesterday - they think to the heat - so I'm vigilant. Glad I'm not working today or I'd REALLY be worried!