Texas

[TexasLisa]

Mandy, are you getting anything done today? You have a birthday to get ready for!

I am happy for you!

Lisa

 

[mandaleigh1981]

Mandy, are you getting anything done today? You have a birthday to get ready for!

I am happy for you!

Lisa

Yes, I fed chickens today! Does that count?

 

[bnjrob]

Yes, I fed chickens today! Does that count?

Some days just making sure all the living creatures on the old homestead are alive is an accomplishment!

 

[mandaleigh1981]

Some days just making sure all the living creatures on the old homestead are alive is an accomplishment!

Including the kids, it sure as heck is!

 

[jajeanpierre]

I was so excited to see rain, I went out to check the gauge and just walk around. (so refreshing) My flock was talking a mile a minute and eating bugs!

jajeanpierre: You might want to check out 'Fresh-Air Poultry Houses' by Prince T. Woods, M.D. It was written in 1924 and still holds true for today.

Lisa

Thank you. I had a look and my little coops (one on wheels, one stationary, but moveable by four people) was designed like that. I have Thoroughbred racehorses--fresh air is so important for their lungs, so building coops with lots of air flow came natural.

I'm worried about the Silkies getting wet with their open plumage and then getting chilled. When I was away and they were a lot younger, they were caught out in a rain storm and some got chilled. My son rounded them up but four died in the night in a dry pen in the garage.

I'm trying to research the double copy frizzles, and I keep reading about how their heart rate is much higher, their hearts are larger and their thyroid gland is exhausted by their trying to maintain their heat. The one frazzle (double copy frizzle) cockerel will probably end up as a house chicken if I can't find him guaranteed dry housing.

Housing my chickens is a work in progress. I read a lot of books and articles about housing chickens before I got them, but the learning is in the doing.

 

[TammyTX]

We are getting pretty good rain here east from austin.

I'm glad I put water and feed under cover for my six week olds!

If it dries up enough on Sunday I'm going to plant some Fall veggies in the raised beds. This rain should sprout the black eyed peas I planted as a cover crop in the in-ground garden.

I also have mango sized watermelons on the vine....I don't know how to explain to them they will never see maturity!

 

[TammyTX]

Jajeanpierre - This made me think of you!

As a side note...that chicken has really fat toes!!

 

[jajeanpierre]

I checked the rain gauge not quite 20 minutes ago because it had started pouring--1/2 inch. I just checked it not even 20 minutes later, 1 1/4 inches and lots more to come.

The naked frazzled Cochin was in a completely covered pen on a slight slope. Trouble was, the slight slope had a much bigger slope above it. They were in 2 inches of water. They are now in a crate in the garage.

I LOVE Texas weather--it is so big and dramatic!

 

[RachaelS]

On a lighter note, I have some chicken questions.



How do Silkies deal with rain and colder weather? I'm in the Hill Country near San Antonio.

Does everyone let their chickens out in the rain? I have a free ranging group of Ameraucanas that are 5.5 months old.

Thanks for your advice.

I don't have Silkies, but have heard you need to keep them dry. As far as the weather, not sure we really get cold enough here (ie Austin & SA area) to worry about it too much.

My chickens loved to be out in the rain, they know when to get their little chicken butts back in the coop!

 

[RachaelS]

I watch a show called "Transporter", it is a reality show about people that transport different things. The show I caught was about racehorses, it was fascinating. I never knew all that stuff about their lungs and how quick they can get sick if not transported correctly.