Washingtonians

[TurtleChick]

hi all!

just wanted to throw this out there: to help keep my peeps cool i've been putting a few big chunks of watermelon in the freezer for about half an hour or so, then taking out to them in the mid afternoon (right as it's starting to get roasty hot out there). fortunately for them, their coop and run are built right under our huge gorgeous evergreen trees so they're in the shade. between the shade, watermelon, and vitamin/electrolytes in their water i've only seen a tiny bit of panting from them. they've stayed active - eating, drinking, dustbathing, fly-chasing - and happy. we have also sprayed the ground around their run (not inside the run) down which really helps it cool off in the evening.

good luck to everyone and their pets staying cool this week!!!!!!

 

[JennsPeeps]

 

[Sumatralove]

My son and I live in the Tacoma area and are in need of finding "boarding home" for my 2 precious geese ( non - aggressive and talkative) and my pair of cayuga's. We live in town and my babies are just too loud for the neighborhood. We will provide their food and if close enough, my son will come clean their living quarters weekly to contribute to their care.

Due to this economy I am having to go back to school (suprise!) and therefore we are unable to make the move we had planned to provide our feathered friends with acreage to roam and quack!

You are welcome to breed them, sell the chicks, gosslings, eggs etc to help offset the trouble. I am even willing to pay a small amount additionally if that will help them find a loving "vacation home"!

My son loves them and is not willing to give them up permanently.

Thank you for your consideration!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Hi everyone, I'm in Maple Valley.... 6 RIR girls - 3 could be laying first eggs as I sit here.... NOT the weather I had in mind for this precious event! My coop/run is thankfully 1/2 shaded by one of the remaining 100year old Firs on my property (check out my page for that story). I'm just trolling for ideas on keeping them cool - thanks for those already here! I thought I'd get laughed out of some of the rest of the country for complaining, considering that they go through this ALL the time but it's definitely a little scarey right now. I have a "chicken waterfall" in one shaded corner of my run - a hose on low propped over the chain link, splashing water on a rock pile that I made. This helping but I noticed they were panting last night when I put them to bed..... And my poor Newfoundland dog! Oh man.... dreaming of my home town in Alaska!

 

[JennsPeeps]

Hi unemployed chicken,

There are lots of suggestions for how to keep the girls cool:
* kiddie pool filled with 2-3" of water for them to walk in
* dunk their feet in water
* garbage cans tipped on their sides and lined with those frozen pads (think: chicken-sized walk-in freezer)
* hose them down
* hose the run down
* freeze 2 liter bottles and put those in their fav shady spot
* freeze melons or any fruit they like

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
I'm far away--but what kind of geese & how good are your cayugas?

 

[JennsPeeps]

Quote:
Here's the thread where I saw it mentioned: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=61883

 

[chookchick]

I tried the pan of cool water for them to hang out it--it was not a big hit. I even picked up Marjorie and stuck her in it as she looked like she was suffering. She hated it! How do you get them to even try it? The drink coolers (small freezy things) in their water was a hit.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Maybe some floating treats?

Imp

 

[justbugged]

I have been using the watering wand set on the center setting, that I use for my pots of flowers to create a cool rain shower for the chickies. The first time I did it they all hated the experience, but I saw to day that they are beginning to understand that it helps. The chickies have shade but the are still panting by late afternoon. I will be home all day tomorrow so they will get watered about once an hour for about 10 minutes at a time. I hope this will work.
I really don't want 25 chickies in the air conditioned house with me and all the puppies. Yorkies seem to think that they need to keep the chickies in their run, and no where the puppies comfortable house. I really miss having all the doors open. I love to wander in and out of the house all day.
I loved the idea for the frozen watermelon. I bought one a couple of weeks ago and no people have seemed to want to eat it or even think of it, as it has been sitting out the the garage refrigerator, so at least the chickies will get some frozen watermelon tomorrow.
Thanks for reminding me of it.
Well I will sign off for tonight. Best wishes on keeping everyone at least a little cool some how. Justbugged in Enumclaw