What did you do in the garden today?

[MotherofOrpies]

So, a broody hen at about 15 days in decided to get off the eggs today for an extended period of time, she had taken breaks before but not this long. After her jaunt and dustbath outside she planted herself in the coop, by herself, on a roost for several hours. The temp outside was mid 90’s. She just recently went back on the eggs after at least several hours off egg. Any thoughts on what to make of this?

Sometimes when it is so hot, it is normal for the hen to leave the nest longer ( also, to be on the safe side, check for mites and lice and treat if she does have them) cos it is so hot, it doesn’t harm the eggs when they are left without the hen for some time

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Usually they turn bitter if they get too little water

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I have a chicken question.
My middle chicks born in April, 9 weeks old, fully feathered and beautiful. I sexed them w help of others a few weeks ago - 2 pullets, 4 cockerels - 2 undecided.
Shouldn’t the cockerels be crowing or making crowing noises by now?

It depends on which breed you have, my Orpintons started making noise when they were 6 months old, my others roosters usually start crowing when they are 8 weeks old

 

[Rick589]

Sometimes when it is so hot, it is normal for the hen to leave the nest longer ( also, to be on the safe side, check for mites and lice and treat if she does have them) cos it is so hot, it doesn’t harm the eggs when they are left without the hen for some time

These are BO’s BTW. Watching them run around in these temps is like watching someone running around in the Sahara desert at the height of the hottest day of the year during the hottest time of the day wearing a fur coat. I suppose, because I’ve never been to the Sahara and I’ve never worn a fur coat.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I don't think so although I'm sure the heat doesn't help... I seem to routinely lose birds when they get about 3 - 4 yrs old. They just slowly go downhill and die. The few I've taken to the vet have different causes. One had cancer. Another was ascites. All seem to exhibit the same curious lack of obvious symptoms other than lethargy and refusal to eat.

Strange, most of my hens are around 5-6 years old, and I consider them young I do have breeds which kind of die young, I haven’t had a lot of luck with Orpingtons ( even though I love how they look and are character wise) most of them died young ( around 3 years) but they were usually sick ( cancer, ovi duct inflammation ) I was shocked when a 8 year old hen died of „old age“… my other old hen died at 11,5 years and the other one will turn 12 soon, i hope

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have a chicken question.
My middle chicks born in April, 9 weeks old, fully feathered and beautiful. I sexed them w help of others a few weeks ago - 2 pullets, 4 cockerels - 2 undecided.
Shouldn’t the cockerels be crowing or making crowing noises by now?

Not necessarily. I had one that didn’t start until 7 months old. Then I had another (same hatch, different breed) who was successfully fertilizing eggs at like 3-4 months old, pretty sure 3 months. and I know this because they were my first roosters so no older ones could’ve done it LOL

 

[Molpet]

Put the screen in the clean out door opening of the coop and set a fan out in the chicken yard where they troops tend to hang to blow over them should they get too hot and start panting again. No takers yet, very inconsiderate of them to not jump at taking advantage of my concern driven efforts.

Predator proof screen?
I have lots of predators and I am paranoid
Mine never appreciated my concern either

 

[dirkandlorie]

Put the screen in the clean out door opening of the coop and set a fan out in the chicken yard where they troops tend to hang to blow over them should they get too hot and start panting again. No takers yet, very inconsiderate of them to not jump at taking advantage of my concern driven efforts.

I have shade cloth up on three sides of coop/run, 1 wading pool and 2 large box fans running. I'm sure its helping, my girls never leave their spots in front of those fans. Today is supposed to be the worst day of the heat wave, before it starts cooling down a bit. It was 85* in there at 7:30 this morning, yikes! Oh well, I'm armed with cold watermelon and frozen blueberries.

 

[WthrLady]

It is terrible. I don't know how my cousins are doing hay in this weather. I would fall off the tractor.

Don't think that doesn't dawn on us. "If I just melt into this seat, will the tractor keep going?" Probably. 'I wonder, how far?"

It's not just the heat outside either, it's the heat coming off the engine. OMG....Then add the chaff, the bugs, and lack of wind....I don't relax for the summer until after the hay is done.

=========
Fog so thick you could cut it today. Rain on the doorstep again, let see if it makes it.
I have strawberries to get into the freeze dryer. I'd like to get another batch of mashed potatoes in for DH and at least ONE tray of Lovage done. Maybe I'll do a whole machine of Lovage, that would be a quick run.

 

[Paz]

Ok, you’ll have to explain the lesbian flock mate. I know others will have to be asking themselves the same question.

She was a lesbian, I swear she wasn’t just “bossy” she was probably at the bottom of the pecking order. Looked like a small young rooster, and payed some eggs. And whenever she was alone with other hens, she would make a flimsy crow, and try mating them, only for them to attack her… my poor lesbian chicken, RIP