Worry - we're having a sudden 30 degree increase in temps to 110+

[Lunachick]

This is a good start for us to get acclimated for summer weather. Especially us up here in these parts - y'all. Next weekend looks better! Until those weather people change everything for us again.....

 

[jjthink]

Two down, two to go! Days with 100+ heat indexes that is.

Then a break. Today and tomorrow to be the hottest. Only 9 a.m. here and already unbreathable. Yesterday, even tho 100+, didn't seem as bad as it already feels this morning. By last night, Annie was open mouth breathing. Poor girl. My routine during these conditions: Fans on in coop (last night I turned the fans straight on them - something I usually don't do. Ice in water, changed regularly. Cool fruit offered at various points in day, sometimes even dipped in ice water before serving! Unfortunately, my little darlings make a bee line to my neighbors bird feeder, beneath which a lot of seed falls, Unfortunately there is a lot of corn too. I was out there early this morning trying to get most of the corn up as I know they are eating it and should not. Their run is very muggy (white puffy mold spots showing up like crazy - I take it out of there along with the dirt it forms on) so I like to let them out when I can keep an eye on them so they can find a spot that feels better but the downside is that birdfeeder corn. They may burst into flames. Hope I can get them through today and tomorrow.......

Corey, I want the power to change the forecasts like that!!

Luna/Ginny, I do have AC in the house, thank goodness! (2 summers ago when the 100+ heat indexes went on too long, and then 115 was predicted for 2 more days I brought them indoors - converted a room in the basement to chicken central - only 2 chickens though!) And I hear you about those weather people. They better not be kidding about the reliief coming!

Ruth/Monique, so true about it being cold so recently. I barely got the flannel sheets changed to regular sheets before this heat wave hit.

ChickPeas, did everything turn out okay so far?

Milton/Dennis and Seminole/Karen, I don't know how you take this kind of heat there in Florida! 4 straight days here is 4 days too many! Seminole, hope your broody fares well - what you are doing for her sounds perfect.

Spotted/Brenda and Bawk, hope all is well up in your neck of the woods - hoping for you that it's at least a tad cooler than this crud.Tho it's probably not much better. Hope Obelisk is well SC.

FutureChicken, haven't contemplated a geothermal cold box but good for you for pondering something so sensible!

Rachel, glad your feathered friends are faring well in that AZ furnace. Thank goodness it's dry heat. From what I understand, chickens struggle much more in humid conditions with high dew points, and we're over the top in both categories right now....the air is so thick that it feels more like a solid.

happyhen, hope things in Ohio are improving.

Quote:
Sue, we might have to hurt you.

JJ

Edited to add that I found out Annie loves to swallow small ice chips (bright shiny object thing?) so I gave her a few when she was open mouth breathing last night. WIth any luck that cooled her a bit! Yours may like them too. BJ roo was soooo not interested.

 

[priszilla]

it was 102 yesterday here -- SC- our homemade coop AC was much simpler- but not cheaper- a fan, a garden pump, copper tubing , aquarium tubing (fits pump, sams size as copper tubing too) , zip ties foam cooler- same concept.I put some ice in the cooler this morning .Am freezing jugs to use for the next day. must take pix- it was about $30 all together

 

[SpottedCrow]

Obelisk dug a nice big wallow and stayed in it for most of the day...almost all my back yard is shady thankfully...I let her drink cold water from my bottle, made sure Ernie didn't catch her doing it...LOL

They may burst into flames

I only put food down at night time because *I* certainly don't feel like eating when it's like this...​

 

[jjthink]

Today is the last and worst day of the inferno, for now anyway (hope the next heat wave is a long ways away). No air movement whatsoever (so I hope the front can actually get here!). Counting the hours...hoping no one will have any more losses.

Annie was doing some relentless open mouth breathing by noon yesterday so I made she and BJ stay inside with a fan till after 6 p.m. It was still HOT inside but not 110 like outdoors. And the fan kept the air moving - priceless difference. Annie welcomed small ice chips - they really seem to help - her open mouth breathing stopped after each ice treat. BJ would have nothing to do with the ice chips, so I guess not all will accept them...Both readily took cool fruit delivered hourly (so much for getting to work yesterday - I was afraid to leave them unattended in this heat). I never saw either of them drink, despite constant water changes and fresh ice in the water.

I am actually most worried about 2 precious baby squirrels stuck high up in a purple martin house that sits on a pole, roasting in the sun all the live long day. They are too young to get down, their mom did not anticipate this kind of weather so early in the season, and they are roasting up there. I don't have a way to reach them and just hope they can hold on for one more day. They look utterly miserable and weak. If you are so inclined, send a wish for wellness for these babies, who before this were playful and loving (group hugs with their mom on the roof of the purple martin house).

JJ