Eyren Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Any tips on keeping the girls cool in the current heatwave? I have ordered a winter shade and a spare glug'n'grub (my secondhand Mk II has the old peanut feeders), but until the stuff arrives my south-facing garden is not the most chicken-friendly of places I did the obvious before coming to work this morning, e.g. checked their water was full, and luckily the OH is working at home today so he's rigging up some temporary shade. I also suggested putting a couple of ice cubes in the water (not that they will last long!)... Any advice most welcome Cheers Anne P.S. The girls are only 15-16 weeks and thus not laying yet, so broodiness unlikely to be a problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 You're doing all you can there - so long as they have access to water and the shade, they will be fine. I sprinkle mine with water from the watering can - they like it when it's so hot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 You're doing all you can there - so long as they have access to water and the shade, they will be fine. Thanks - the OH tells me they are sheltering in the eglu, which seems to be cooler than the run, even shaded. I sprinkle mine with water from the watering can - they like it when it's so hot I'm not sure how mine would react - we've only had them a couple of days and they are a bit shy still (I'm holding off on the treats until they've settled in, as Migsy has had a few runny poos) Cheers Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Try putting a tray (old cat litter tray works fine) with water in it in the run - that'll col down the surrounding air, and give them something to paddle in - mine like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Mine just drank from the tray. Lifted Trinny in and she just flapped out spraying me in water They just moved away from the hosepipe on fine spray I tried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Oh well, you tried - at least you're allowed to use a hosepipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilly d Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 I've been v worried about my chicks in this heat but had a brainwave and draped a couple of soaking wet beach towels over the run (which already had the standard and winter Omlet shades but these didn't seem to be up to the extreme conditions) and then have kept chucking buckets of water over as they've dried out. The girls seemed much happier with this new arrangement (in fact I was almost tempted to climb in with them...) Downside is you have to be around to keep sloshing the water over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted July 18, 2006 Author Share Posted July 18, 2006 Thanks for all the tips! The OH draped white towels over the run yesterday, and today I moved the run down to the far end of the veg patch - only a few metres, but the eglu and run are now in the shade until about 1.30pm The eglu is covering the bed where I sowed some pak choi, but I have a bit more seed and in any case anything germinating in this heat is unlikely to survive long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 My eglu is in the shade or part shade from about 11am, so it's fine. The girls free range all day and hide out under the bushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted July 18, 2006 Author Share Posted July 18, 2006 My garden's too small for a separate run (i.e. one bigger than the eglu) and I don't know if there are foxes in the area - I can't recall seeing (or hearing) one since I moved out of London, but I'm taking no chances! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 All this emphasizes that anyone thinking of making a permanent site for their Eglu and run needs to go out now in the midday heat and find the ideal position. I reckon that under a tree is best, with a run extension going beyond the shade to enable them to get at the sun when it isn't so strong. But you need a shade over the whole run at this time of year - and not the famous plastic shower curtain, or they will fry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I sat down in the garden yesterday and took with me a pint glass of orange squash with ice cubes in it. I put it down on the grass while I adjusted my chair - and before I knew it, Spot was in there taking huge beakfuls of my chilled orange squash... and looking very pleased with herself!! is nothing safe?? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Ours try to get to our Pimms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 They'll nick anything. The other morning, I thought I'd closed the back door when I went upstairs to get something, but when I came back down, the cat's bowl, which had had a fair few chunks of cat food in it (which the cat wouldn't eat) when I went upstairs, was empty, and there was a large puddle of runny chicken poo on the kitchen floor. But back to cooling measures. I've just had an idea (apologies if someone else has already suggested it elsewhere). You get some empty plastic bottles - the big sort are probably best - or any container really I suppose. You fill them with water and put them in the freezer to freeze the water, then put them out for the chickens to use to cool themselves down. Richard T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 Great idea - the house is full of empty 2litre Coke bottles (teenage son seems to live on it, and Tesco's plastic bank is full - again!), so that would be easy. Oh, hang on - the freezer is full of home-made lemon sorbet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslaura Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 We've been having a massive heat wave here in Northern California as well. The last few days have been over 100 degrees F (about 41C), and right now it's 99F inside our house! I've been going out and misting down the girls every few hours, putting ice cubes in their water, and dropping frozen peas for them to eat. Thank goodness I moved their run to under a giant sycamore tree, that's probably the coolest place in the yard right now. They have dug out holes under the bushes where it's cool and moist, and are both pressed into the ground. They seem OK, and are only panting occasionally, but neither has laid an egg in two days. I guess they are really feeling the heat, poor things, in spite of all my cooling measures. This week is supposed to be cooler, I certainly hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I think you win temperature wise , in the UK it is a measly 30 something degrees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 Oh, your poor chooks Laura. They are so lucky to have you looking after them like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 In the summer here it only gets down to the 90's at night, and can be up to 122. I freeze water in large plastic gallon jugs as from milk or vinegar containers, and rotate them into the coop. Also I have a deep mulch system with pine needles on top, and hose the run down daily to send poo to the bottom. The girls love to dig in it, eat bugs, and sit in the cool damp earth. It is under a tree but when the sun slants in on summer afternoons I have a wicker three panel screen that I move next to the water glug to provide additional shade. For fun I sometimes take a large shallow tray like a baking half sheet and fill it with crushed ice and cooked whole wheat spagetti and bits of cut up cucumber, tomatoes, and fruit. They have a great time running in and out of the icy tray to retrieve the treats. I also briefly run the sprinklers during the day. Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Oh and I have a small clip-on fan in the cube, and when really hot at night put flat blue ice rectangular under the cube bars as well as the large frozen gallon jugs. Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 We're hitting 97f (36c) today....and possibly 100f tomorrow When I built my WIR I was thinking more about the summer than the winter as I saw how well they survived the winter. My WIR is leaning against my garage, sheltered from wind and it is north facing - but despite this I've added shades, cold cucumbers in some corn holders and every night I freeze some blocks of water to drop into their waterer in the morning. Also - this morning I added an extra shade to keep the waterer cool. My big question is should I discourage free-ranging when it's super super hot? They run around like crazy when they are out and about but they all sit in the shade calm and peaceful when they are confined to the WIR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Oh and I have a small clip-on fan in the cube, and when really hot at night put flat blue ice rectangular under the cube bars as well as the large frozen gallon jugs. Renee okay so I'm not the only crazy lady who is thinking of adding a fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 One other thing, amusing, I have had a fountain in the back garden years before the ladies joined us. When it is terribly hot they like to gather around it next to the shaded porch, and sit on the edge of its two layers! Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 No, I am definitely crazy when it comes to trying to make the girls comfortable in the heat. At Home Depot they have those big outdoor swamp coolers for construction crews. So far I have resisted! I have thought of adding one of those to the run. I wouldn't worry about them running around as they free range, mine find the shade. Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 One other thing, amusing, I have had a fountain in the back garden years before the ladies joined us. When it is terribly hot they like to gather around it next to the shaded porch, and sit on the edge of its two layers! Renee awwww what a lovely sight that must be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
