Friday, June 29, 2012

Helping our hens survive the triple digit heat


Happy Aloha Friday!!  How are you guys doing with the heat?  My temp gauge says 102!!  I've been VERY focused on taking care of the hens, wild birds, and other backyard visitors....the squirrels have been sprawled across tree branches, the hens and other birds are panting, bless their hearts.  So I've got bird baths filled, various drinking stations with ice in it them, and I run cold treats (cold yogurt, sunflower seeds, even cold milk) out to the hens fairly often.....Natalie and I also dunk their feet in a water bath for a bit.  

Which brings me to my first interesting tale:  Buffy and Peach were laying together in the coop, panting heavily, and I suppose trying to lay their eggs.  I just didn't feel sitting in the coop cuddled together was a good idea, I took them out and held them both in a water bath for a minute and...PLOP!...there went Buffy's egg in the water :)  I read on-line about a woman who rigged up a cool space for hens by using a big plastic trash can with ice packs in it so the hens can lay against the can (or even in it)....so I rigged one up here, and we'll see.  

During all this, I witnessed a black bird trying to throttle a sparrow in the birdbath--I stopped the rumpus and have been trying to help the sparrow....I'm not sure if it'll make it or not, but when a hen is hurt, it's best to isolate them while they recover.  So I've got a sparrow in a box of leaves in our guest bedroom.....and Erin should be home any minute.  Wish me luck :)

Stay cool and hydrated! 
  

ps If you have any ideas on how to keep the hens cool in this heat, please let me know!!

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