It’s been raining off and on since last night here on the farm, and that has given me an opportunity to get some much-needed rest. It’s been pretty chaotic around these parts for a few weeks now! It’s frustrating when I feel that I’m not getting as much accomplished as I should, but I have health issues that need to be minded, and so a respite once in awhile is really quite necessary.
The precipitation hasn’t deterred the chickens from their foraging; only when the rainfall is quite heavy do they run for cover. Most go inside their coop, but there are several little troopers who have figured out that they can hang out under the eaves and not get pounded by raindrops. When the rain lets up, they have first dibs on the earthworms that have come up to the surface. Those are some happy chickens, let me tell you. I swear, I see some of them doing the Snoopy Dance Of Joy out there. I’d try to capture it on video, but all of my previous attempts to document their antics have been met with the same attitude held by Sean Penn towards the paparazzi. Plus, I’m back in my jammies. Yeah, it’s that kind of day.
I received my new copy of Backyard Poultry yesterday in the mail, and have already enjoyed a couple of the articles, including one with information on how to best care for your flock during the heat. It turns out that I had already implemented some of their suggestions simply based on my gut, such as not feeding them as much crumbles, making sure they are getting plenty of water, and misting them with the hose if necessary. I stopped refilling their feeders during the day once things got hot, with the notion that they should be outside foraging anyway – not only to save us on feed costs, but also, those chicken bodies put out a lot of BTU’s – better that the heat disperses outside, rather than literally being cooped up. As it turns out, that’s exactly what the professionals recommend – cutting their carb/crumble feed by 60% in hot weather. I’ve certainly noticed that they are more motivated to go outside and find their food! When they come in for the evening, their feeders get refilled.
The water was also a matter of common sense – chickens can’t sweat, feathers are great insulators, and so water plays a crucial role in helping them to cool down. They also pant – which I must admit is one of the more amusing sights in my day – but I always insure that they have what they need. Chickens have hollows in their bones that are connected to their respiratory systems, and panting allows them to cool those air sacs, and also vent the hot air out.
Not unlike us humans, they will also raise their wings in order to expose their armpits and cool off. Combs and wattles are part of their poultry HVAC system, too – in fact, misting those with cool water will actually help them to run at a proper operating temperature on really hot days. If you ever notice those turning purple, it’s a DANGER WILL ROBINSON moment, because it can mean they are having a stroke.
One thing that I might want to improve upon is their dust-bathing facilities. While we have a dirt driveway that leads back to the coops and barn, and they have made use of it, I am thinking about making a specially designated area for them. I’d like to incorporate some Diatomaceous Earth into their dust bath, to help with parasite control. I haven’t noticed mites, but this would provide a little further insurance – I already use it in their bedding as a preventative.
I need to wander out soon and check for eggs – we’ve been getting about 3-4 a day so far, but as our younger hens start coming into maturity, we hope to be seeing several dozen a day! Watch here for progress reports.
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