❤ hello Bobbi here from Illinois thank you I’m so glad I stumbled across your page because I have three leghorns I’ve been watching numerous videos where people are spraying their chickens and I never as a child growing up seen my dad sprayed his chickens I will continue watching your channel cause I don’t wanna kill my chickens thank you so much❤❤
Love those birds. They're so nutty. We've had a beautiful spring so far this year, 60's and 70's for the most part. Not bad at all for Atlanta. Rain's been a little heavy but not terrible. I've got my birds shaded pretty well all day except for a little over an hour at mid morning. They hit the coop for a little siesta while that's going on. Late afternoon the suns behind the trees and the hawks are down for the day. That's their favorite time of the day when they get out to terrorize any moving critters on the property. lol
@Blacks Gone Wild Vol.1 That's does not sound very nice. I wouldn't support someone with a sale by buying from a person/business who has their chickens in an environment where they can't move. There are plenty of other places to get poultry.
👍good advice, thank you. Chickens will not drink warm water, I have to put cold fresh water out several times during hot days & I freeze big milk jugs for cooling the hens, they lay up next to them. Also we wet down areas & add diatomaceous earth so they can make a cool little nest to lay in. We freeze brocoli, fruits & vegetables & they attack them. If we find one in distress we take it in the house & let it sit in the dog kennel after dipping it part way in room temp water.
This is my first year with chickens and I am blessed to have a local grocery store that lets me have all the fruits and veggies that they are going to throw away. I also go through my garden and pick whatever is available. My one girl that just started laying stopped after about eight eggs, but our temps have been high nineties and into the hundreds which is unusual.
My chicken coop is a little smaller than yours. I decided to put cardboard down on top of the bedding and it’s so easy in the morning to scrape off the poop and the coop is quickly cleaned for the next evening. It also saves using more bedding. My chickens are happy with it and so am I. 😊🐓
Thumbs up n sub. Good advice. We have a farm up in the mountains at the top of the Sonoran desert. It is a full time concern for keeping our chickens Kool. A good thing up here the evening and night it cools way down instead of continuing through the night like the South. Stay strong and live free. We do all these things. Our girls love water melons and get loads of goodies when Leslie is canning. Keep urself cool as well. Thanks Dandahermit. Our coop is super vented and clean with a vinyl floor so wood isn't soaking fluids.
two times a year would be the deep liter method. Most suggest this because most do not live in the desert lol thank you for the linolium liner idea! Im doing it for a single birds cage currently, but would have thought to do my big coop like that.
Awesome tips. I put little ice cubes in my chickens water and give them a shallow tray that they can dip their feet in (gotta change that daily for sure). I also freeze ice cubes with little veggie treats frozen inside 😄 Mochi and Mishka seem happy about it. They are liking the electrolytes tho! I gave them to them as chicks but not since they reached maturity. But I can tell they perk right up after some chicken Gatorade! 🙏 Thanks again for all the tips!
Greetings from South Mississippi!! I have four red leghorns and we’re going through our first summer together. Excellent points and suggestions in your video. Thank you!! I actually freeze 16 oz water bottles and place them in my girls five gallon water bucket on those hot days. I also have a large shop fan set up at the end of their run that blows through the run and into the coop itself. I recently added a mister system to my fan but use it sparingly. I’ve read that overuse of a mister system is not healthy for chickens; respiratory issues. My coop bedding is hemp, and I clean it daily with my trusty cat litter scoop. The girls appreciate the daily cleaning as do my neighbors; I live in town. Thanks again for sharing!!
We live in Houston Texas this last weekend it was so hot. We lost one of chickens, we thought we had protected them enough. We have dark shade , a cooling fan and shallow water pans.
Sorry for your loss! Im south of Houston as well and some of my chickens are quite old. A couple of them got too hot and Ive had to keep them inside for awhile. Now they go out but I bring them in during the hottest part of the day still. @@teresabell1014
Very thoughtful care of your chickens, a pleasure to see! Here in CA almost everyone who has a hot patio has a Misting cooling system. Put up high enough it won't create too much water but it does cool the air. However many emitters installed dictates the amount of wet and cool. Three or Four works well. Parts on e-Bay, cheap. easy to set up, worth the time. My girls are pretty happy!
VERY nicely done and helpful information. I live in a subtropical climate (coastal south Alabama) Our hot, humid, wet conditions are a fact of life 6 months of the year. Still took away great tips! Thank you!
During the summer I take a whole side of the chicken coop off to let a breeze go through and just cover it with chicken wire. I'm in Utah so the summers get insanely hot and the winters are beyond cold.
We do a lot of these same things out here as well. Watering the ground, adding ice to their water, maintaining lots of shade, and frozen treats are needed out in West Texas.
Are those cream one amberlinks we got 10 of them they did great this passed winter in the Midwest where it got -40 and 4 feet of snow and didn’t slow down egg production much compared the the Easter eggers and Rhode Island reds
Yes, we have 2 amberlinks. They are probably my favorite breed among my flock when I consider personality, egg production, adaptability, etc. Their medium dark brown eggs are so beautiful too!
I’ve actually been doing all of this besides wetting the ground, but I do have a fan in their coup at a slanted angle that points on the roost... if that’s a bad thing plz lmk,.. new to having chickens... I have a black Cochin that is my fav chicken and he always has his mouth open on hot days which is everyday in the summer in Louisiana lol... I also keep a shallow pan of water that I will dunk his feet in and get a little under his wing but after watching this I hope that isn’t a bad thing- I don’t soak him or anything just splash up onto him... any tips, advice would be appreciated ! Thanks 😊
Congratulations on your chicks! Bedding type can depend on a lot of things. Pine shavings are a good choice. They are cheap and very absorbent, however take a while to break down in compost. Chopped straw smells good and is light. It is more expensive than pine shavings. It needs to be cleaned more often though as it is less absorbent than pine shavings. It breaks down well in compost. I do not recommend hay. Hay is often used as a food source for other livestock. It is moist and can mold easily.
We use wood shavings with diatomaceous earth powder keeps the itch bugs away. & if you raise them with redwood shavings your chickens wont try to eat it & your coop will smell nice. When you wet it down in an area for them to keep cool it won’t give them itchy mites.
Hi.this is an observation and in no means a criticism or have no idea if its even correct but thought I'd mention it. Thinking about your concrete boundaries/walls...do they react like an oven retaining heat and heating up? Would wooden post and rail fencing with chicken wire be better with shade options aswell. If dig the wire deep enough they don't scratch it up. Or just fence panels that shade and let bit of air flow throw. Maybe that's hotter than the cement/brick walls. Just thinking out loud. I love your ladies home and defo going to give them the drink. I give our 3 ladies a water melon once or twice a month too. Cut into quatres they spend quite along time getting right under it where its on its side. We made ours a swing and no interest in it what so ever! Have you tried it with yours? Ours love a bail they hop on and pick at. We water their grass area and the worms come up...u know they love that! And my girls are carb crazy especially pasta and spaghetti and chips are a massive fav! Stay safe!
Those are great points! Our wall actually stays relatively cool, I don't know how! I do think in the summer it isn't ideal as far as airflow goes, but the idea for having a solid wall near the coop is to provide shelter from the elements. Where we live, we get extremely high winds. It doesn't rain much, but when it does it usually hails. This location keeps the girls as dry as possible. The wall isn't going anywhere, because we are renting, but I do think in the future when we move we will design something really special for them. I think they do fine in the run when they need to be in there for their safety, but they do prefer to free range of course. My girls love watermelon and spaghetti noodles too haha. I am so glad it's getting back into watermelon season again!
@@reachinreverie I think.they already have somewhere extremely special. I love how much you care for them and think your set up is fab. I love watching our girls potter...I sit down and call it 'chicken tv'! Such funny animals! We have one of those electric timed doors and we didn't change time when clocks changed and our girls seemed like they were stomping about most cheesed off! So funny!!! Sometimes I get more sense out of them than the kids!
Any thoughts on a sprinkler in the backyard? We have one going in the morning on hot days for our garden. That too much spray or the over spray ok for them? Secondly their run has plenty of natural shade but I’m concerned the actual hen house may become a bit stuffy. The there is plenty of ventilation, it it happens to be located in our garage. I will a small fan directed at them from the top of their coop cause more problems then good?
Nice video. Do you have Amberlinks? Would be interested to have your opinion about them. Also don't feel odd about wearing a hat! I'm in New England and even in May I'm wearing my broad brim Oklahoma hat when I work on my farm. People should wear hats more often.... they used to, you saw hats everywhere, but the practice is almost out of vogue now. Too bad.... they're very protective from sunburn and UV injury, as well as keeping your head and vision comfortable in glaring sunlight. New sub!
I do have 2 amberlinks. I love them. Amberlinks are very productive layers with gentle personalities. My two lay almost every day and they are the sweetest and calmest of any of my chickens. They are not quite as heat tolerant as some of my other girls, but they are still absolutely one of my favorite types of laying hens. Amberlinks lay medium dark brown eggs. This time of year, I always have a big hat close by :)
@@reachinreverie ... I've had three Amberlink chicks for 5 weeks now. They're growing rapidly! They are quite tame because I've moved them inside the house at night because we've had a longer, cooler spring than usual. Right now they're asleep in a cardboard brood box I set up next to my bed. During the day, they're outside in a coop. I love the coloring of your adults... can't wait to have a whole flock of them. I raised barred rocks on our Oregon farm when I was a girl. It's been over 50 years since I've had chicks, and in celebration I'm sure I'm already spoiling these girls. I have a rooster and two more hens on order for June. I want a rooster for several reasons, but mostly because I can (we're in a very rural area), and he'll hopefully warn them and scare off hawks and owls that are resident here. Exciting times!
I'm in the Dallas Texas area. I have 8 week old chicks and fully feathered I know I am supposed to move them to the coop . We are at 90 to 97 degrees does this advice work for them? I know I can't keep them indoors until Fall when we start to cool off again :/
hi, im in dallas, texas. what are the small bush trees you show at the beginning of video about shade? if it stays that small that would be really nice. i'm planning to get 3 chickens to start with. i will put them in old shed but i think i'll have to cut many holes for ventilation. thank you
I live in Cabazon California and we have temperatures right now 105 in mid day, I actually have a swamp cooler I put on the chickens pen, is that too too much, I’m scared of overheat the girls
Adorable! How would you say to deal with this triple digit summer we're gonna have in Central TX? I've heard a lot of people losing their chickens in this heat. Should I make a little makeshift coop in the garage (significantly cooler but no sun in there) for half the day and let them free range other half of the day before they go back into the coop?
Every situation is different. I have experience with chickens in a hot dry climate, but I don't have humidity to deal with here. The way I manage my chickens in the heat is to provide plenty of shade, ventilation and airflow, and access to clean water to keep them hydrated. Cool or frozen fruit/veggies in addition to their regular feed makes them happy too.
I realize this video is a year old but , summer is coming again soon ... Have you ever considered freezing some fruits & veggies & then hanging them by a string or cord from a Tree or Bush branch so it swings & gives them a moving target to peck at ??? It keeps them from being bored & gives them something to do like a little game , like a frozen ear of corn shucked back with some husks & silk still hanging there still attached & maybe even dipped in some water before hanging ?????If you hang a frozen peach or pear one chicken can't steal it & run off with it all for herself , she's gonna have to stand there & peck at it just like the rest of the girls , LOL...
My question is if we can’t feed them corn and scratch greens what else can we feed them I know what I’m seeing you’re feeding them fruits and stuff but I mean like in from the store what do I buy in a bag would it be Lare pellets because it’s only me so I can’t feed them a bunch of scraps all the time
@@brokenh8911pthere are a lot of different ways to manage your flock and it really comes down to what is best for your routine, if your chickens are all hens,, a mixed flock,, or meat birds, and then you have to consider your budget. With my current set up and season in life, I am feeding my girls layer pellets as their primary feed and giving them kitchen scraps whenever available. I cook most meals from scratch so they end up getting quite a bit of odds and ends. Chickens can eat a wide variety of foods. I never give them raw potatoes, uncooked beans, or any sweets besides fruits. Other than that, they get all of my food waste as long as it hasn't spoilt.
@@reachinreverie thank you so much I have three leg horns and they are so spoiled and I have been doing what you have texted me and they are the happiest chickens ever thank you so much for me and helping me with my hens
Congratulations on your chickens! They are a joy! My chickens prefer plain dirt to dust bathe in. They usually make their own dust bathing areas around the yard. They like to pick shady areas that are nice and cool. I put a sandbox in their run and they don't use it at all. Also, play sand can cause respiratory problems in chickens over time. I have hardy established plants in their free ranging areas. They will eat the leaves off of any yummy plants that are in their reach, so they can definitely destroy plants in your yard if you don't chicken proof their area. They have cleared out weeds and grass for me, but they have also killed several rose bushes, and have caused chaos anytime they sneak into my garden! What you feed your chickens will depend on their intended purpose and your resources. You would feed a meat chicken differently than you would feed a laying hen. I only have experience raising laying hens. For my layers, I personally would stick to starter feed until they are close to laying age so that they can develop properly. Providing treats can potentially lead to them being deficient somewhere in their diet when they are growing up and developing so fast. They might start waiting to be fed treats and not get enough of their balanced feed in their diet. They tend to grow up pickier and won't eat their feed. Instead of treats, I find that chicks go crazy over moistened starter crumbles every once in a while. I only start feeding food scraps and treats once the chickens are mature at laying age. I know there are people who make their own balanced feeds, and that works great for them. There are people out there who feed their chickens treats from day one and they never have problems. I'm not telling anyone what to do, but in my experience, the safest way I have found for beginners to raise chickens is to stick to their balanced starter feed (with no treats or scraps) for the first few months until they are mature enough to lay eggs. Once they start laying I switch them to a layer feed that has calcium and I begin to offer treats and our kitchen scraps. Good luck! Enjoy your chickies!
I prefer to use chopped straw. I think it breaks down the best when we compost it. It also smells nice and is comfortable for the girls. It works well if you maintain a clean coop and change out the bedding regularly. When it isn't available at the store, my backup is pine shavings. Pine shavings absorbs moisture better, it's cheaper, and you can go a little longer between coop cleanouts, but It also holds more odor and it takes a lot longer break down in the compost.
When I water the bushes and trees they love to walk in the puddles. They will also sometimes walk into a big rubber water pan that we have for them. They love to cool down by standing in some water, as long as they have areas where they can be dry too :)
Year round, their main food source is a complete balanced Layer Pellet chicken feed. I also add Strike III probiotic pellets mixed into their feed. Their treats and snacks change with the seasons, but they get most of our food scraps, fresh fruits and veggies, alfalfa hay, and dried bugs. We only provide chicken scratch and corn in cool or cold weather.
Odette (White with black neck and tail) is a Brahma Dua (Black and white striped) is a Dominique Ceniza (Grey) is a Sapphire Gem Yasha (Black) is an Australorp Molly and Mary (Cream) are Amberlinks Myrtle, Pip, and Ariel (Red) are Rhode Island Reds
At the end of this video I briefly talk about why I choose to not wet my chickens. I understand that everyone has different circumstances and live in different climates around the world, so I don't want to say that my way of helping to keep my hens cool in hot weather is the best or right way for everyone. I hope that my video can help others to make their own choices for caring for their poultry, by offering options. That said, if you wash your chickens (like if they have parasites, or maybe they got into something really gross and you want to wash it off) I'd research how to best wash and dry them. I personally, have never washed one of my chickens. Typical chicken feathers (when dry) can help insulate them, keeping them cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather. They position their feathers to trap a layer of air between the feather and their skin which can make them more comfortable and help them regulate their body temperature to an extent. This is where we help them by keeping them hydrated, offering them shade, areas to dust bathe, offering evaporative cooling etc, to offer more comfort. When you wash a chicken, you reduce their ability to self regulate their own temperature when wet, and you should completely dry them afterwards before returning to their environment. Washing if done incorrectly can do more harm than good.
@@reachinreverie Thanks for this detailed reply. I live in Pakistan, the weather here right now is very hot (about 40 degree celsius) and it makes me worried that my chickens have started breathing with their mouths open. I have provided them with water but they don't drink it as much so I was just wondering if I could give them a shower to cool them down. I guess that is not a good idea! I am feeding them cool vegetables like chopped cucumbers and spinach. they seem to enjoy that.
@@mzorkea I completely understand. Our summers rise to around 115F or 46C on some days. Giving them cool treats is a great idea, and offering them plenty of areas of deep shade where they can stay out of the sun. Try wetting some of the ground to lower the ground Temperature and to cool the air close to the ground. You could also try water misters, they help a little without soaking the chickens feathers, as long as they have enough room to get away from the mist if they've had enough. My girls like playing in puddles too. They walk into the water puddles which cools their feet without soaking the whole birds. I have a shallow water trough for them (it's a rubber bucket meant for feeding pigs). The chickens will step into the water which is just a few inches deep, which helps a little.
I do not recommend hay as a bedding. Hay is typically used as a feed supplement for some animals. It has moisture and can mold pretty fast. An alternative is chopped straw. It's comfortable and smells nice, however can be pricey and may not be ideal in really wet climates. Pine shavings are cheaper and more absorbent, and tend to stay drier for longer in my experience, although it breaks down slower than straw in compost. Their are pros and cons to everything and it depends on your budget, management style, how often you plan to clean your setup, your climate etc. What works for one person may not work for others.
The leaves of tomatoes are not good for them, being a nightshade. They can have some tomatoes fruit as food scraps or as a treat. The main portion of their diet is always layer pellets and tomatoes are only fed as a treat when tomatoes are in season. Tomatoes are an inflammatory food which are not all that great for humans either but they are delicious. Moderation is key.
Awesome tips…
Thanks for sharing…Salute!!!🍃🍃🐓
❤ hello Bobbi here from Illinois thank you I’m so glad I stumbled across your page because I have three leghorns I’ve been watching numerous videos where people are spraying their chickens and I never as a child growing up seen my dad sprayed his chickens I will continue watching your channel cause I don’t wanna kill my chickens thank you so much❤❤
Love those birds. They're so nutty. We've had a beautiful spring so far this year, 60's and 70's for the most part. Not bad at all for Atlanta. Rain's been a little heavy but not terrible.
I've got my birds shaded pretty well all day except for a little over an hour at mid morning. They hit the coop for a little siesta while that's going on. Late afternoon the suns behind the trees and the hawks are down for the day. That's their favorite time of the day when they get out to terrorize any moving critters on the property. lol
I love how you care for your chickens, their coop, run, diet, hydration, etc. Nice, functional, and clean. I am absolutely a fan already.
Thank you!
@Blacks Gone Wild Vol.1 That's does not sound very nice. I wouldn't support someone with a sale by buying from a person/business who has their chickens in an environment where they can't move. There are plenty of other places to get poultry.
👍good advice, thank you. Chickens will not drink warm water, I have to put cold fresh water out several times during hot days & I freeze big milk jugs for cooling the hens, they lay up next to them. Also we wet down areas & add diatomaceous earth so they can make a cool little nest to lay in. We freeze brocoli, fruits & vegetables & they attack them. If we find one in distress we take it in the house & let it sit in the dog kennel after dipping it part way in room temp water.
You are so pleasant to listen to.
You are providing an amazing environment for your girls. You are a wonderful mom! Thank you!!
Thanks for your tips on cooling your chickens,others that have chickens use these tips…❤❤❤
This is my first year with chickens and I am blessed to have a local grocery store that lets me have all the fruits and veggies that they are going to throw away. I also go through my garden and pick whatever is available. My one girl that just started laying stopped after about eight eggs, but our temps have been high nineties and into the hundreds which is unusual.
It looks like those were frozen plums not peaches, although now I know you must offer them both! Thanks for your video. Good ideas! ❤
They look, sound , and move happy!!!!
Lovely to watch, you are caring for your chickens the way I'm aiming to. Lucky girls 😁
My chicken coop is a little smaller than yours. I decided to put cardboard down on top of the bedding and it’s so easy in the morning to scrape off the poop and the coop is quickly cleaned for the next evening. It also saves using more bedding. My chickens are happy with it and so am I. 😊🐓
Thumbs up n sub. Good advice. We have a farm up in the mountains at the top of the Sonoran desert. It is a full time concern for keeping our chickens Kool. A good thing up here the evening and night it cools way down instead of continuing through the night like the South. Stay strong and live free. We do all these things. Our girls love water melons and get loads of goodies when Leslie is canning. Keep urself cool as well. Thanks Dandahermit. Our coop is super vented and clean with a vinyl floor so wood isn't soaking fluids.
Very good and informative video. Thank you.
two times a year would be the deep liter method. Most suggest this because most do not live in the desert lol thank you for the linolium liner idea! Im doing it for a single birds cage currently, but would have thought to do my big coop like that.
🥵🌞🥵Texas brutal , we've got fans in yard and in hen house!
Yes! You are absolutely right about everything! I may not clean so often in winter time, but summer have to do that. Beautiful chicks and nice setup.
We had a over ripe watermelon and we froze it and they loved it and cool off. Thank for the amazing advice!
I never thought to water the ground, good tip. I am in Gilbert AZ. It gets hot!
I’m on South Texas gulf coast and I’m worried about the hot and humid heat. I know many with chickens, so I am hopeful. Thank you for the tips!
Awesome tips. I put little ice cubes in my chickens water and give them a shallow tray that they can dip their feet in (gotta change that daily for sure). I also freeze ice cubes with little veggie treats frozen inside 😄 Mochi and Mishka seem happy about it. They are liking the electrolytes tho! I gave them to them as chicks but not since they reached maturity. But I can tell they perk right up after some chicken Gatorade! 🙏 Thanks again for all the tips!
Greetings from South Mississippi!! I have four red leghorns and we’re going through our first summer together. Excellent points and suggestions in your video. Thank you!! I actually freeze 16 oz water bottles and place them in my girls five gallon water bucket on those hot days. I also have a large shop fan set up at the end of their run that blows through the run and into the coop itself. I recently added a mister system to my fan but use it sparingly. I’ve read that overuse of a mister system is not healthy for chickens; respiratory issues. My coop bedding is hemp, and I clean it daily with my trusty cat litter scoop. The girls appreciate the daily cleaning as do my neighbors; I live in town. Thanks again for sharing!!
I love this! I never thought about wetting the ground i will try that this summer, thanks for the advice!! :)
Where I live I have to let the hose run for a bit before the water is cool. At first it’s boiling hot!!!
This was an extremely helpful video! We live in South Texas on the coast, more humid but still very hot. I absolutely love your yard!
We live in Houston Texas this last weekend it was so hot. We lost one of chickens, we thought we had protected them enough.
We have dark shade , a cooling fan and shallow water pans.
Sorry for your loss! Im south of Houston as well and some of my chickens are quite old. A couple of them got too hot and Ive had to keep them inside for awhile. Now they go out but I bring them in during the hottest part of the day still. @@teresabell1014
@@SunshineCountryChickens where do you bring your chickens in ?
I live off Edgebrook and I-45.
Very thoughtful care of your chickens, a pleasure to see! Here in CA almost everyone who has a hot patio has a Misting cooling system. Put up high enough it won't create too much water but it does cool the air. However many emitters installed dictates the amount of wet and cool. Three or Four works well. Parts on e-Bay, cheap. easy to set up, worth the time. My girls are pretty happy!
I agree, misters for chickens can be wonderful!
Good video. Thanks.
Really enjoyed your video. 👍👍👍
These were great ideas.
Thank You so much.
Beautiful chickens greetings from the philippines
Love your set up❤
VERY nicely done and helpful information. I live in a subtropical climate (coastal south Alabama) Our hot, humid, wet conditions are a fact of life 6 months of the year. Still took away great tips! Thank you!
During the summer I take a whole side of the chicken coop off to let a breeze go through and just cover it with chicken wire. I'm in Utah so the summers get insanely hot and the winters are beyond cold.
New subscriber here! I love that I stumbled upon this video. Looking forward to your chicken videos and learning! New chicken mom here
Thank you!! :)
Thank you for the valuable information!
Your Rhode Island Red almost looks like one of mine. Love this video and you gained a subscriber
Thank you!!
Thank you 🙏👍👍👍
Thanks for the help! I also never knew about this chicken Gatorade
We do a lot of these same things out here as well. Watering the ground, adding ice to their water, maintaining lots of shade, and frozen treats are needed out in West Texas.
Especially this week! Our first seasonally warm days this season!
I see the insta pot at the store all the tie would love to learn how to use it.
i use a fan inside our coop... i live in Florida zone 9B.
Are those cream one amberlinks we got 10 of them they did great this passed winter in the Midwest where it got -40 and 4 feet of snow and didn’t slow down egg production much compared the the Easter eggers and Rhode Island reds
Yes, we have 2 amberlinks. They are probably my favorite breed among my flock when I consider personality, egg production, adaptability, etc. Their medium dark brown eggs are so beautiful too!
Very informative. Thank you.
Thank you!!
I’ve actually been doing all of this besides wetting the ground, but I do have a fan in their coup at a slanted angle that points on the roost... if that’s a bad thing plz lmk,.. new to having chickens... I have a black Cochin that is my fav chicken and he always has his mouth open on hot days which is everyday in the summer in Louisiana lol... I also keep a shallow pan of water that I will dunk his feet in and get a little under his wing but after watching this I hope that isn’t a bad thing- I don’t soak him or anything just splash up onto him... any tips, advice would be appreciated ! Thanks 😊
I really loved your video. Thank you so much .
Thank you!!! :)
We are in Southern California, probably a very similar climate. What were you using for your bedding? We will be getting chicks in the next few weeks.
Congratulations on your chicks!
Bedding type can depend on a lot of things.
Pine shavings are a good choice. They are cheap and very absorbent, however take a while to break down in compost.
Chopped straw smells good and is light. It is more expensive than pine shavings. It needs to be cleaned more often though as it is less absorbent than pine shavings. It breaks down well in compost.
I do not recommend hay. Hay is often used as a food source for other livestock. It is moist and can mold easily.
We use wood shavings with diatomaceous earth powder keeps the itch bugs away. & if you raise them with redwood shavings your chickens wont try to eat it & your coop will smell nice. When you wet it down in an area for them to keep cool it won’t give them itchy mites.
Thankyou for this video👍👋
Hi.this is an observation and in no means a criticism or have no idea if its even correct but thought I'd mention it. Thinking about your concrete boundaries/walls...do they react like an oven retaining heat and heating up? Would wooden post and rail fencing with chicken wire be better with shade options aswell. If dig the wire deep enough they don't scratch it up. Or just fence panels that shade and let bit of air flow throw. Maybe that's hotter than the cement/brick walls. Just thinking out loud. I love your ladies home and defo going to give them the drink. I give our 3 ladies a water melon once or twice a month too. Cut into quatres they spend quite along time getting right under it where its on its side. We made ours a swing and no interest in it what so ever! Have you tried it with yours? Ours love a bail they hop on and pick at. We water their grass area and the worms come up...u know they love that! And my girls are carb crazy especially pasta and spaghetti and chips are a massive fav! Stay safe!
Those are great points! Our wall actually stays relatively cool, I don't know how! I do think in the summer it isn't ideal as far as airflow goes, but the idea for having a solid wall near the coop is to provide shelter from the elements. Where we live, we get extremely high winds. It doesn't rain much, but when it does it usually hails. This location keeps the girls as dry as possible. The wall isn't going anywhere, because we are renting, but I do think in the future when we move we will design something really special for them. I think they do fine in the run when they need to be in there for their safety, but they do prefer to free range of course. My girls love watermelon and spaghetti noodles too haha. I am so glad it's getting back into watermelon season again!
@@reachinreverie I think.they already have somewhere extremely special. I love how much you care for them and think your set up is fab. I love watching our girls potter...I sit down and call it 'chicken tv'! Such funny animals! We have one of those electric timed doors and we didn't change time when clocks changed and our girls seemed like they were stomping about most cheesed off! So funny!!! Sometimes I get more sense out of them than the kids!
She needs a little bigger hat , so small it looks like a beanie ! 😄
Any thoughts on a sprinkler in the backyard? We have one going in the morning on hot days for our garden. That too much spray or the over spray ok for them? Secondly their run has plenty of natural shade but I’m concerned the actual hen house may become a bit stuffy. The there is plenty of ventilation, it it happens to be located in our garage. I will a small fan directed at them from the top of their coop cause more problems then good?
Nice video. Do you have Amberlinks? Would be interested to have your opinion about them.
Also don't feel odd about wearing a hat! I'm in New England and even in May I'm wearing my broad brim Oklahoma hat when I work on my farm. People should wear hats more often.... they used to, you saw hats everywhere, but the practice is almost out of vogue now. Too bad.... they're very protective from sunburn and UV injury, as well as keeping your head and vision comfortable in glaring sunlight.
New sub!
I do have 2 amberlinks. I love them. Amberlinks are very productive layers with gentle personalities. My two lay almost every day and they are the sweetest and calmest of any of my chickens. They are not quite as heat tolerant as some of my other girls, but they are still absolutely one of my favorite types of laying hens. Amberlinks lay medium dark brown eggs.
This time of year, I always have a big hat close by :)
@@reachinreverie ... I've had three Amberlink chicks for 5 weeks now. They're growing rapidly! They are quite tame because I've moved them inside the house at night because we've had a longer, cooler spring than usual. Right now they're asleep in a cardboard brood box I set up next to my bed. During the day, they're outside in a coop. I love the coloring of your adults... can't wait to have a whole flock of them. I raised barred rocks on our Oregon farm when I was a girl. It's been over 50 years since I've had chicks, and in celebration I'm sure I'm already spoiling these girls. I have a rooster and two more hens on order for June. I want a rooster for several reasons, but mostly because I can (we're in a very rural area), and he'll hopefully warn them and scare off hawks and owls that are resident here. Exciting times!
I use a single misting nozzle on a timer to mist from 10 am to 6 pm
I'm in the Dallas Texas area. I have 8 week old chicks and fully feathered I know I am supposed to move them to the coop . We are at 90 to 97 degrees does this advice work for them? I know I can't keep them indoors until Fall when we start to cool off again :/
hi, im in dallas, texas. what are the small bush trees you show at the beginning of video about shade? if it stays that small that would be really nice. i'm planning to get 3 chickens to start with. i will put them in old shed but i think i'll have to cut many holes for ventilation. thank you
also for winter do you cover up the screen openings or leave them open?
I live in Cabazon California and we have temperatures right now 105 in mid day, I actually have a swamp cooler I put on the chickens pen, is that too too much, I’m scared of overheat the girls
Adorable! How would you say to deal with this triple digit summer we're gonna have in Central TX? I've heard a lot of people losing their chickens in this heat. Should I make a little makeshift coop in the garage (significantly cooler but no sun in there) for half the day and let them free range other half of the day before they go back into the coop?
Every situation is different. I have experience with chickens in a hot dry climate, but I don't have humidity to deal with here. The way I manage my chickens in the heat is to provide plenty of shade, ventilation and airflow, and access to clean water to keep them hydrated. Cool or frozen fruit/veggies in addition to their regular feed makes them happy too.
I just made some “birdrade” for my 6 chickens :)
What is the name of it ?! I’d like to get some...
I realize this video is a year old but , summer is coming again soon ... Have you ever considered freezing some fruits & veggies & then hanging them by a string or cord from a Tree or Bush branch so it swings & gives them a moving target to peck at ??? It keeps them from being bored & gives them something to do like a little game , like a frozen ear of corn shucked back with some husks & silk still hanging there still attached & maybe even dipped in some water before hanging ?????If you hang a frozen peach or pear one chicken can't steal it & run off with it all for herself , she's gonna have to stand there & peck at it just like the rest of the girls , LOL...
Could you give the name of the powder you use from Tractor Supply they have a lot listed on the internet?
My question is if we can’t feed them corn and scratch greens what else can we feed them I know what I’m seeing you’re feeding them fruits and stuff but I mean like in from the store what do I buy in a bag would it be Lare pellets because it’s only me so I can’t feed them a bunch of scraps all the time
@@brokenh8911pthere are a lot of different ways to manage your flock and it really comes down to what is best for your routine, if your chickens are all hens,, a mixed flock,, or meat birds, and then you have to consider your budget. With my current set up and season in life, I am feeding my girls layer pellets as their primary feed and giving them kitchen scraps whenever available. I cook most meals from scratch so they end up getting quite a bit of odds and ends. Chickens can eat a wide variety of foods. I never give them raw potatoes, uncooked beans, or any sweets besides fruits. Other than that, they get all of my food waste as long as it hasn't spoilt.
@@reachinreverie thank you so much I have three leg horns and they are so spoiled and I have been doing what you have texted me and they are the happiest chickens ever thank you so much for me and helping me with my hens
Just bought first chicks 3 weeks ago. Wanted to know what to use for dust bath, can they eat meal worms and what kind of plants u have in the run.
Congratulations on your chickens! They are a joy!
My chickens prefer plain dirt to dust bathe in. They usually make their own dust bathing areas around the yard. They like to pick shady areas that are nice and cool. I put a sandbox in their run and they don't use it at all. Also, play sand can cause respiratory problems in chickens over time.
I have hardy established plants in their free ranging areas. They will eat the leaves off of any yummy plants that are in their reach, so they can definitely destroy plants in your yard if you don't chicken proof their area. They have cleared out weeds and grass for me, but they have also killed several rose bushes, and have caused chaos anytime they sneak into my garden!
What you feed your chickens will depend on their intended purpose and your resources. You would feed a meat chicken differently than you would feed a laying hen.
I only have experience raising laying hens.
For my layers, I personally would stick to starter feed until they are close to laying age so that they can develop properly. Providing treats can potentially lead to them being deficient somewhere in their diet when they are growing up and developing so fast. They might start waiting to be fed treats and not get enough of their balanced feed in their diet. They tend to grow up pickier and won't eat their feed. Instead of treats, I find that chicks go crazy over moistened starter crumbles every once in a while.
I only start feeding food scraps and treats once the chickens are mature at laying age.
I know there are people who make their own balanced feeds, and that works great for them. There are people out there who feed their chickens treats from day one and they never have problems. I'm not telling anyone what to do, but in my experience, the safest way I have found for beginners to raise chickens is to stick to their balanced starter feed (with no treats or scraps) for the first few months until they are mature enough to lay eggs. Once they start laying I switch them to a layer feed that has calcium and I begin to offer treats and our kitchen scraps.
Good luck! Enjoy your chickies!
How many eggs does a chai Jen lay per week.?
Iv been worried thank you
What type of bedding do you use in your coop?
I prefer to use chopped straw. I think it breaks down the best when we compost it. It also smells nice and is comfortable for the girls. It works well if you maintain a clean coop and change out the bedding regularly. When it isn't available at the store, my backup is pine shavings. Pine shavings absorbs moisture better, it's cheaper, and you can go a little longer between coop cleanouts, but It also holds more odor and it takes a lot longer break down in the compost.
@@reachinreverie ok thank you:)
What do you feed your chickens
Hi. Would they like to walk in or sit in a splash matt type thing? Very thin layer of water....like a paddling pool. Thanks for your tips!
When I water the bushes and trees they love to walk in the puddles. They will also sometimes walk into a big rubber water pan that we have for them. They love to cool down by standing in some water, as long as they have areas where they can be dry too :)
@@reachinreverie thanks so much.ill try things if we get hot enough here in UK!
Is that a light Sussex rooster or Brahma ?
We only have hens, she is a brahma :)
What’s the main food source In the summertime?
Year round, their main food source is a complete balanced Layer Pellet chicken feed. I also add Strike III probiotic pellets mixed into their feed.
Their treats and snacks change with the seasons, but they get most of our food scraps, fresh fruits and veggies, alfalfa hay, and dried bugs.
We only provide chicken scratch and corn in cool or cold weather.
Thanks 👍
So on the corn issue.. do you give corn during the winter??
I do feed corn as a treat in the winter, yes.
We avoid it in the warmer months. :)
@@reachinreverie thankyou..we have hot spells here in central Virginia..have a safe & blessed day🙏🙏
What kind of breeds are those
Odette (White with black neck and tail) is a Brahma
Dua (Black and white striped) is a Dominique
Ceniza (Grey) is a Sapphire Gem
Yasha (Black) is an Australorp
Molly and Mary (Cream) are Amberlinks
Myrtle, Pip, and Ariel (Red) are Rhode Island Reds
I am located in africa do you sell any fertilised egg i need 120 fertilised egg
@@reactionkings92 Sorry, I only have female hens, no roosters, so no fertilized eggs. We don't sell our eggs.
can i give my chickens a shower? or just a quick dip and out?
At the end of this video I briefly talk about why I choose to not wet my chickens.
I understand that everyone has different circumstances and live in different climates around the world, so I don't want to say that my way of helping to keep my hens cool in hot weather is the best or right way for everyone. I hope that my video can help others to make their own choices for caring for their poultry, by offering options.
That said, if you wash your chickens (like if they have parasites, or maybe they got into something really gross and you want to wash it off) I'd research how to best wash and dry them. I personally, have never washed one of my chickens.
Typical chicken feathers (when dry) can help insulate them, keeping them cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather. They position their feathers to trap a layer of air between the feather and their skin which can make them more comfortable and help them regulate their body temperature to an extent. This is where we help them by keeping them hydrated, offering them shade, areas to dust bathe, offering evaporative cooling etc, to offer more comfort.
When you wash a chicken, you reduce their ability to self regulate their own temperature when wet, and you should completely dry them afterwards before returning to their environment. Washing if done incorrectly can do more harm than good.
@@reachinreverie Thanks for this detailed reply. I live in Pakistan, the weather here right now is very hot (about 40 degree celsius) and it makes me worried that my chickens have started breathing with their mouths open. I have provided them with water but they don't drink it as much so I was just wondering if I could give them a shower to cool them down. I guess that is not a good idea! I am feeding them cool vegetables like chopped cucumbers and spinach. they seem to enjoy that.
@@mzorkea I completely understand.
Our summers rise to around 115F or 46C on some days.
Giving them cool treats is a great idea, and offering them plenty of areas of deep shade where they can stay out of the sun. Try wetting some of the ground to lower the ground Temperature and to cool the air close to the ground. You could also try water misters, they help a little without soaking the chickens feathers, as long as they have enough room to get away from the mist if they've had enough. My girls like playing in puddles too. They walk into the water puddles which cools their feet without soaking the whole birds. I have a shallow water trough for them (it's a rubber bucket meant for feeding pigs). The chickens will step into the water which is just a few inches deep, which helps a little.
Is auto water ol
Corn is high in calories but it will not increase the body temperature. Common misconception
Is hey good for my floor
I do not recommend hay as a bedding.
Hay is typically used as a feed supplement for some animals.
It has moisture and can mold pretty fast.
An alternative is chopped straw. It's comfortable and smells nice, however can be pricey and may not be ideal in really wet climates.
Pine shavings are cheaper and more absorbent, and tend to stay drier for longer in my experience, although it breaks down slower than straw in compost.
Their are pros and cons to everything and it depends on your budget, management style, how often you plan to clean your setup, your climate etc.
What works for one person may not work for others.
I read tomatoes weren't good for chickens? Seems odd.
The leaves of tomatoes are not good for them, being a nightshade. They can have some tomatoes fruit as food scraps or as a treat. The main portion of their diet is always layer pellets and tomatoes are only fed as a treat when tomatoes are in season. Tomatoes are an inflammatory food which are not all that great for humans either but they are delicious. Moderation is key.
Exhaust fans
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