Thursday, June 13, 2013

A cool treat on a hot day

Proverbs 27:23 tells us to know the condition of our flocks and to give attention to our herds. I am trying to care diligently for my flock of chickens. With the extreme temperatures that were predicted today, I was concerned about my birds. I want to do all I can to keep them comfortable and cool. When it's 79* one day and 97* the next, they have a tendency to get stressed and overheated. A few months ago, I saw this Confetti Ice Wreath on the Fresh Eggs Daily website and decided now was the time to try it.


 They converged on it immediately, enjoying the corn, peas and raspberries!  


Yes, a couple of them decided to cool their heels a bit, too :) 

This is such an easy way to offer the girls some treats while keeping them from overheating and possibly getting sick or dying. I enjoyed hearing them clucking and cackling, as if they were saying Thank you, Mom!

My husband and youngest son installed the automatic chicken watering system today. There's a dozen poultry nipples supplying fresh water inside the coop now. The bummer...they're too low! Saturday he will raise them up...big sigh.


I switched from shavings to sand in the coop yesterday. Boy, was that a stinky job! The girls seem to like the sand better though. It's cool and absorbs moisture so it's supposed to be more sanitary. It's also easy to scoop the poop. I just think about it like it's a great big litter box


And here's my Smithy. I do believe he is a she as the saddle feathers are rounded, not pointed. It doesn't matter to me but I do wish the other chickens didn't ostracize her. Here she is, sitting quietly in the coop while the others enjoyed the cool treat. Next time I will have to make her a small Confetti wreath of her own.

I really don't have any idea why they treat her this way. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting the others to let her be a part of the group?  


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Rurality Blog Hop #18



The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

18 comments:

  1. Ja je gaat ze zo wel heel erg verwennen.

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  2. The confetti wreath is neat! I hope they start allowing the one hen to join in soon.

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  3. I'm glad they liked the icy treat! I'll have to remember that when it gets really hot here. I bet my chickens would love it. Smithy is adorable and I don't know why they are ostracizing her. I guess someone has to be at the bottom of the pecking order. It's sad, but that's the way the flock dynamic works. Hopefully soon she will become a happy member of the flock!

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    1. Next time I will put even more veggies & fruit in it! Your chicks will love it too :)

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  4. Aw, Smithy looks sad. I love the colors of her feathers and beak. Really beautiful.
    The confetti ice wreath is a cool thing (no pun intended). Do you have water sprinklers or something to lower the temperatures in the coop?

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    1. Smithy is pretty content most of the time but she is not a friendly girl. Not mean or anything, just not friendly. Both sides of the coop open up for full ventilation plus the top is vented all the way across the cupola. On occasion I have sprayed the roof to help cool. Probably when it gets consistently in the 90s I will have to do that daily.

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  5. Anne, you are such a good "hen mama!" You take such good care of the girls! I grew up next to a farm, and came to learn that it's the "pecking order" in the flock that one chicken ends up being "hen pecked." The other hens usually seek the weakest hen, whether physical or lack of aggression, and they pick on that hen. Sort of like women! LOL. I love the pictures and stories!

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    1. Awww, Thanks Nancee! I try. It just saddens me that since Smithy is so beautiful, I hardly ever see her "allowed" out of the coop. I'm trying to talk my husband into building her her own diggs :)

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  6. What a fantastic adorable idea for the chickens...hey even us humans wouldn't of minded this beautiful treat♥

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  7. How adorable - and how kind of you. :)

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    1. I am hoping they will reward me with many eggs in the future :) Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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  8. That ring looks so pretty and yummy! Yes, Smithy needs some extra attention from Mom.

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    1. He does! I think I am going to make him his own little pen. Maybe he will be nicer, too :)

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  9. Our summers are milder, but we will eventually get some high 90s and the occasional 100+ day. I will need to keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing!

    Please join us again Thursday at:
    The HomeAcre Hop

    ~Ann

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    1. Hi Ann, Thanks for taking time to come by and leave a comment. I appreciate the visit! I didn't have enough goodies in that one but the next one I made, I packed it full and they went wild! Have a Happy 4th of July :)

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I am so delighted that you've taken time to come by and comment. Blessings for a joy-filled day!

1 Corinthians 1:3 ~ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.