End of June

Here 'tis the end of June already. My chickens are getting back into the laying mode. They took time off to brood. Unfortunately, the eggs I gave them to hatch were infertile. Too many hens for Red to do justice to all. Maybe next year...

The weather is hot and I have set up 3 water tanks for them to drink from. I understand that a chicken may just die of thirst if it is too far from a water source. Since I had increased the size of the pen I decided that water at both ends was a good idea. Chickens look like dogs when they are hot. They stand around with their mouths open and their wings spread away from their bodies. Feathers must be hot

They also enjoy dust baths as the temperature soars. I would too if that's all I had. I turned the garden hose on them trying to give them a break and they ran to the coop thinking it was starting to rain. So quit that as a bad idea.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Seems this year we went from winter to summer in 60 seconds. I don't think we had a Spring. My chickens are dusting themselves off by rolling in the dirt and hanging their mouths open. I guess they don't sweat like we do. They have drank an inordinate amount of water daily. I can hardly keep the water pail filled.

My eggs didn't hatch so I guess Red wasn't as fertile as I thought. I have too many hens for him to "do" everybody I guess.

He got sick so I took him to the vet. What a shock when I got the bill! I guess vets think chickens are like the family dog. I told them that was the most expensive chicken and dumplings I ever had. Just to forewarn you- vets are not free.