I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if it's summertime or I woke up in hell. Either way, the most popular question I get this time of year is ‘How are the animals doing in/with this heat?’
The short answer is 'as well as can be expected'. If I were to stay outside 24/7 this time of year, I think that during the day (esp afternoon times) would be tough. And then the evening and night might "cool" you off, then the cycle starts over. This makes it hard to recover when it's day after day. Overall, everyone is doing alright except I have a couple of chickens who seem unwell. Nothing in particular, just unwell. I've not lost any chickens thus far to the heat which is amazing, but I've also implemented a few changes this year - in and out of the barn.
First, more waters. Water is key. Water is priority before everything, including food. This year, I've placed many more water sources out (buckets, pails, pans, you name it and it has water in it) inside and outside the barn, and of course all in the shade.
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| I have tried and tried to tell them it makes their water icky. But please know this: Chickens are dirty creatures and create a dirty environment. Somehow I’m okay with this. |
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| I have discovered Paul really dislikes 100+ heat |
The chickens (and esp Paul The Turkey) absolutely love to stand in the low water pans to cool themselves off. I also try to spray down the floor of the barn each day to 'cool' it and it also allows the chickens to stand on damp not-as-hot ground.
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| This reminds me of when people used to talk around the water cooler at work. Remember when that was a thing. Like people actually talking to each other at work in the breakroom. |
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| And look at you, Paul. Feathers down. And also, yes, some of the waters get dirty from standing in them, but it's part of the deal. They are replenished and cleaned in the morning and evening. |
Then outside the barn, I have more water sources for the chickens to honker around because anytime you're next to water in the shade, it's likely just a degree or two cooler - and when they stand in it, that makes it even better.
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| Another popular gathering spot, outside the barn |
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| It's almost like I'm interrupting them |
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| Excuse me, I'll leave now |
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| Okay, bye |
Also, the dirt bath area in the barn is ideal for cooling off.
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| Dirt Bathing Area Sometimes this place is full with standing room only. Popular Times says: Less busy than usual |
The girlz will readily scratch with their feet moving the warm top layer of dirt away and lie down in the cool dirt underneath. They also lay down and spread their wing feathers wide open to cool themselves, looking as if they are discombobulated and in disarray. I'm alarmed each time I see them all spread out like that, yet they are fine. And while the chickens try to stay as cool as possible, I have many who are molting and there's feathers everywhere around here almost like a chicken processing center. But no, it only takes a few chickens be in molt to make this place look like a chicken massacre happened.
Another downside to this heat is that the girlz lay significantly less eggs when it's this hot outside. With 150 chickens you’d think I’d have a lot of eggs but no. I will when the intense heat subsides though.
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| The gifts they give |
Currently, due to the extreme heat, I'm also testing a portion of the eggs daily for freshness before I sell them. I’m using the water test of: does the egg float or sink. You want them to sink BTW.
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| Yeah it's hot, but still they lay in an egg box 2 by 2......and pant. Silly girlz |
Another cooling mechanism the chickens do is pant to cool themselves, and they also tend to stay still in the heat of the day. Luckily, that hot ball of fire disappears from the sky, moving to the horizon, and then finally heads to another part of earth leaving behind darkness and the ability for the animals to catch a break from it's cruel heat.
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| The time when peace is found in the barn |
I won't pretend to know what it's really like to be in the barn 24/7. I do know that fresh water and cold foods/treats go a long way. Everything from cold cooked spaghetti to placing bread in their water sources. From frozen bricks placed in their water sources to cold cooked rice given to them in the heat of the afternoon. Fortunately the internet is a wealth of information when it comes to finding new ideas to assist the animals with this unrelenting heat.
One of the best things I've done is place 3 fans in the barn, as the movement of air is vital to helping keep the farm animals comfortable. Not necessarily cool, but a little more comfortable.
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| A fan and water opportunity = Sophie's usual spot |
Since Maggie The Pig has her own area, she doesn't have a fan but she does have her swimming pool and stays in it quite a bit throughout the day. I refresh her pool water regularly, and also wet down the dirt around it, allowing her to wallow down into it to feel the cool earth below the surface. She also gets the water hose on her each evening, and enjoys standing there while I let the water run over her from front to back, and back to front......over and over.
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| Sweet Maggie. Too food-motivated to be allowed outside her pen. No cap. I mean really, this girl eats everything in site. |
Amy, a sweet work friend had brought over this swimming pool just for Maggie. And wow, it’s Maggie’s favorite thing right now.
As you can imagine, this heat can be brutal and some of the animals fare better than others. The sheep are not a fan of this 100+ degree heat. They struggle due to their thick bodies and outer coat, even though much of their wool has self-shedded. And they do drink alot of water, which helps as do the horses. Whereby the goats act as if there's no heatwave and they have no idea what we speak of. They seem unbothered by very little in life anyway....well except for Buddy and Sophie being around.
As for the mini horses, during the daytime, Dora and Hope both stay in their stalls inside the barn with their own personal fans blowing on them. This is two fold as it helps keep them cool but also keeps the flies off them.
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| The Barn Cam caught Dora napping during the day in front of the fan. I love being able to see what's happening in the barn while I'm away. |
The mini horses are very accustomed to this process of being in the barn during the day and outside at night. They know this routine well and come in the barn (with direct access to their stalls) each morning at their own free will, at which time the fans are turned on high and directly on them. They know a good thing when they see and feel it. This is when they also get breakfast so there's that.
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| Fly protectors on ankles, fan nearby. |
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| Dora enjoys dozing in the sun in front of her fan. She's my senior mini who values rest - and a fan. |
According to my farrier (our horse feet trimmer) Dora and Hope are spoiled with their ability to have breakfast and dinner in front of their fans, and enjoy the fan-luxury all day long. Yet with Hope's skin sensitivities, it's vital that she have an environment which nurtures and maintains the integrity of her skin and this seems to work well for her. Dora just happens to be a side recipient of this spoiling, I suppose. If you were to ask Dora about this sweet setup, she would tell you she's worth it. I agree, Dora the Diva. Just a girl who knows what she wants, how she wants it and will certainly let you know. I just love these two mini girls and their love for one another.
This leaves the cats and dogs of The Graves Farm. The barn cats have (for a long time) free access to the laundry room and they all take shelter in there for cooler air sometimes, except for July. He stays outside exclusively. July is feral enough that he does not allow others to pet or touch him, but he does allow our touch. He's a sweet boy and quickly turns his purr-er on when the pets start. All the cats do very well overall in most any weather. And in the evenings and night, they hunt and prowl, doing all their cat-ing around while the world sleeps. They seem unfazed by all the summer hub-bub.
Now the Frenchies on the other hand, do very poorly with this heat. The stifling heat is abhorrent to them. When they are outside during the heat of the day, you will likely find them laying in the chicken waters like a personal pool of their very own.
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| Ah come on Sugar, that's a water that the chickens stand in. Ick. |
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| If you need us, we'll be right here. Say less. |
Then surprisingly, the 4 livestock guard dogs know how to handle it all.
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| Penny, Whisper and Dutch |
They all lay low in the shade during the day, resting and waiting patiently for the evening to arrive once again. If they could talk they would tell you this is no big deal and that it happens every year, wondering why you're so surprised by the heat again. The Great Pyrenees breed is so adaptive. These dogs innate ability to handle the swing of temps from 100 degrees all the way to 10 degrees makes humans look silly for complaining.
Not to worry, I have not forgotten about Sugar and Maybe. We all know they live a luxurious lifestyle just as Buddy and Sophie do - inside at their discretion. These are 2 bonded pairs who all get along, but prefer their own emotional support partner. Buddy and Sophie all but sleep as if they become one dog at night, while Sugar and Maybe want to be near each other, but not necessarily touching. Sugar and Maybe do very well, considering, with this heat. But then again, they are accustomed to it as they willingly go to the barn with me and wait for me to finish my farm chores there.
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| This is one of Sugar's very favorite things to do. Me too, Sug’s 🩷 |
They also accompany me on my runs (in their cart) and have become heat adjusted due to the fact that they are outside alot just because of their lifestyle in general.
With all this said, I'd like to add that this heat is something I like. I don't mind sweating, I don't mind getting up early to run or bike, and I don't mind August at all. It also happens to be a birthday month for many of my favorite people like Lauren, Ryan, my sweet sister Sheryl, and my awesome Aunt Sarah (RIP). It's actually a birthday month for many folks, I reckon. Many who enjoy this heat as I do, while many do not. Either way, just know that we are doing our best to keep everyone here comfortable. Fall is coming. Fall always comes.......sooner or later.
So while all the animals are busy surviving the heat, Brooks is also busy as we now send him to the grocery store for us. Free room and board comes with a price even if you are 2 1/2 years old.
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| IYKYK and this boy knows |
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| All while Olive does what she does best 💤 |
And as for the rest of us? We are playing, working and living a life we are privileged to have. What I find interesting is that the summer months bring about farm chores and a different type of work in an effort to keep everyone cool, and then winter arrives and the tables are turned and I'm trying to keep everyone warm. Either way, farm chores are one of my favorite things to do in life. There's nowhere I'd rather be than in the barn - besides on a run, maybe. Or on my bike. Or with Brooks or Olive. Or or or or......so many things in life I want to do.
As August moves along, I wish you good luck with getting your kiddos back to school, or tolerating this heat, or whatever your excitement is on these warm days.
We are all in this together,
Cyndi
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| Apparently I'm not the only one who pottys outside now-a-days. |
