HennyPenny's random thoughts. New set of goals!

[big brown horse]

Miami may be aweful (same as Houston) but EVERYONE has air conditioning!!!!!!!! We are the poor souls with no relief. My basement is hot!! That was the best place to go if you were hot, not anymore. Most resturaunts and businesses don't even have A.C, so you cant catch a break!

I have St. Bernards, they aren't built to take this extreem heat, neither was I.

So according to Cliff Mass, this is going to be at its worse on WED??? I feel sorry for the elderly. I can't take it anymore.

 

[hennypenny9]

Until I was 10, I thought AC was something only found in cars and movie theaters. Ever read that list of "you know you live in Washington when..."? On the list is
"You know you live in Washington when you know more people who own boats, than have AC in their house."

 

[big brown horse]

Until I was 10, I thought AC was something only found in cars and movie theaters. Ever read that list of "you know you live in Washington when..."? On the list is
"You know you live in Washington when you know more people who own boats, than have AC in their house."

I called my WA realtor (who has now become a friend) and jokingly asked her why she sold us a house without "A.C." She said, "What is A.C.?" She didn't even get the abbreviation!

O.k. seriously I have a "sun roof" for my chickens in the hen house, you know, for all of those cloudy days we supposedly get here. Well it almost killed two of my BELOVED girls today who were trying to dutifully lay their eggs. I had to bring them into the kitchen and run cold water on them for a while. I put a big sheet of particle board over the roof of their house until the wonderful clouds come back. I also hosed down the run and put up more particle board for shade. There are 4 apple trees in there with tons of shade, but it still wasn't enough. I felt aweful for them, all with their beaks agape and their wings spread out.

 

[hennypenny9]

Oh, your poor hens! They're probably just as confused at the sun as we are! And for protection against the rain (and the occasional sunny day) we built our hen house about three feet off the ground. There is always a bit of shade under it, no matter what time of day. I wonder how they're doing... In fact, I think tomorrow I'm going to call my mom and ask how our chickens are doing.

 

[big brown horse]

I have a coop with a basement apartment for my rabbits...and all 10 chick teenagers can and do fit in there...as for my hens they need to lay and choose to do it in that hot house I called a coop. It shouldn't be as hot tomorrow since I fixed it. If it is, I will bring them into my house and put the fan on them!! Poor gals are just trying to do their job.

That is sweet of you to call your mama for your chicken's sake. (Tell me what she is doing to alleviate their hot flashes!)

 

[punkin]

I was watching about your extreme heat on the TV last night. Here in the South, it's hard to realize that some people don't have (or don't usually need) AC.

Hope you and your chickens get through it.

 

[Farmfresh]

All right let me try to help now instead of just teasing you all.

#1 Drink. Lots of cold water with ICE I even put Ice in my hen and dog water.

#2 Freeze some 2 liter or gallon milk jugs and place them in the Hen Yard or coop, Remember that cold air falls so it is better to hang the jugs if possible so they can get beneath them.

#3 Get your head wet! Rinse your head with cold water and keep your hair damp and your shirt too if you are at home.

#4 Move that air. Fans, the stronger the better, really DO help.

#5 Shade from the outside. A shade on the window OUTSIDE keeps the sun from heating up the coop or the house! During the day stay in the shade and keep your body quiet.

#6 Work EARLY and LATE. When that old Missery (how we really pronounce it sometimes) heat and humidity flairs up we start work before the sun comes up if possible - stop and retreat to siesta, fans and shade from about 11:00 to 4:00 - then pickup and work again until after dark. The wind always blows hardest as the sun rises and sets.

#7 At night after sundown OPEN those windows and turn on those fans. It is possible to lower the core temperature of the house by about 10 to 15 degrees at night. It the EARLY morning turn off the fans and pull down those shades and windows to keep the cool in. We seldom run our AC in the summer and now we only are using a small window AC in one room. Ventilation at night and shade in the day cause most people that visit me to comment on how "cool" our house is and some even think we have the AC on on low!

As much as I tease weather like you all are facing is not funny. Even when you ARE used to it. The last heat snap we had I still lost one of my hens despite my best efforts!

Take care all!

 

[hennypenny9]

Farmfresh- I was late to work today and left all my windows open. The shades were closed, but it's still about 84 in here. This is why I love the house I grew up in. A log cabin with only two small windows downstairs. It retains the cold from overnight, and stays deliciously cool during the day.

Well, weather.com claims it's only 88 here, but my thermometer (in the shade) says it's closer to 94. I wonder why there is such a big difference? Haha, my mom is going to visit in-laws in Eastern Washington this weekend. Supposed to be in the 100s the whole time! Bahaha.

Oh, and according to my mom, the chickens are perfectly fine. Panting a little, but not bad. They are either underneath the hen house, or under some sticker bushes.

 

[Farmfresh]

Just get those windows open tonight and turn on those fans in the windows!

I am glad to hear that you parents chickens are fairing well in this heat. That is good news indeed!

 

[Blackbird]

Hey henny, I ordered Cucumber fragrance from Brambleberry the other day. The first time I ordered from then I got a free sample of 1 oz fragrance, so this time I was looking forward to one. Well I opened up the box, and I found this on top:

I feel like I've been jipped.. neglected even! THAT is my free sample? What does one even do with a small little YELLOW bag like that??!?