[janeheritage]

Hi all.

It's very, very hot today and looks as if it is going to be for the whole week.

I've noticed the girls panting, beaks open.

My 3 free ranging chooks will presumably seek out cool spots (I noticed they have been almost invisible for the last couple of days, sticking in the woody areas, and that they chose to dust bathe yesterday in a recently watered bed), but I wonder what I should do for my broody and her 3 babies, who will be 3 weeks old on Wednesday. I make sure their grass run is in the shade and that they have plenty of water, but is there anything else that will help to keep them comfortable? Should I move them onto earth occasionally? I know Ethel would love a dust bath but I'm not sure about the littluns, she digs so vigorously I fear for their little bods 

Thanks in advance!

[Vember]

If you can move them on to soil for a bit she'll love you for it The babies will copy mum and yes she may knock one, but they bounce at that age, they'll be fine
I had a broody yesterday trying to teach 4 2wk old runner ducklings how to soil bath Need less to say they preferred the water


Sarah

[janeheritage]

Result: one very happy mum. 3 very very dusty babies 

Here is one of the babies learning about scratching. They are so well camouflaged against the dusty ground it's almost impossible to see them !

Any other ideas for cool chucks?

[wildwitchy]

I put a white sheet over the coop run area to help reflect the suns rays jane.