Chickens with Heat Stroke.

You certainly take good care of your hens merlotgran.

I'm reminded of two hen anecdotes:

Many years ago, someone (not my DH), by chance chatted to a battery hen owner. With my DH's help, a hen house and run were erected. Once completed 30+ bald hens arrived the next day.

It was hilarious watching 2 adults, wearing suits, ^teaching their featherless audience how to scratch for worms and bugs, stretch their 'wings' and, try to make that (lovely) throaty sounds when hens are relaxed and contentedly looking for worms or bugs.

July was warmer, drier; a few hens decided, time to sunbathe, having scratched depressions into the warm soil. They fluffed about throwing up dust, then settled down into their depressions. Bet you've guessed the result merlotgran, . . sun burnt hens. His wife rubbed calamine lotion into their sunburnt skins. It wasn't long before all grew beige and white feathers.

Feeling confident, he then decided to keep bantams. The cockerel took a dislike - to him. He wasn't fast as the bantam and sported scratches from well aimed spurs. When the fierce little b###er ran at him, the man would throw his hat on top of it. The cockerel and hat didn't move until the hat was snatched off, which precipitated a chase with the owner exiting the run ASAP, with hat in hand just in case.

Any anecdotes you'd care to share?

I wish you'd all stop going on about the hot weather. Where's mine. I'm still wearing my winter jumpers, without the coat, but still! I don't think the temperature here in west Northumberland has been above 24°c, and that was only one day! I am pleased that your hens recovered though. I really wish we had the right space to keep them. I would love some. In our first house we had ducks and geese until the foxes moved in.

one of my poor girls has got scaly leg and we are out there rubbing it with Vaseline as often as we can ...the other 4 are broody ..no eggs
again

I mean chooks.

Love my breakfast eggie. As I may have mentioned before. What would we do without chickens?

We live in the driest part of East Anglia, Tricia. Very hot at the moment. Our chooks love being sprayed. They run away and then come back for more - just like kids.

jingl. I had two of those for brekkie!

Where do you live, merlotgran? We live in SW France and have had some very hot weather the last few weeks, cooler yesterday and today.
We have an outside tap in our chicken run, and a few times I've turned it on, with the hose pipe, and put my thumb over the end to give a spray. They love it, and just stand there and get cool. Best in the evening.

hurrah and well done you. I so miss having chickens, but with so many foxes, beech and pinemartens and polecats- it would be a constant battle.

You did well there

That merlot is true love and devotion. Respect.

just for you And what could be better for Sunday tea?

Ahh!