We took another quick weekend trip and before we left I set up the chicken’s run to make sure they had ample water. I have five water stations (probably overkill, but it makes me feel better). One hanging water dispenser inside the coop with fresh water, one hanging outside with apple cider vinegar added (this is their favorite for drinking), a dog bowl full (which in the winter gets plugged in to guard against freeze), and two foot baths. My hens love their foot baths, especially when temperatures soar above 95. The water in these gets rather disgusting after nine hens have soaked their feet in it. On a usual day I dump and refill these once or twice a day. Since I can’t do that from another city, I set up a water timer with a diverter to run hoses to both trays and flush out the water in the middle of the night. It worked quite well! Not as well as dumping and rinsing, but good enough for a couple days away. The trays are marketed as plant coasters, to keep water from outside pots from staining the floor. They are just the right height for chickens to step in, and big enough for two to stand together. I also add a few drops of oregano oil, which seems to help with scaly leg mites.

We recently ventured forth for a weekend trip to see family in the next state over. It was our first overnight trip since the whole pandemic exploded (and my heart goes out to those still locked down). We’ve had our shots, the dogs were boarded, which was not a happy time for Missy, but she survived and ate, but wouldn’t leave her room. Griffin was excited, so he probably kept her from complete melt down, as they bunked together. The cats had food and water, but told us what they thought about being locked down for two days when we got back. They are not big fans of it either.

I set the chickens up with a full feeder and all five watering stations filled, with one foot bath set up to flush with a hose every night (it wasn’t very efficient but it made me feel better). I was unable to rig the doors to open and shut to cool the coop before bed, but luckily the weather was relatively mild for a Texas summer, it was “only” 90 degrees in their coop at night. I could see on the camera that their necks were stretched out more than usual, and their wings held away from their bodies to dissipate the heat held by their feathers.

When we returned home the chickens were fine, but there were seven eggs in the nest boxes, and one left by the pop door. Amazingly, none of the hens went broody, even with a clutch of eggs beckoning. (I did open all the nest box curtains, which they don’t care for.)

On a hot summer’s day I was surprised to see two hens laying out in the dirt in the direct sunlight. One’s leg was thrust out, and their limbs looked in disarray. Oh no. Has the heat killed my chickens? I snapped a photo before I opened the door. As soon as the latch clicked, they were both up and demanding grubs. So not dead. Just enjoying a little baking in the sun when it is sweltering. Ok. Usually they are all huddled in the heavy shade and at least one is standing in the foot bath, if not two. This unusual position and timing gave me a scare for certain.