Fried Chicken Anyone?

Baby it's hot out!

Last Thursday we topped out at 106 degrees.  Today we're only supposed to hit a mere 97 degrees.  Oh, but the heat index is targeted for 110 or higher.  Fun times.

We were not really clear how cool our chicken coop would stay but I have been pleasantly surprised that at the hottest times of the day the coop feels a good 10-20 degrees cooler than outside.  We experimented a little with propping open the front doors to see if a breeze would be helpful but what we actually experienced was a bunch of warm air blowing in.  So the doors stay shut and the chickens stay put inside the coop enjoying the relative shady coolness.  Although they have been panting a little, no one has seemed even close to being distressed.  Of course we are keeping them supplied with lots of fresh, cool water to drink and checking on them several times throughout the day.  Then there is one more little treat I have discovered for those that are in the big coop - a sprinkler.  These girls (and Big John too) really love to splash in a puddle!  So a few times a day we turn on the sprinkler to build up some cool puddles and they all come running out to splash and play.  Makes for some muddy feet and subsequently muddy eggs at times but they seem happy.

Coming out to check on the puddles.

Thank you to all of the past and present members of the military for your service to our country.  Happy 4th of July!