Hey there, Jared here. I'm the owner of the Chicken Bawks. It's with a sad heart that I'm closing this group for various reasons of which I won't go into detail. I wanted to let everyone know that we appreciate the interaction and posts that did happen here and hopefully you got some value out of it. I also want to shout out to Debbi Jesse who has been running the group for the last couple of months and putting out a lot of great content. It was not unnoticed and I truly appreciate your commitment to trying to grow this group. That said, we'll be shutting down the group as of Sept 6. The Chicken Bawks itself is still running strong of course, this group was a side project of our larger business. I had hoped it would become a great source of information for tenders and while it could be at some point, it doesn't fit with the time, attention and resources I have to work with right now. Thanks again to everyone who participated. See you around!

First time chicken lady here!!! I'm in LOVE!!🥰 I have lots of questions!!!!

August heat doesn't just make you miserable — it can be genuinely dangerous for your flock. Here's what to watch for and how to help everyone stay cool. What triggers it: - Temps climbing into the 90s+ with high humidity - Poor ventilation in the coop trapping heat overnight - Limited shade or water access during peak afternoon hours - Heavier/fluffier breeds (Orpingtons, Cochins) struggling more than lighter Mediterranean breeds What's normal: - Panting with beaks open, wings held slightly away from the body - Seeking shade and going quiet/less active mid-day - Drinking more water than usual What's NOT normal — act fast: - Pale or purplish comb and wattles - Labored, open-mouth breathing that doesn't ease up in shade - Lethargy, stumbling, or a bird collapsed and unresponsive - Diarrhea combined with weakness How to help: cool, fresh water available in multiple spots (add ice cubes during the worst of it), shade over the run, good airflow/ventilation in the coop, frozen treats (frozen berries, watermelon), and a shallow mud puddle for cooling. Skip free-ranging during the hottest 2-3 hours of the day. Prevention: electrolytes in water during heat waves, misting fans if you've got the setup, and never underestimate a well-placed shade cloth. How's everyone's flock handling this heat wave? Any go-to cooling trick that's saved your birds this summer? Tell us about it below!👇

We're deep in the dog days of summer, so let's pool our best flock-cooling tricks. Show off your setup! Post a photo of your cooling hack in action and tell us: - What's your go-to method for keeping the coop and run cool? - What did you try that was a total flop? - Any frozen treat your flock goes nuts for? Misting systems, shade sails, frozen treats, box fans zip-tied to the run, DIY ice blocks in the waterer — nothing's too simple or too extra. We want to see what's actually working (and laugh at what wasn't). What's your flock's favorite way to beat the heat? Drop your photos and hacks below 👇and steal a few ideas from everyone else while you're at it — this heat isn't letting up anytime soon. >>> I've tried a lot of things since I got chickens—baby pools with bricks and misters were both a bust, but I got a couple of smaller pools on clearance recently and want to try them with my newest generation, along with a new method I started using this summer. >>> I've successfully used a combination of methods—adding ice cubes to their water bowls and floating frozen water bottles in their water buckets. Oscillating fans that I move around to suit their needs throughout the day and night (eg., during the day, the ones in the coop face the nesting boxes, and at night, towards the roosting bars). Their favorite heat busters are the treats, especially frozen melons and cucumbers. Earlier this summer, we got some duckweed, and I've been growing it in a cat litter pan in my seedling grow tent. Floating fresh duckweed in their water bowls encourages them to drink more water while providing essential nutrients and protein on hot days. I'm going to see if I can encourage the girls to try out the baby pools by enticing them with duckweed floating in the pool water!