Hurricane coming - opinions welcome for preps

[Bawkbok]

I plan on calling the vet in the am but does anyone know, can dogs take Melatonin? I have 10mg. It doesn't work for me but it might for him. I know the chickens in the house will make him more anxious. Geez.

 

[SourRoses]

I'm concerned with the extreme confinement, someone is really going to get hurt.

Darken the room. That's a good temporary chicken anxiety / aggression fix. You can fiddle with the light level so they have enough to find their food and water and get off the perch, but not enough to become very active. Or you can do set feeding periods of decent light for 20-30 minute intervals every couple of hours with dim conditions in between. For 2-3 days they will be okay on a schedule like that, although you may see an interruption or cessation in laying. After 4 days or so you would need to be concerned about their sunlight exposure for Vit D and emotional wellbeing... so keep that in mind if you have coop repairs to make or anything like that.

 

[Bawkbok]

Thank you SourRoses. I suspect we won't see sun for about 4 days as it's forecasted to rain here through Sunday. It's the outer bands of the storm even after the storm passes through that causes the ongoing wind and rain event. We will all be sun deprived by then.
No one is laying yet, although, ironically, the Comet 7 months old, just starting squatting for me yesterday! Go figure.

 

[azygous]

Actually there is a chicken "tranquilizer". Tryptophan. It's not easy to find. I order the powder from Amazon. You can sprinkle it over their food. It makes them really slow down. It's safe. It's used in large chicken houses to prevent aggression.

But I don't think you will have any aggression issues. When confined to a tiny space, chickens usually just snuggle together like puppies.

 

[SourRoses]

Thank you SourRoses. I suspect we won't see sun for about 4 days as it's forecasted to rain here through Sunday. It's the outer bands of the storm even after the storm passes through that causes the ongoing wind and rain event. We will all be sun deprived by then.
No one is laying yet, although, ironically, the Comet 7 months old, just starting squatting for me yesterday! Go figure.

I know, I'm in central FL. Hope everything works together for your benefit!

 

[Bawkbok]

I know, I'm in central FL. Hope everything works together for your benefit!

Good luck to you and your flock as well! We will all get through this as stressful as it is.

 

[Bawkbok]

I know, I'm in central FL. Hope everything works together for your benefit!

Actually there is a chicken "tranquilizer". Tryptophan. It's not easy to find. I order the powder from Amazon. You can sprinkle it over their food. It makes them really slow down. It's safe. It's used in large chicken houses to prevent aggression.

But I don't think you will have any aggression issues. When confined to a tiny space, chickens usually just snuggle together like puppies.

This is good to know. I will look into ordering some to keep in the chicken medical tote for the future.
Snuggling puppies - now that made me smile.

 

[HerdAndHome]

I would remove the tarps and store them until after the storm. They will act like a sail and possibly be torn to sheds.

My thoughts exactly. And be so loud if the hens were inside/beneath them.

 

[HerdAndHome]

When it comes to the question of leaving doors open or closed, the rule of thumb is to always leave them open before natural events. Doesn't matter if it's poultry, horses, cows, etc. Avoid opening gates that lead to busy roads and things like that, but otherwise the animals should have the chance to save themselves. By flying or by running. Most animals that die in natural events are hampered by their caging / stabling

^^correct^^

 

[Bawkbok]

It's loud under the tarp in a normal rain, I've sat out there with them and since it's under trees, it's doubly loud. I can only imagine the volume inside that small coop with the wind and the rain. It would be super stressful. Grateful you all talked me into bringing them in the house. We can all be freaked out together - animals and people alike. I can't stand these storms, they stress me out. I am not a native.
Let's all hope the power grid holds or that just elevates the stress level. Years ago in a storm, we lost all food in the freezer and fridge and went hungry for about four days. I've learned to have extra bread, peanut butter and canned ravioli on hand.