Like a sail in a changing wind we have yawed from unusually cold to extreme heat.
And the animals – all except the PopPops – are floored by it. Including me. I failed to keep hydrated. On average a person needs only a litre of water a day – or a cup per hour – to stay hydrated.
And I try to do that – but working outside in the hot sun knocked me off my perch.
By the end of yesterday I was exhausted with a terrible headache. No animal would go as long as a person does without water. They all drink water frequently. I try to imitate the animals but often fall short.
In fact the animals and birds seldom go far from their water source in hot weather. They hang out in the shade by their water then drift out to the fields in the early evening. Another good lesson.
Even though I began to hydrate the moment I realized I was dehydrated (it takes only 5 minutes for your body to begin re-hydrating – maybe 3 hours to get back to a baseline) and then had my usual cold shower at the end of the day. And drank water all through the night:
I still have a rotten headache this morning.
We are back to August temperatures at least for the next few days. The chicks only needed their heat lamp for a couple of hours in the night. I turned it off at 7. Today’s heat is already creeping in under the door.
I will prepare a cold shallow bath for them in the hottest point today – the little chicks will stand in it to cool off. If your chicks ever overheat pick them up and set their feet in cold water for a minute. They miraculously recover after having their heels cooled.
For some reason I find meat chickens particularly susceptible to heat.
So I will say good morning and prepare myself for another hot day of it.
Take care and Talk soon.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
32 responses to “Stonkered by the Heat.”
please take care of yourself. I had my first dangerous bout with dehydration this summer. Or heat stroke or both. Went completely loopy. Very scary. I felt like those wee chicks with a bit of confusion mixed in. I am so bored by water. If only wine or coffee did the trick! (Pathetic, I know.)
Coffee can rehydrate as long as it is a big coffee with lots of water in it. There are some nice electrolytes but as you can imagine I don’t drink those- too sweet. Coconut water is super good but again – too sweet for me. I have read that vodka and soda is ok. 😂 after about a litre of water taken in sips.
Sparkling water is refreshing and not too sweet I find. When it’s very hot I keep my water bottled filled diligently but also alternate with some of the flavored water throughout the day. I don’t like the fizz so much, but the subtle taste is nice.
I LOVE bubbly water!
I keep a pitcher of switchel – or haymaker’s punch – in the fridge. I agree about those electrolyte drinks – too sweet by far. I had a bad case of dehydration once, after a bad reaction to a typhoid vaccine. Actually found myself passed out on the floor, couldn’t figure out what was going on. You do get loopy. M
y stepdaughter came in and told me I looked awful, (thank you very much, haha) and dragged me to the ER where they pumped two bags of fluids into me. It wasn’t fun at all.
Huh. Haymakers punch. I will find the recipe. Thank you!
It’s simple. Two quarts water, 1/4 cup raw honey, 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar and a couple slices of ginger. It seems to be one of those things you either love or hate. It’s good for the gut too.
I suppose those little chicks are just bred to grow big and fat as opposed to resillient.
Yes! They are hot house plants!
Indeed!
hope you have a better day today, drinking lots and that your headache recedes. Birds and animals are so much more sensible than we are, mind you they don’t have a farmy to run. Weather great here in Uk again for a few days so fitting in a quick camper van adventure, sooo lucky.
I have been plagued by headaches all my life. When I was a kid my mother added iron drops to milk for me to drink. Anemia they said.
hope you have a better day today, drinking lots and that your headache recedes. Birds and animals are so much more sensible than we are, mind you they don’t have a farmy to run. Weather great here in Uk again for a few days so fitting in a quick camper van adventure, sooo lucky.
Do take care C. If you must haul the hose then spray yourself down at times as well.
I had a few cold showers today. It is hot but in an all consuming way. Not just the temps. Maybe a storm will roll in!
take care of yourself, even as you take care of others. follow the animals way, and stay near the water. crazy hot here as well, all week –
I was thinking about that. Animals drink a lot but can per anywhere too!
true!
Yes, please do take care of yourself! There are some hydration powders that are less sweet–one of them is LMT or something like that. Anyway, maybe a good idea to have on hand for such times.
yes! Probably a good idea!
Take care!
I had heat exhaustion in June from being outdoors in the sun – a horrible bout of sickness, feverishness and a headache.
I hope you feel better soon!
heat stroke is nasty. I always wear my big hat but getting out of the sun is sometimes not an option.
Wow! These are Spain temps. Be careful.
super hot today but better tomorrow I think. Do they use a lot of air conditioning in Spain?
Yes, even though I don’t like it, it is essential. We have between 30C and 40C for two to three months. And often very humid. I was OK the first few years but am finding it more difficult the last couple of years. The headaches and lack of energy are bad. Thinking about you. 💖
That is it! I am never short of energy. I find this most unsettling.
Those temperatures are ugly. And dangerous. Dehydration is SO miserable; I hope you lose the headache soon.
the headache is not quitting neither the back ache. 😂I am a bit of a mess today!
Well, dang–just keep hydrating. I hope that tylenol helps. I rarely get headaches and it’s even rarer for me to take pain meds so I feel like a hypocrite!
This heat isn’t good for man nor beast!
Hope you feel better! As you know, that heat is no joke.Are water misters a possibility? We’ve seen them only at outdoor sporting events at an occasional outdoor restaurant patio, it dramatically cool that area. ☀️
I don’t drink enough either .. I have now decided to take my water bottle in the garden with me! Thanks Celi