110 degrees and rising!

[jaxparadize]

Hello all,
I need help. I had 16 meat chickens in my backyard. For the past 2 weeks, there has been a serious heat wave, if that’s what you wanna call it, well over 100 degrees every day. At night I usually water my lawn and fruit trees that we have and water around the meat chickens run. I figured they could use the cool mist. Well, I decided not to do it one night because I worked late and was tired, but when I woke I found 6 of them died and one was stroking out. (of course I didn’t know chickens COULD recover from a stroke so I was thinking of just taking it out of its misery, but I'm glad I didn't and looked online to see if it was something she could recover from. So I've placed her in a cool room, gave her plenty of cold water and fanned her slowly bringing her temp down. She still won’t walk but moves her legs and drinks just fine now, but will not stand on her own. She seems more alert than before so I think she will be okay. Now, this is not my first batch so I'm not new at this, (I know, I should have looked more into this, and trust me, I will be from now on!) but I wanted to know how I can keep them cool. They have shade, but I think the mist from my watering the lawn helped the hot air in the run get moved out. Do you guys think I should get a mister? Would that help? Reflectors on the roof of their hutch and run? I can't use one of those auto fillers because the water gets hot when its just sitting in a hose or spigot and the cold water will not come out until a few seconds. (Im sure you understand what I'm trying to say) but if anyone has any pointers, anything they've gone through, please let me know. I know they are meat chickens but I want to give them the best time of their short lives. I do spoil them but this heat is killing both parties! please help! Oh and on a side note, I have 13 layers running around the yard but they seem fine. they find their own food and drink we leave for them. And, if you've read this far, THANK YOU FOR READING! Remember, I'm a newbie on these forums and stuff so be nice.

-Jax

 

[ChicKat]

JAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the BYC forum.

Here is a recent visit to the over heating topic:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...the-chickens-cool-this-summer/10#post_9318979

in it are some links. Remember you can always search the stored info on the forum by typing in search box at the very top! You and all of the USA are facing the awful heat. We are a bit cooler here than we have been. Today was 102 out on the road...but we got rain earlier.

Have you considered an early harvest of the meat chickens? Other from that --- what you are doing, deep shade...maybe water to wade in.

Hope you and all of us make it to the cooler weather. good luck.

 

[mstricer]

I have 47 near birds and we just came out of that heat wave. I didn't lose any. I made sure they had fresh water 3 times a day, they were drinking about 21 gallons a day. I just last night put another 5 gallon water out for them. They also had a lot of shade and were free ranged. I was only able to do this because I left work early for the 3 days of the heat we had. Sorry about your lose, I would also consider culling early. Unless you are doing it your self then I wouldn't do it due to the flies.

 

[jaxparadize]

Thank you for your reply! I really appreciate it. Is culling the only option I have? They are only half the size from what they could be, but I guess its better than losing all of them. The hot weather stopped now and now its windy and freezing! Lol, but they are good for that. I actually built the grazers a new house so they will be cool during the night. As for the meat birds, I havent thought of anything more than what you have mentioned. I try my best to tend to them in the mornings before work so I make sure everything is shaded that needs to be when im not there. I gave in and got an auto fill but I have this thinggy I made that keeps the large bowl water really cool! I've been pondering on building their home out for furture flocks to grow in, I really think their home is too small for them. They are big ones when they get to their destined size. just over twice as big as one of our layers. Big puppies! But I think I got weird ones, my meat birds like to run. The first ones I had just sat there eating. I didn't raise those, but they got pretty big. I dont think that is a life to life, and yes, I know, 'meat birds' but that doesnt mean they cant life the best meat bird life any of them have ever had!
Anyway, sorry, rambling, thank you for your info! I hope I can ask in the future if I have any other questions. Have a wonderful day!

Oh! on a side note/question, what kind of scratch have you noticed they like? Any one better than another type? I think my layers are sick of the type of scratch I get them. I give them shells as well for the calcium in the eggs. (the shell was coming out soft, thats why I did it.) anything that will have both? I haven't seen anything over here and im in Farmville! there are shops for farming everything here! But they are not the most helpful.
Any pointers?

-Jax