5 dead in an hour

[sunflowerenvy]

MomtoSyd&Emma, how are your chickens making out today?

 

[alaskachick]

OMG! I have no answers or reasons for your loss of pets, but I am truly sorry that you have had that experience. It sounds like they went peacefully and not in a frantic state as if it had been a predator or something. Hope you are feeling better today.

 

[crznala]

it is the heat . I am in Alabama and struggling to keep mine okay.Went outside today and freaked. They were all panting and miserable. Put fans outside the coops,.frozen water jugs, etc. This seemed to help a lot. They got as cloe to the box fan as the chicken wire would allow. This kind of humid heat is not right for them They can cook fast. i love mine too. Sorry for you loss but the idea of arsenic is laughable, unless you have a neigbor who hates you or a serial chicken ninja killer. Its the Heat..I have many friends here struggling also.

 

[Maryd9079]

YourLinkGoesHere I Know how you feel. Two days ago,temps were 98 in Maine, I had 70 Broilers 6 weeks old. They were panting all day. They have a inside stall with fresh bedding dailey and outside shaded fenced in grasing. Fresh water and clean everything. I went out at 3:00 pm and hosed them down to try to cool them off. That night at 8:00pm I went to close the stall door and tuck them in for the night and to my horrified eyes 18 birds were dead! Just dropped dead. I put a big fan in the stall and fesh cold water every 3 hours. The next day temps were the same but more humid. My poor bird were panting and gasping for air. I hose them down about four times that day. They drank very little water and were not eating. That night when I went to tuck them in for the night at 8:00pm to my absolute surpise 16 more chickens just dropped dead. I was horrified to say the least. The next morning temps were still in the high 90's and very hummid. I put another big fan in the stall I kept them inside for the whole day. I Put 8 one gallon jugs of ice in 8 water bins. Today I watched them closely, I went to the stall evry hour. Around 6:00pm I saw two hens gassping for air. I took the two bird in my house, put them in a old dog carrier in a air conditioned room with a fan blowing on them and ice water in front of their heads. Within two hours they were both feeling fine. It's 1:00 Am and NO DEAD BIRDS TODAY! So my suggestion to you is to do whatever it takes to cool them down. Even if you have to put some in a cage in your bedroom which is air conditioned or in a air conditioned car. I love my birds. It absolutely breaks my heart to see them suffering. I also have 32 grazing layer hens. They all pulled through! I hope My exspierience will help someone else save their bird life! I know how aweful it feels when they are suffering. So I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your birds!

Does anyone know if you can give chickens GATORAID? Does anyone know if it would hurt or help them? Would it change the naste and texture of the broiler chicken meat? Also what would the water/gaoraid ratio be? Please help!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Quote:
They are happy as clams INSIDE the house lol It stinks down there no matter how often we clean it, but I would rather have a smelly basement than loose anymore of our girls!!

Thank you for asking!

It actually rained last night here (first time in weeks) It felt like heaven outside, and I was tempted to cart them all back BUT it supposed to be in the high 90's today so, inside they will stay!

 

[Sjisty]

Looking at your tarps, I agree that it was probably the heat. If you remove the tarps from the sides, maybe attach them to posts to extend the shade without blocking air flow, maybe that will make a difference.

I'm so sorry. My chickens are also pets and I am devastated when I lose one.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Quote:
This was the first time we had lost any, so it hit us really hard. We arent farmers just a family that has pets in the yard that give back! (we do garden too though lol)

I am expecting a inheritance pay out (its been paying in small lumps here and there) in the next 2 weeks so when its here, the run shall be completed, half the top will be the tin roof stuff, the other half will be shade cloth. I can NOT wait to get that done!!!

I just saw on the forecast its gonna be cooler than they had forecast before, its only supposed to hit 91 today, 88 tomorrow, I swear that is like going into aircondition compared to 108 this week!!!

 

[HHandbasket]

I have been following this thread for a few days. I am so heartbroken for your loss and am glad to hear the basement situation is working out! I am glad for you that you have a place to bring your babies while they recover. I'll keep a positive thought for you & your feathered friends.

Good luck to ya, hon.