Am I being over protective?

[mdbokc]

Run the fan on a low speed. All you need to do is help them dissipate the heat. Too high a speed and it is like an oven blast...and/or they can't escape it. Good luck.

 

[Beekissed]

You can also freeze water in pop bottles and set it in their waterer to keep their water cooler. This way you can keep changing out bottles. The cooler water can help keep their core temps down. I also don't feed until the cool of the evening so they can feel more like eating and can digest their foods comfortably.

Mine really seem to hit the dusting areas when its hot...they compete with the dogs and sheep for these....must be the dust has a cooling effect.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

The first year is the hardest on them. After that I just worry about them when it first starts hitting the 90's. Panting is fine, that's like us sweating.

But I always have pans of water for them under the water tree (shade Tree). I water down the entire area under that tree for the ducks and chickens. I keep the ducks little pool topped up each day, for the Ducks to cool off in and the chickens also drink from it. YUCK..

If you find a hen glassy eyed, (heat exhaustion) dip her feet in a pan of water. She'll stand in it while you go get some ice cubes to cool the water fast.

Its really dangerous though when it doesn't cool down at night and they don't get a chance to really cool off. That's when I get out the ice, when it doesn't go below 87 or so at night. I make sure they get ice in the water pans during the hottest part of the next day(s). I've been known to bum ice from neighbors for my hens.

Also, don't let them get over weight. Its harder on them if they are full of fat. That means go light on the frozen peas and corn, that is what we use to fatten them up before processing. Watermelon and Cucumbers are cooling though and frozen fruit.

I don't put ice in their drinkers, but I do change their water during the hottest part of the day. They will drink more if water is fresh. I also use ACV in it, they just seem to drink more when I use it.