Arizona Chicken Heat Stroke?

[Laura Galland]

We lost a beautiful braman yesterday, and believe it was likely due to excessive heat. This is not our chickens' first Arizona summer, so the loss was quite unexpected. For the sake of the rest of the chickens and roosters, we need to find ways to keep them cool, without shocking their systems. We have heard that feeding them frozen peas as a treat might be helpful. True? Also, ice blocks in their wading water. True? Other suggestions? In addition, laying has reduce, which we assume is also heat related. True?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Laura Lee

 

[Junochick]

I also live in Arizona , I keep a small depression in the dirt wet my chicken lays in it. I know it is cooler ,also I have a lot of shade. Fresh water at all times for her to drink. Some people use A/C, evapcoolers, minsters,and fans in there coops and runs. Keep cool today with the excessive heat warning.

 

[igorsMistress]

So sorry for your loss!

I've been worried about our flock in this heat as well. We provide lots of shade. We have 4 one gallon waterers. I freeze two of them every night and put them out with fresh water in the others before work. My husband turns on the hose when he gets home. They wade and it waters the grass. I also use a soaker hose to wet down where they hang out in the afternoon with a shade structure above to keep the area cooler.

I've read that laying slows in the heat. Only two of my girls are laying and so far I've had an egg from both every day. We will see what happens today though.

I sure hope the rest of your flock is ok.

 

[Laura Galland]

Thank you! Sadly, we lost another hen just minutes after she was in the nest. We placed a mister along two of the shade trees, and two kiddie swimming pools yesterday, but not soon enough. We are extending the mister today. I have called everywhere in our area, and have been unable to find block ice, so I guess I'll have to make my own.

I like the idea of the soaker hose, and I have one of those, so perhaps that will help. We have 22 hens and 3 roosters. Perhaps tree wells kept wet will help. Can't dig 25 holes. LOL

Laying has slowed, but I expected that. I don't want to work in this heat, so I can't much expect my hens to. I am also quite concerned about one of the hens that has decided over the last month or so to brood. She only took a little bit of the water I hand fed her last night. I'm so new at this . . .

 

[igorsMistress]

Oh my goodness, so sad. If your chickens are also pets I know it's heartbreaking.

Around here we have unmanned water and ice stations and they sell the block ice. Anything like that where you are?

I put ice and water in the kiddie pool but I'm not sure they're using it. I used a couple milk jugs in the deep freezer to make blocks.

I feel terrible because my bushes and trees arent that big yet so they don't provide deep shade.

In our environment I think we're going to have to be prepared for some loss to heat. I'm new to it myself where heat is concerned. We can only do the best we can.

Good luck to you.

 

[Corona Ranch]

I've seen some chicken keepers use bundt cake pans and partially fill them with seed, corn, veggies, meal worms etc, top it off with water and then freeze it. Apparently chickens love it.
I hope your flock is doing better.

 

[Laura Galland]

You all have helped so much! Happier news today, even though we are still suffering excessive heat reported to be 113 high. Hubby successfully extended the mister hose, and hung another hose on the fence near the open coop with a mist nozzle pointing toward it. 5 hens nesting and "drinking" the water out of the air! Our brooder that I was so worried about is doing much, much better, at least 8 of the 20 hens were nesting as of 1:30 p.m. They also have 2 kiddie pools, and food and water are shaded near the misting system. I am freezing water bottles, as we had not gotten to that yet, and tomorrow is going to be another hot one! Thanks again, everyone! Your ideas, assistance, and support are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[igorsMistress]

happy to get the good news.

 

[aart]

Wouldn't hurt to give a dose of Sav-a-chik electrolytes every few days.
Saved one of my hens and helped the whole flock during a heat wave.

 

[Laura Galland]

Thank you @aart ! I have just recently heard about electrolytes for chickens, and my next question was going to be whether anyone recommended use!