Birds dealing with the heat

[buckeyehens]

We are new to the forum, and looking forward to participating... Last summer was our first with chickens and we didn't have near the heat we're dealing with now. We are able to free range our chickens on about 4 acres, and originally started with 11, now down to 5 due to a couple of dogs that got loose. Four days ago our bard rock started acting very lethargic, following day was worse, not moving around much and didn't seem to be wanting food or water. She sounded like she was breathing through a bucket. Yesterday, worse.... I picked her up and tipped her forward, water and mucus literally just ran out of her mouth... she died overnight. Is this from the heat?

 

[HEChicken]

I haven't had a heat related death yet so I'm not sure if those symptoms match - hopefully someone else will chime in. I did want to say

and I'm sorry for the loss of your Barred Rock.

I do have one hen who seems more sensitive to the heat than the others. When temps are in the 70's she's already holding her wings out, when none of the others are. I've noticed that early afternoon when it started to heat up, she'll start "honking" when she breathes. I've found that refilling the waterer with cool water, whereupon she takes a long drink, seems to help her breathing to become easier.