Bringing chickens indoors during heat wave

[Pickychicks]

Indeed.
...also a myth that DE will kill them.

Controversial true, but I think it's worth keeping in the loop if it even helps a bit. Interesting article re/ mites, mentions DE and what it does seem to do.
webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu (Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Mngmnt, Colorado State Univ.)

 

[aart]

Interesting article re/ mites, mentions DE and what it does seem to do.
webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu (Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Mngmnt, Colorado State Univ.)

Operable link please?

 

[Pickychicks]

Operable link please?

webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/insectinformation/Talks2018/BirdMites.pdf

 

[aart]

webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/insectinformation/Talks2018/BirdMites.pdf

Not a link.... copy and paste did not work.
Too bad, I'd like to read it.

 

[Folly's place]

One very important issue concerning DE or any insect powder, or any powder at all; unless you have a built-in vacuum system, with the cannister outside, it's BAD to vacuum it up, or put it in the bag. That powder will aerosol out of the vacuum, and then be inhaled by anyone present.
Mary

 

[Pickychicks]

Not a link.... copy and paste did not work.
Too bad, I'd like to read it.

Though I copied it right from the page you're right it didn't work as a click through for me either. This did...google Colorado State Information Insects Mites...Arthropods of Colorado-Agricultural Biology-Colorado State...scroll down to ACARIS.

 

[3KillerBs]

https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/InsectInformation/Talks2018/BirdMites.pdf

Is this it?

 

[aart]

https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/InsectInformation/Talks2018/BirdMites.pdf

"A layer of diatomaceous earth should be able to provide a physical barrier for mites and also may kill mites by disrupting the water-proof surface covering of the mite."

If you've got mites in your house, or on your chickens and/or in your coop,
don't screw around with DE get some permethrin dust and/or spray.

 

[Pickychicks]

"A layer of diatomaceous earth should be able to provide a physical barrier for mites and also may kill mites by disrupting the water-proof surface covering of the mite."

If you've got mites in your house, or on your chickens and/or in your coop,
don't screw around with DE get some permethrin dust and/or spray.

That's it.

 

[lightspeed]

Hi, everyone! I have two year-old hens - a RIR and a Faverolles. For some reason, the RIR has recently become extremely heat sensitive. This wasn't a problem during the heat of last summer, but now she begins panting and holding her wings out when the temperature hits the mid-80s (sometimes less). I live in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, where summer highs can reach 110-112 degrees. But we're having a long heat wave now, and the ice water/fans/electrolytes are just not enough. So I've had to bring them both inside this week. They're in a soft-sided collapsible pen I found on Amazon that measures 3ftX6ft. I added a covered cat litter box that they've taken to using as a nesting box. I've got a heavy vinyl mat down with washable fabric pee pads on top, which I wash every day. There's a piece of 4x4 lumber they can perch on. I've hidden some mealworms and soldier fly larvae in a plastic box full of wood shavings so they have something to turn over and dig through. They have (don't laugh) a TV with nature programs playing all day for some interesting sounds. I have a couple of full-spectrum reading lights positioned over the whole thing for light, but it's not really enough, so I've ordered a brighter one that should come soon. The whole thing covers almost perfectly with a queen size fitted sheet at night. This is all set up in my living room, which is not ideal, but it's the only place I really have the room for it.

I let them out to play in the backyard for a couple of hours every morning, and again for about 90 minutes when I get home at night if it has cooled down enough, but otherwise they're in there all day while I'm gone. Considering how sensitive the RIR is, and they're forecasting an extra hot summer, I have a feeling I'm going to be doing this a lot. So my question is: does anyone have any additional ideas for how I can make it healthier or more fun for them, or for a set-up that would work better overall in terms of mess and logistics? What I have isn't as awful as I thought it would be, but I'm very open to suggestions.

Also, if anyone has any experience that would lead them to believe the RIR's heat sensitivity could be some other type of medical problem altogether, please let me know. From everything I've read it just looks like heat stress, but I'm slightly concerned because she has it even indoors sometimes.

Heat stress and intolerance appears to be cumulative and I don't have a clue why your poor hen is impacted so severely by it. But the heat is getting quickly worse each season and this year can be aptly described as brutal; had you not brought them indoors, they WOULD have died. I had to bring my 5 banty chickens in and they are STILL inside…they have been here for MONTHS. I am in southern IN and the heat started full swing in the early spring and hasn't let up since. I feel like I am going to die and WISH for the cold weather; I would much rather freeze than literally burn up. I will be moving in the coming months and WILL be installing a 5 BTU window AC in my chicken coop. You are an awesome person and it is good to see someone who is not willing to allow their animals to suffer