Broody hen..day 20..too hot??

[ChrisBLover8]

I have a silver laced wyandotte who has been sitting on her eggs..up to day 20 now. She hopped off the nest for a minute so I made a beeline for the coop to check on the little guys. I can tell one is starting to pip. My concern is that it is HOTTTT here in Georgia and seems way hotter in the coop. Are the chicks in danger of overheating being under mom once they hatch? Should I try to run a fan towards the coop during the hottest part of the day until they are out and walking around? We use the chicken tractor set up so I thought about maybe putting a fan behind the coop to blow through the chicken wire. I notice the other hens panting when they go in to lay so I know its miserable for them. Thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've kind of noticed it being a little warm lately myself. Heat index of 103 and it's not lunchtime yet.

The hen might be able to manage, they are amazingly good at taking care of the chicks. Your best bet may be to leave her alone. But a fan blowing through the general area wont hurt. Can you rig up a swamp cooler? That's where you mist water in front of a fan. The evaporation provides a big cooling effect. Be careful if you try this, you're dealing with water in the vicinity of electricity which has some risks. Maybe Google Swamp Cooler and see if you can figure out how to safely set it up.

 

[ChrisBLover8]

Great thanks! I wonder if I could move the tractor safely with her in it to a more shaded part of the yard?

 

[Ridgerunner]

That would be great.