Buff Orphintons & Heat Wave

[Katattack29]

I live in Missoula, MT and we have been having some heat! It's been about 4 days of 100 degrees and will be about 8 or so more around there. Maybe even more...... I am doing all the things; cool water, frozen fruit, watering down shade area, electrolytes in water, a fan going, an ice bath yesterday due to looking very frazzled. Despite this, my girls are still struggling and I feel really bad and concerned. Their egg laying is getting off, one laid a shellless egg last night. They are getting distressed and staying in the hot lay box too long trying to lay. They pant, put out their wings, and now one in particular has a very floppy wattle and is making some noises that remind me of a witch. I feel like this is way more than I bargained for. I work and I can't be taking long lunches and running around in a panic because I'm afraid they will die. Does anyone have any advice or any better tips? With climate change, if this is the new normal should I just hope they are healthy enough to tough it out? I put them in the garage yesterday because that was a bit cooler but I feel like they hated it. I don't want to bring them into the house due to mites and bugs and such. Ugh, I'm hot myself and over this! Thanks for your help.

 

[DobieLover]

I live in Missoula, MT and we have been having some heat! It's been about 4 days of 100 degrees and will be about 8 or so more around there. Maybe even more...... I am doing all the things; cool water, frozen fruit, watering down shade area, electrolytes in water, a fan going, an ice bath yesterday due to looking very frazzled. Despite this, my girls are still struggling and I feel really bad and concerned. Their egg laying is getting off, one laid a shellless egg last night. They are getting distressed and staying in the hot lay box too long trying to lay. They pant, put out their wings, and now one in particular has a very floppy wattle and is making some noises that remind me of a witch. I feel like this is way more than I bargained for. I work and I can't be taking long lunches and running around in a panic because I'm afraid they will die. Does anyone have any advice or any better tips? With climate change, if this is the new normal should I just hope they are healthy enough to tough it out? I put them in the garage yesterday because that was a bit cooler but I feel like they hated it. I don't want to bring them into the house due to mites and bugs and such. Ugh, I'm hot myself and over this! Thanks for your help.

Can you post pictures of your coop and setup?
I also run a floor fan in the run to help move the air. My run has a solid roof so it's in full shad and my setup was also built in the shade. The coop gets full sun in the late afternoon but has lots of windows and box fan to move fresh air through it at night so the flock does get relief overnight.
I put electrolytes in their mash every three days and keep fresh water in their waterer.

 

[Katattack29]

They like to hangout under the lilac tree most of the time.