Can my flock survive this heat?

[fatimastic]

I have Australorps. They are supposed to be cold hardy, but are they warm hardy?

The temperature here rises upto 45⁰ C (113⁰ F).
Today, the temperature was 40⁰ C (104⁰ F).
One particular hen of mine was actually making noises, as if she was ceying because of the heat.

I can't wet the ground, as it causes bumblefoot.

What do you do to make your flock survive this heat?

The next couple of months will be particularly hard because of the humidity and the high temperature. I am afraid that I may lose a few due to extreme heat.

What can be done?

 

[FuzzyOwlFeet]

I freeze cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, just about whatever I have and then place it in the coop throughout the day so they can peck at it.

I freeze water bottles also and lay them at random so the chickens can rest by them if needed. Summer sucks for chickens.

Ventilation is most important IMO, without it they won't get air and will definitely die from the heat. I keep the windows and coop door open, there is hardware cloth over the openings so nothing can get in. I also have a solid roof over the run so they always have shade.

 

[Blue Raptor]

I have Australorps. They are supposed to be cold hardy, but are they warm hardy?

The temperature here rises upto 45⁰ C (113⁰ F).
Today, the temperature was 40⁰ C (104⁰ F).
One particular hen of mine was actually making noises, as if she was ceying because of the heat.

I can't wet the ground, as it causes bumblefoot.

What do you do to make your flock survive this heat?

The next couple of months will be particularly hard because of the humidity and the high temperature. I am afraid that I may lose a few due to extreme heat.

What can be done?

I freeze fruits and veggies for them. If one gets too hot, then I soak her feet in cool water for about 5 minutes.

 

[BlueBaby]

You seem to have the same type of temp's in the (F) that I have over here. The fluffier feathered breed's have a harder time handling the higher temp's. I had Australorp's before but sold them to someone that lives in a cooler climate than I do. I now basically have the Naked Necked Turken's, and have been cross-breeding for more colors, and keeping the one's that have the Naked Neck's on them. They make a good dual-purposed breed for meat and egg's, and they handle this higher heat better.

 

[3KillerBs]

There are loads of valuable tips here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[fatimastic]

There are loads of valuable tips here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

You seem to have the same type of temp's in the (F) that I have over here. The fluffier feathered breed's have a harder time handling the higher temp's. I had Australorp's before but sold them to someone that lives in a cooler climate than I do. I now basically have the Naked Necked Turken's, and have been cross-breeding for more colors, and keeping the one's that have the Naked Neck's on them. They make a good dual-purposed breed for meat and egg's, and they handle this higher heat better.

I freeze fruits and veggies for them. If one gets too hot, then I soak her feet in cool water for about 5 minutes.

I freeze cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, just about whatever I have and then place it in the coop throughout the day so they can peck at it.

I freeze water bottles also and lay them at random so the chickens can rest by them if needed. Summer sucks for chickens.

Ventilation is most important IMO, without it they won't get air and will definitely die from the heat. I keep the windows and coop door open, there is hardware cloth over the openings so nothing can get in. I also have a solid roof over the run so they always have shade.

Thank you all for such valuable advice and information.

We did put frozen water bottles here and there along with so crushed ice in their waterer.

We are thinking of getting them an air cooler, a large type of fan. It will throw cool air because of some mechanism.

Should we get it for them? If so, then what should be the hours in which we turn them on?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I have Australorps. They are supposed to be cold hardy, but are they warm hardy?

The temperature here rises upto 45⁰ C (113⁰ F).
Today, the temperature was 40⁰ C (104⁰ F).
One particular hen of mine was actually making noises, as if she was ceying because of the heat.

I can't wet the ground, as it causes bumblefoot.

What do you do to make your flock survive this heat?

The next couple of months will be particularly hard because of the humidity and the high temperature. I am afraid that I may lose a few due to extreme heat.

What can be done?

Yes they can, we went though something similar when Texas shared it's heat wave with us one year. We had several weeks of Triple digit temperatures.

Just gotta make sure they have plenty of shade, & cold water.

 

[3KillerBs]

We are thinking of getting them an air cooler, a large type of fan. It will throw cool air because of some mechanism.

I am always leery of any kind of fan in an outdoor environment unless it's specifically made for that environment. Especially with the dust from the birds and from the bedding -- which is highly combustible.

If this device is intentionally made for barn use, then good. But if not, I wouldn't.

 

[Blue Raptor]

Thank you all for such valuable advice and information.

We did put frozen water bottles here and there along with so crushed ice in their waterer.

We are thinking of getting them an air cooler, a large type of fan. It will throw cool air because of some mechanism.

Should we get it for them? If so, then what should be the hours in which we turn them on?

We had a fan, but it didn’t work for us. If you think about it, the breeze cant really get past their feathers, and etible cool things will help more.

 

[vintage]

Mine have been having a hard time too, but thankfully we've had some rain which has lowered temps about 20 degrees. When it was super hot and humid I placed large reusable ice packs in the coop and run. I've watered their run a bit but not too much. "Smoothies" like frozen blended grapes with water, other fruits, ect. Ice in waterers. I purchased a large canvas drop cloth and attached it to a portion on the run to create more shade. It isn't even the hottest part of the year here, but there were a few days that they were really panting so I've been keeping an eye on them.