Can Orpingtons Take The Heat?

[hoog]

It was between 100-115 and low humidity here in Texoma all summer. I raised from eggs buff Orpingtons and Cochins both breeds supposedly can’t hand the heat but mine did fine. The one exception was the leghorns I put out too young. Make sure the birds are at least 4 months before you expose them to the heat and make sure they have shade and water.

Early morning they free ranged a bit and the rest of the time they laid in the tiny bit of shade they had and panted. I didn’t do anything special for them. At first I sprayed them with the hose and brought them frozen two liters but I ended up not doing any of that and just watching them to see if they could handle it. They did.

My advice is to get whatever breed you want because in my experience chickens they are very adaptable to climate.

 

[mojees]

I have 4 Buff Orpingtons and they did well with the heat as long as I took precautions. I live in Southeastern, NC and summers are Hot & Humid here. I made sure there was as much shade available as possible, lots of water to include low pans of ice water for them to wade in. I also froze plastic bottles to help them deal and had a mister I could run for them but they thought that acid was coming out of it instead of water. Their favorite cool down was the pans of ice water they could wade in and then dust bathing in wet cool sand. I am not sure what the weather for summer is where you are in Arkansas but maybe someone from that area will be able to give you some local info.

"Had a mister i could run for them but they thought acid was coming out instead of water" - this made me laugh out loud!