Changes in breathing in the heat?

[annecreates]

The bad heat wave has hit VA.... and in addition to the normal breathing with mouths open, one of my hens is making a snoring sound.... she's sleeping. Is this OK, or should I be worried? My flock is all stressed out... we lost a hen about a week ago. She just vanished... no sign of her at all. The heat has made them slow down with egg laying quite a bit. The loud breathing has me concerned, though....

 

[benjoycei]

give them ice water

 

[Tenmore]

Give ice water...Ispray my run down with water and make it muddy they like the cool dirt try a water mister good luck

 

[Jloeffler]

It's bad here in ne north Carolina too. In addition to what was already suggested I also froze water filled milk jugs and placed them near where my birds congregate for social hour. Once they realized they radiated coolness they huddled around them. I also froze cut up fruit and offered frozen corn kernels for snacks throughout the day. The frozen snacks perked them right up!

 

[annecreates]

I have been giving them ice water twice a day, which they definitely like. I made some ice blocks last night and set them out this morning. They haven't figured them out yet, though.... the milk jug idea is a good one. I may try that! My hen's still breathing funny, though. Thanks for the suggestions! I hope today is the last really hot day!

 

[CindyJeann]

It's real hot in Arkansas atm. The high for yesterday was 112. I keep the water cold and the girls are hanging out under the porch in the cool dirt but I have noticed some odd breathing in my biggest birds. The two roosters and the larger hens are making a rattling sound by the end of the day. I was scared they might be coming down with a respiratory infection, could it be the heat?

 

[Judy]

I just read of a problem with aspergillosis causing breathing problems. It comes from spores in wet hay or straw -- also called brooder pneumonia, I believe. I woner if this is what has happened to you, expecially if you've been wetting litter to keep them cooler.

 

[CindyJeann]

No wet litter. My birds free range and under the porch is dry. There is a water hose mister under the tree but that is grass.