Chick mouth open panting

[tarnte]

Hi I have 3 close-to-7-week old chicks (RIR, BO and SLW). It’s getting pretty hot here in California. Close to 100 degree today. I put up some shade over the coop as well as ice in their waterers. I have 2 nipple waterers. The BO always has her mouth open and panting in the afternoon the past 3 days I observed her. The rest of the girls don’t show that behavior. The BO is still drinking, eating and running around with her flock. However I also notice she drinks lesser amount of water than the other 2. I took her inside the house yesterday with AC and fed her yogurt then she seemed to be better. My question should I separate her out every afternoon to stay indoor? Will this create future respiratory problem for her if she kept breathing and panting like this. Summer just started and I want to make sure she’s okay.

Thank you everyone.

One thing to note of is that the BO is the biggest among my 3 chicks.

 

[kittypaws004]

I say, yes bring the girl inside every now and then like you had done. If that isn't a good option, is it possible to put a box fan outside near her run?
I hope this may spark ideas.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Yes, it's really hot and rather sudden at that. Different chickens have more signs of heat stress than others. Most of my older chickens are really showing no symptoms of heat, but my younglings (13 new birds all between 8 and 14 weeks old) are panting, holding their wings away from the body, all the things hot birds do! You have done the right things, and I would add a big dish about 4 inches deep. Put ice in it and fill it with 3 inches of water. They may (or may not) like to get in and wade, cooling their feet helps. Some of mine wade and some don't. I'm sure your flock will be fine! I'll be putting a fan in the coop this afternoon (I just have to find it!)

 

[chrissynemetz]

I agree with @Peppercorngal
Also make sure they have lots of good deep shade. And sometimes in really hot weather I'll freeze gallon jugs of water and just place them in shady spots around the run. Some of my chickens will lay next to them to cool off.

 

[Chickassan]

Fat chickens pant much faster, by fat i'm talking large bodied not obese.
I put ice cubes in the water on super hot days I put out the kiddie pool.
Your coop has no natural shade, it would help a lot to set up a canopy over the whole thing.

 

[aart]

Panting and wing lifting is normal, can take same practice to know when 'hot' becomes heat stress or stroke. I look for lack of mobility, toss a few treats and if they don't go for it might time to take extra some steps.

Deep all day shade is best.
Misters might work in your climate(low humidity).

Not a fan of ice water...they can gorge on it, I have actually seen a bird get and 'ice cream headache' thought she was gonna keel over. It's shock to their systems...same goes for dogs.

Instead I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves. It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Their feet are their best conductor for cooling the body.

Make space in your freezer!

 

[tarnte]

Thank you everyone! Left a big chunk of ice for them today. Will start giving them electrolyte later today. Gonna look into buying a big umbrella shade to cover the coop instead of a temporary shade I have for them now.

Here’s a photo of them enjoy the ice!

 

[aart]

Will start giving them electrolyte later today.

Give it in a separate waterer and leave the regular water available.
You can mix up a small amount and just keep the package tightly closed in a cool dry place.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Actually, my adult "big" chickens seem pretty content, no panting at all. On the other hand my "incubator chicks" that are now 10 weeks old, are panting much more! They are not at all used to heat! They have plenty of shade thanks to lots of oak trees and many pans of water all over their free range area so they are fine.

 

[aart]

I've also noticed the younger birds seem to react to the heat quicker than the older birds.
Maybe because their bodies are smaller.