Chicks in extreme heat

[Rookie chicken gal]

I am currently raising 10 baby chicks in Fallon Nevada. The heat here has been in almost the 100’s. I just recently moved my chicks from the garage to an enclosed hen house however, the first day they were in there I noticed a lot of them panting with their lil wings spread. I promptly moved them back into the garage but it too is pretty hot in there. The chicks are 95% feathered already. I really want them in the hen house due to the smell, mess and dust. My question is what can I do to cook it down in the hen house so they can remain there. There are 2 windows covered with chicken wire on the hen house. Thanks for your help!!!

Worried Chick Mom

 

[Percheron chick]

Shade and airflow. After that add a solar powered exhaust fan to the ceiling, box fans in the window or even misters. Personally, I would remove one or two walls and cover with hardware cloth. Add a screen door to the coop.

 

[WIchickMama]

I would agree with removing the walls and adding hardware cloth if you can-not sure how severe your winters are. Maybe you could make removeable screens? Or add more windows?

Is there an attached run? Or are they confined to the hen house? I think that if they had a run area with some shade and the ability to dig down in the dirt or cool off in some water it would be helpful.

 

[Rookie chicken gal]

This is the hen house and as you can see we are under construction in the run area. I’m waiting for sand to be delivered for the run so we don’t have the hardware cloth up yet. I’m going to put a big flat roasting pan in there with small frozen ice block for the day and run a small fan. Hoping that will work

 

[Rookie chicken gal]

I would agree with removing the walls and adding hardware cloth if you can-not sure how severe your winters are. Maybe you could make removeable screens? Or add more windows?

Is there an attached run? Or are they confined to the hen house? I think that if they had a run area with some shade and the ability to dig down in the dirt or cool off in some water it would be helpful.

See reply

 

[rosemarythyme]

How hot is it inside the coop? I assume your plan was to confine them to the coop until the run was finished. But it may not be safe to do so while the temperatures are so high, especially if the coop is even hotter than outside.

 

[Rookie chicken gal]

How hot is it inside the coop? I assume your plan was to confine them to the coop until the run was finished. But it may not be safe to do so while the temperatures are so high, especially if the coop is even hotter than outside.

I don’t currently have a thermometer in there but it has been close to 100 here and it’s a VERY dry heat. I have left them in the shop the last few days and they seem to be better in there but again,…it’s the mess etc on the concrete. They are getting bigger every day and I feel like they are needing more room than the little chick pen they are in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don’t currently have a thermometer in there but it has been close to 100 here and it’s a VERY dry heat. I have left them in the shop the last few days and they seem to be better in there but again,…it’s the mess etc on the concrete. They are getting bigger every day and I feel like they are needing more room than the little chick pen they are in.

What's the ETA on the run? Maybe... you could build something small & temporary outside where the run will be, just so they can get outside for a couple hours each day? It'll help them acclimate to the temperatures and give them something to do.

 

[Rookie chicken gal]

What's the ETA on the run? Maybe... you could build something small & temporary outside where the run will be, just so they can get outside for a couple hours each day? It'll help them acclimate to the temperatures and give them something to do.

We are about a week out. It’s funny you say that bc we did put them out in the dirt in the run with a wire dog fence around them and they were doing dust baths…was so cute but they were too small and could get through the fencing! We have a lot of predators out here on our 2 acres. Skunks and raccoons etc…guess we will just leave them put for right now

 

[rosemarythyme]

A week isn't too bad - not ideal (like you said, they probably would like more space and you'd probably like less clean up) but they'll be out soon enough, then.