Desperately need ideas on how to keep the flock cool!!

[booksandcranies]

Hello- I’m so sorry if this is a rambling mess, I’m just in a bit of shock. 2 days ago we lost a hen to a predator attack, and then today we lost a chicken to… I’m not honestly sure what. She was found in her coop and she had passed away. She was our favorite bird. My wife and I are pretty beside ourselves- we know chicken death happens and it’s a fact of life, but we are just the kind of people who mourn any animal in their life. It could be a cow, pig, rabbit, chicken, a pet spider and we would mourn them


But onto my issue. She was perfectly healthy. She was running around with the others, drinking and eating normally. They have full access to grit and calcium any time they want. We had ice in their water because this entire week it has been 90-100 degrees. They have ample shade, and multiple dust bath areas.


She, heniffer, has had one issue with egg binding. I was able to help her pass the egg and she hasn’t had a problem since. I’m unsure if she was bound again because we found a lumpy/bumpy egg that was the blue color she lays (but we have multiple blue layers). I’m just confused if she passed the egg could she still die? But she was running around having fun, eating. The last time she was egg bound she couldn’t even walk-

Which leads me to believe it was the heat that killed her. My coop is kind of Fort Knox- I’m not saying nothing can break I’m but im paranoid. I went over kill with the 1/4 inch galvanized mesh and even laid it under the coop and hammered it all around the bottom frame so NOTHING can burrow in.

There was no trauma to her body at all, her feathers are in perfect condition. Looking at her I thought she would wake up any moment. It’s like she just laid down and died. What do you give your flock to help keep them cool?


- We give them frozen veggies

- Ice in the water

- multiple dirt baths

They do have a ton of shade. I just feel guilty as she was only a year old. I was so busy trying to make sure they were safe from predators I didn’t even think of the heat. It just feels like a punch in the gut to loose two wonderful hens in 3 days.


I had ten chickens to start the week and now I only have 8. And now I’m worried I don’t have enough hens for my rooster (he’s a little bantam guy but still)



If you read all that I thank you, and if you have tips to offer I double thank you. And also, it’s very silly, but if you could wish my two birds peace on the other side I would appreciate it

 

[HollowOfWisps]

You said you found her in your coop? Is your coop in direct sun or shade? How much ventilation does it have?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

It doesn't sound like the heat is the issue to me. If they have fresh water and shade that isn't likely to be the problem. You say she died in the coop which leads me to wonder how well ventilated your coop is. The heat could be an issue if the coop is not well ventilated and she were in there struggling to lay an egg for too long. It's also possible she died of an internal issue related to the problems you had earlier with egg binding. What breed was she? Sorry if I missed it

 

[U_Stormcrow]

What is the Temp in your "Fort Knox"? We were 97 yesterday, heat index 110. Its been like that all summer. (Technically, we are in a cool front, but really that just means dry air, which is why the heat index is low) Pretty much the same last year, and the year before. Apart from my Cx, who suffered, and some of the Brahma, I've never hd heat issues my birds couldn't deal with by restricting activity, hiding in the shade, and dustbathing. No ice required.

But my coop is well ventilated. Really well ventilated. One side is 1/3 open to the air right now. Three sides are open on the the bottom. The other coop has about 60 sq feet of free ventilation (two "doors" and two open "eaves" plus two "windows").

Heat would not be my first guess.

 

[booksandcranies]

It doesn't sound like the heat is the issue to me. If they have fresh water and shade that isn't likely to be the problem. You say she died in the coop which leads me to wonder how well ventilated your coop is. The heat could be an issue if the coop is not well ventilated and she were in there struggling to lay an egg for too long. It's also possible she died of an internal issue related to the problems you had earlier with egg binding. What breed was she? Sorry if I missed it

No you’re ok!! Ventilation was my first worry as well, today we are adding more ventilation. The coop door was open (they have a roof and the run door was locked, the coop is attached to the run) since it’s been so hot to let them have a nice and bigger breeze and to get water if they for some reason need it!


She was an Easter egger bantam from Meyer hatchery, and she laid a ton honestly. If not everyday every other day for sure


We did find a weird egg that we assume is from her. This is our first batch of chickens ever so I’m open to all constructive Criticism if it makes a better life for them. My wife is at home putting in more vents along the coop. I’ll also had the run does have a roof to provide shade/protection

 

[booksandcranies]

What is the Temp in your "Fort Knox"? We were 97 yesterday, heat index 110. Its been like that all summer. (Technically, we are in a cool front, but really that just means dry air, which is why the heat index is low) Pretty much the same last year, and the year before. Apart from my Cx, who suffered, and some of the Brahma, I've never hd heat issues my birds couldn't deal with by restricting activity, hiding in the shade, and dustbathing. No ice required.

But my coop is well ventilated. Really well ventilated. One side is 1/3 open to the air right now. Three sides are open on the the bottom. The other coop has about 60 sq feet of free ventilation (two "doors" and two open "eaves" plus two "windows").

Heat would not be my first guess.

We are adding more ventilation now- but they do have a few different vent points in their coop. We also tend to keep the little chicken coop door open with the heat like this as the doors are fully locked, and they have a roof so nothing can get in and they can get food or water as early in the morning as they want.

But you’re right, it was probably the ventilation and not the heat. I got this coop from a seasoned chicken keeper so I didn’t think I needed to add more vents and that’s completely on me.


It has been very hot here. And I feel awful knowing I played a hand in her demise when I was meant to protect her.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I wouldn't blame yourself just yet. Sometimes chickens die through no fault of our own. Some pictures of your coop would help sort it out.

 

[booksandcranies]

You said you found her in your coop? Is your coop in direct sun or shade? How much ventilation does it have?

the coop is in direct sun, unfortunately but we have bushes that are starting to grow around and envelop it and it has started to provide natural shade. We also during the day when we are home let them out into the yard to forage, dust bath in their favorite spots and the yard in general just has a lot of cover and bushes.

They hens have a terrible habit of going to sleep on my four season porch (that’s where their brooder was) and they tend to fall asleep there every night, so every night I carry them to their coop and put them on their roost . They are pretty spoiled by me but it’s just our routine.

But I found her in the coop, our coop is attached to the run, so I leave the little chicken door that leads them into their run open so they can have a better breeze than just the ones provided by the vents in the coop. It also lets them get water and food first thing in the morning and thus far it’s been completely fine. But she was found in the in the doorway of chicken door, just collapsed. She was directly in front of the ramp to the ground. The others were all still roosting

I feel horrible that I made her suffer needlessly, and I will take this has a lesson learned I’m a horrible way.

 

[booksandcranies]

I wouldn't blame yourself just yet. Sometimes chickens die through no fault of our own. Some pictures of your coop would help sort it out.

I am unfortunately at work and my wife’s camera doesn’t work the best, she ran over it with some equipment at work. I will as soon as I get home though


Regardless of who is at fault though I will learn from this and make the lives of my other hens better. We are already in the process of constructing a new coop and I will just hurry that process.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

The sad fact is that sometimes chickens just drop dead for no apparent reason and unless you get a necropsy done (or perform one yourself) you may never know what happened. I've had chickens for ten years and last year I had a perfectly healthy pullet who was the only one I kept of the ones my broodies hatched that year and I came out to the coop one afternoon and found her dead as a door nail. There was no apparent cause and the rest of the flock was fine. You are doing your best! Everything will work out