Do chicks pant? Is that bad?

[ssporter]

This is probably a stupid question...it got pretty hot today in Davis, California, and I noticed some of my chicks were sitting with their mouths open for short lengths of time...kinda looked like chick panting? They were still piled on top of each other like they like to hang out. Is this a sign that they are getting too hot and I should move the heat lamp farther away? It is hard to regulate temperature cause our temps have been swinging from ~50-95 degrees each day, so I try to just leave a good gradient of heat across the brooder... Thanks!
Stephanie

 

[PurpleChicken]

Yup, they will pant like a dog when they get hot or scared.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Yup, mine pant when it is hot.

 

[debilorrah]

Same here. It's been close to 100 degrees here lately and they are all sitting around panting.

 

[cmom]

Ditto.

 

[farmergal]

Yup, mine pant too... especially my biggest, chubbiest EE, Bandit. I think the extra weight means she gets too hot quicker than the others... I know that's how I feel when I'm carrying around a few extra pounds