Do spanish blacks get too hot?

[safarichick101]

So I'm planning on getting spanish blacks and bourbon reds but I was a bit nervous because we live in VERY hot, VERY humid east texas. If we don't get at least 2 weeks of 100 degree + temperatures this summer, we will in my future poult's life span. I know many texans here raise turkeys but I was just wondering if black turkeys would get too hot.

Thanks,
Safari P^;

 

[Mahonri]

I don't know, but in my chic brooder, my black chicks always sit further from the brooder light than the white chicks. Segregation via feather color and temp

Also my dark RIR... died this passed summer in the heat.

 

[safarichick101]

Any more input?

 

[turkaholic]

I don't have any experience with Black Spanish (yet) but any dark plumaged bird will absorb more heat if it is subjected to direct sun for extended periods. My wild birds always seek shade during the hottest hours of the day, whether or not it is spring, summer or fall. Winter is a different story. Birds not having sweat glands, cool themselves by panting, just like a dog. I've had summer days where my birds would pant so much I would think they were ready to jump out of their plumage. I would mist them with cool water from the hose, and they really seem to enjoy it. Personally, I wouldn't let the heat deter you from getting the Blacks, just keep a good watch over them during those heat waves and provide them with plenty of shade and water.

 

[pdpatch]

As a Guess I would say yes, but the the two red's just hung with the blacks this year so it's hard to tell. They did spend a lot of time under the trees in the afternoon just sitting around when we let then out for free ranging, That is when they weren't wandering off. But we didn't have much 100 degree weather this last summer. I did arrange there pen with a 20 x 20 tarp on the roof and one side and coop so it was in the shade during the hottest part of the day.

Tom

 

[safarichick101]

In summer we have very shady, very large oak trees that cover the pen. At times the worry is more about the fact that they get practically NO sun in the summer. But it is still hot. The coop is entirely shade in the summer.. but I'll probably let them free range the hole day.

 

[ivan3]

We get pretty hot during late July and Aug. here in Cent.MO. Our Neighbor's Black Spanish seemed to tolerate it pretty well. One thing I've found that really helps is to get several rubber hog bowls and fill them daily with cold water, they stand around in them to cool off.