Dyeing because too hot?

[Yoako]

That's so sad, poor guys! This must be a nightmare for you.

 

[jak2002003]

That's so sad, poor guys! This must be a nightmare for you.

I have lost so many birds now.. I have lost count. Every afternoon I find more scattered about.

I am sure its the heat.. as its mostly my Cochin Bantams that are dyeing.. they have a lot of feathers.. even on their feet.. so they can't get cool.

I am sure its not a disease.. because there are no symptoms.. the birds are all really healthy.. plump, perfect feathers, clear eyes, breathing normally, no discharge, clean bottoms and normal poops.

They run about, playing and jumping onto things... but then in the heat of midday some will start to get slow and sit about lethargic panting. Then they are dead in the evening.. or too weak to fly up into the trees they are dead the next morning.

This is a huge heatwave here.. the hottest and longest hot season in 60 years.. every day over 40 degrees.. sometimes up to 43 degrees in my area.

The officials keep predicting the rain season will start at such and such a data.. but it never happens. The next prediction is in 6 days.. but I will believe it when I see it.

 

[lovchickblogger]

Get bags of ice and put it in front of a box fan point fan on your girls it helps a lot. Also freeze pumpkin or corn in ice trays to give them cold treats. We also give them kiddy pools they dip there feet in to cool off.

Good luck

 

[ChicKat]

I have lost so many birds now.. I have lost count. Every afternoon I find more scattered about.

I am sure its the heat.. as its mostly my Cochin Bantams that are dyeing.. they have a lot of feathers.. even on their feet.. so they can't get cool.

I am sure its not a disease.. because there are no symptoms.. the birds are all really healthy.. plump, perfect feathers, clear eyes, breathing normally, no discharge, clean bottoms and normal poops.

They run about, playing and jumping onto things... but then in the heat of midday some will start to get slow and sit about lethargic panting. Then they are dead in the evening.. or too weak to fly up into the trees they are dead the next morning.

This is a huge heatwave here.. the hottest and longest hot season in 60 years.. every day over 40 degrees.. sometimes up to 43 degrees in my area.

The officials keep predicting the rain season will start at such and such a data.. but it never happens. The next prediction is in 6 days.. but I will believe it when I see it.

That's hot! your 40 to 43C is 104 to 109F Knowing that they free-range also makes it more difficult for you to give them any relief. Also feather feet and big puffy feathers is likely to make it hotter for them. Hopefully after the heat wave passes you will still have some left and you can rebuild your flock. A person can only do so much -- and I find trying to fight the heat is one of the hardest things that there is.

 

[rides2far]

Well I just lost my first hen to the heat. She was one of my 2 Welsummers

She always felt the heat more than the others, but when it's still 101 @ 7:00 pm, that's just brutal. Fans & misters going nonstop. Will try ice & frozen foods tomorrow. Supposed to be 107. Hopefully I won't lose anymore & the heat will break. This my 1st loss.

 

[ChicKat]

Well I just lost my first hen to the heat. She was one of my 2 Welsummers

She always felt the heat more than the others, but when it's still 101 @ 7:00 pm, that's just brutal. Fans & misters going nonstop. Will try ice & frozen foods tomorrow. Supposed to be 107. Hopefully I won't lose anymore & the heat will break. This my 1st loss.

so sorry to hear that you lost one. Consider putting out a wading pool too. This year in the heat I may just dunk them in water -- then they will be madder than a wet hen. If you don't have a kiddie pool that you can fill ankle deep for them, consider putting puddles right in the ground.

Hope your heat will break!

 

[rides2far]

Thanks. I'm spraying the run floor & they r rolling in the cool mud. The coop is the problem. It's large 8' X 10' but even with fans it's hot. My nesting boxes r large & inside the coop - but it's hot. I may have to invest in an air conditioner for the hottest part of the day. So far everyone is doing ok.

 

[Donna R Raybon]

What about parasites? I have lost birds when heat stressed and parasite load which otherwise might be OK is enough to kill them. Any blood sucking worm or coccidia can cause sudden asymptomatic death. With their combs becoming pale, makes me think of parasite. And, they don't necessarily show any runny poo. Without stress of heat the parasite load wouldn't be enough by itself. This reminds me I need to deworm all critters before high heat of summer hits, and, treat for coccidia.

My birds will get in wading pool when it gets too hot. One year we had many days over 100°F and I had Bronze turkeys and they would fight the ducks over the wading pool. Had to buy more and space out around the yard so each 'gang' had their own.

So sorry for your losses. I have been through similar circumstances. It isn't the cold that you have to worry about as critters have sense enough to crowd up or hole up to staywarm. It is the stress of heat that kills. I always loose my extremely aged critters in heat waves.
Donna in Dandridge, Tennessee, USA

 

[ChicKat]

rides2far - glad to hear that you made it through another day -- is you chicken pen in sun? Do you have a way you could get deep black shade for them? It can buy you 5-10degrees of cooler.... a tarp high up that casts shade will allow breeze through and still give 'em shade. I hate fighting the heat -- there just isn't enough ice.

Donna R. -- good ideas and insights -- wading pools for everyone......

 

[rides2far]

The run is shaded 1/2 with a roof & 1/2 with a pine tree. There's usually a breeze (albeit a hit one) running through which the misters really help. The coop is shaded by my pole barn for part of the day.