Extreme heat! Sad!

[ChikeeMomma]

We have been having a heat index of 105 degrees the past few days. I've made sure my chickens have had plenty of food and water. When I'm home, I let them out to find their own comfy space. Today was just terrible. The heat and humidity have just been awful. I just went out to shut up the chickens and found two dead -- a Barred Rock and a Dixie Rainbow. So sad! They weren't able to free range today because I was gone. There was food, water, the windows were open, they could go in and out I to the run -- just like normal. I just feel so bad. Of course tomorrow, it's supposed to be in the low 80s.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I wish it would stay in the 80s here. It has been more than 100 degrees here for over about two weeks and I don't know how high the humidity pushes the heat index up. Knock on wood, so far I haven't had one die yet but I worry. This heat has made me reconsider building a run and just continue to let them free range. I hope you don't have any more die. . . .CG.

 

[stargazer2014]

So sorry for your loss. I know how you feel, though. At the beginning of the heatwave, I went out to check on my flock and to give them fresh water, and I found a dead EE laying in front of the fan in the coop. The others were crowded around the ice. Two hours later, I went out again and had a dead Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, and Silver Laced Wyandotte. Another Barred Rock was on death's door, so I whisked her out of the coop and into a cool place where I cooled her off with the hose. We kept her in the garage for 2 nights to make sure she would bounce back. She did and is now out with her family again.

It seems that the stress from heat can just take them instantly. It was barely two hours between finding the first dead hen, and the next three. This is with 3 fans, cool water, lots of shade, and ice for them to cozy up to. It's so frustrating and I feel horrible for them. Thankfully, tomorrow our high is 88, and not 106 like it is today!!

 

[bucky52]

so sorry for your loss.i have been stressed out and worried about mine all week.we went july4th and bought two heavy duty fans.even with the fans going and shade and lots of cool water my girls are still panting.i guess its just so much we can do.i thought about bringing them in the basement.but dh won't go for that.thats his man cave.i pray they will make it through today.we are supposed to have a cool down on mon.today its supposed to be our hottest day.and with the humidity its suppose to hit 115.god help us.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Hope your chickies fair well! Just sad that's the way they went. I had shallow feed bowls with water for them to wade in -- they loved it! I also gave them cold fruits like watermelon and grapes. Today it's so much better, but too bad that those two suffered through the heat for days and died.

I also have three broodies. Two of them were due to hatch out this past week, but I fear the heat most likely effected the eggs.

 

[Urbana Gardener]

How do u get ice to them? Not sure what I should do, suggestions?

 

[CGinJCMO]

How do u get ice to them? Not sure what I should do, suggestions?

I'm doing ice cubes - (I bought new trays at Walmart because I couldn't find the ones I used to use b4 hubby started constantly buying ice but that's a rant for another time) and a frozen 2 liter bottle that I freeze and put into a large plastic flower pot base. I also fill up a gallon milk jug and put into the freezer (no room in the fridge) for an hour; it makes it super cold and it fills up the gallon waterer that I keep outside. I put some ice cubes into the waterer that's inside the coop.

CG

 

[lorain's fids]

so sorry for the loss of your chickens.

 

[Attila the Hen]

This is so sad. I freeze water in gallon milk containers and put 2 in the coop with a small fan overhead at night. They won't sleep outside their small coop although it's in an enclosure. This is the most I can do since they think I am trying to kill when I put out the kiddie pool last year.
Good luck. This weather is scary.

 

[dawgpaws]

Terrible heat here in Mississippi also, been letting chickens go free so they can stay in the shade.

I'm ready for summer to be over!!