Lisahaschickens, hugs to your B! He really was awesome with them, wasn't he? Very creative idea on the folding table!
Extreme heat! Two chickens dead! Trying to save the others! HELP!
- Thread starter lisahaschickens
- Start date
Yaaah! We have made it through this heat and the coolness (80s
) is on the way.
I couldn't get my chickens to get into a pan of water so I put a bunch of woodchip in there and a frozen water bottle (with the water) and they had a great time in it, (and quit panting). Today is sooo much better.
Lisa--so sorry to hear about your chickens, this is a learning experience for us all!
I couldn't get my chickens to get into a pan of water so I put a bunch of woodchip in there and a frozen water bottle (with the water) and they had a great time in it, (and quit panting). Today is sooo much better.
Lisa--so sorry to hear about your chickens, this is a learning experience for us all!
Our temps haven't been quite as bad as yours but bad enough.
I think I'm repeating some suggestions already made but I'll add that I also painted the shingles on our coop bright white using acrylic outside paint (saw that hint on a chicken forum). I also painted the backside of the coop that gets the most hot sun. I use light-colored material (white sheets would be good, too) to throw over the pen area. It has tree shade at various times of the day but I wanted to create a large area of shade. The light or white colors will reflect the heat. Our coop is off the ground and the chickens go under there during the hottest part of the day. I also have a tiny little fan that blows under there (which they love) and I keep ice water and a pan of cool water for them to walk in (which they seem to enjoy).
If there is a way to "double-deck" shade, that's a help. It's a similar concept to double-paned windows. I'm thinking particularly of the coop roof and/or walls that are the most exposed to the sun. If you could add a layer and create a space in the middle, it might help cool the coop a little bit more.
(Just saw where a folding table was used to 'double deck' the shade. Great idea!)
I think I'm repeating some suggestions already made but I'll add that I also painted the shingles on our coop bright white using acrylic outside paint (saw that hint on a chicken forum). I also painted the backside of the coop that gets the most hot sun. I use light-colored material (white sheets would be good, too) to throw over the pen area. It has tree shade at various times of the day but I wanted to create a large area of shade. The light or white colors will reflect the heat. Our coop is off the ground and the chickens go under there during the hottest part of the day. I also have a tiny little fan that blows under there (which they love) and I keep ice water and a pan of cool water for them to walk in (which they seem to enjoy).
If there is a way to "double-deck" shade, that's a help. It's a similar concept to double-paned windows. I'm thinking particularly of the coop roof and/or walls that are the most exposed to the sun. If you could add a layer and create a space in the middle, it might help cool the coop a little bit more.
(Just saw where a folding table was used to 'double deck' the shade. Great idea!)
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Sorry you lost chickens to the heat. Mine have been panting in the 106 degree heat yesterday and the 103 heat today. Their coop has trees on the East, but open to the sun on the West. I have a tarp over 2/3 of their run. I have found that the tarp gets very hot and holds heat in. If I spray down the tarp it cools off the run some.
Other than that, just what you are doing, frozen water bottles, cold and jucie treats, misting the run, and water to walk in.
Hope this heat goes away soon. I think 80 would feel cool to me now. Nothing is getting done around here because of the heat. My new coop remodel has had no progress at all. My family is starving because I refuse to cook in this heat. I think they are considering eating the chicken treats.
But we do have some good news. My granddaughter-in-law belssed us with our 5th great- grandchild on Monday -- a healthy baby boy.
Other than that, just what you are doing, frozen water bottles, cold and jucie treats, misting the run, and water to walk in.
Hope this heat goes away soon. I think 80 would feel cool to me now. Nothing is getting done around here because of the heat. My new coop remodel has had no progress at all. My family is starving because I refuse to cook in this heat. I think they are considering eating the chicken treats.
But we do have some good news. My granddaughter-in-law belssed us with our 5th great- grandchild on Monday -- a healthy baby boy.
That's a great point about the tarp holding the heat in. Spraying it down is a good idea. You could also paint the tarp white using outside acrylic paint. That will reflect most of the heat and will stay cool longer than spraying. The paint will last plenty long enough to get through the summer.
I personally prefer light-colored fabric ($1 a yard type stuff). The lighter weight allows for better air flow.
I personally prefer light-colored fabric ($1 a yard type stuff). The lighter weight allows for better air flow.
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Lisa - I'm so sorry you lost two and so HAPPY one wasn't Lady B.
I've been so worried about my 8 girls that have gotten quite large, fluffy, and fully feathered. I'm in Olympia where it's not as hot as you at a record 104' yesterday.
With the raise in temps, I went from 7 of 8 chicks laying to 4 on Tues and 5 yesterday and today. Mine are 2 wks younger than yours - 2 RIR's, 3 Buff Orp's, and 2 Barred Rocks.
They run around with their wings out. At night, instead of being all bunched up next to each other on the roost, they've been all spread out with the wings out again.
I've been providing two sources of water - one in the coop and one in the run.
My girls spend a lot of time in their coop where they dig way down where it's a little damp and cooler.
My three little banties that are in the dog house turned tractor/run in the front yard lay in the grass. I've put boards up on the south and west sides so they have shade. This morning, I put a large kitty litter container that I froze water in last night, in their run. I also turned on the sprinkler and directed it towards their run so they would get the mist.
At mid-day, I've had my daughter take out hunks of cold watermellon.
Today for the first time I've seen the big girls pant.
I'm so looking forward to lower temps.
I'm wondering if the little waterers you have that are hooked up to a hose is running hot water from the hose heating up?
I know HOT water runs out of the 100' hose I have running from the backyard to the chicken coop at night when I refill their buckets.
I hope you don't lose any more birds.
I've been so worried about my 8 girls that have gotten quite large, fluffy, and fully feathered. I'm in Olympia where it's not as hot as you at a record 104' yesterday.
With the raise in temps, I went from 7 of 8 chicks laying to 4 on Tues and 5 yesterday and today. Mine are 2 wks younger than yours - 2 RIR's, 3 Buff Orp's, and 2 Barred Rocks.
They run around with their wings out. At night, instead of being all bunched up next to each other on the roost, they've been all spread out with the wings out again.
I've been providing two sources of water - one in the coop and one in the run.
My girls spend a lot of time in their coop where they dig way down where it's a little damp and cooler.
My three little banties that are in the dog house turned tractor/run in the front yard lay in the grass. I've put boards up on the south and west sides so they have shade. This morning, I put a large kitty litter container that I froze water in last night, in their run. I also turned on the sprinkler and directed it towards their run so they would get the mist.
At mid-day, I've had my daughter take out hunks of cold watermellon.
Today for the first time I've seen the big girls pant.
I'm so looking forward to lower temps.
I'm wondering if the little waterers you have that are hooked up to a hose is running hot water from the hose heating up?
I know HOT water runs out of the 100' hose I have running from the backyard to the chicken coop at night when I refill their buckets.
I hope you don't lose any more birds.
Yay! Today was a bit cooler here than the 103' we had yesterday. All mine were panting so hard yesterday, I thought they were going to pass out before my eyes. I got on here in a panic and found this thread. Thanks so much everyone for all the advice. I already had a shade cloth up, but it wasn't helping. They were choosing to sit on the floor of the steaming coop. I gave them ice/ water in an old kids water play table with the legs off and hosed everything down to the point of puddles. They were so much happier after that. I did that again today and all seams good. Thanks so much everyone for helping us all through this heat wave!
Mr. Frizzles Hen House :
Yay! Today was a bit cooler here than the 103' we had yesterday. All mine were panting so hard yesterday, I thought they were going to pass out before my eyes. I got on here in a panic and found this thread. Thanks so much everyone for all the advice. I already had a shade cloth up, but it wasn't helping. They were choosing to sit on the floor of the steaming coop. I gave them ice/ water in an old kids water play table with the legs off and hosed everything down to the point of puddles. They were so much happier after that. I did that again today and all seams good. Thanks so much everyone for helping us all through this heat wave!
If you get a chance, wet down that shade cloth. The breeze blows through it and cools the air. It's neat stuff.
This heat is a beast this year isn't it?
Yay! Today was a bit cooler here than the 103' we had yesterday. All mine were panting so hard yesterday, I thought they were going to pass out before my eyes. I got on here in a panic and found this thread. Thanks so much everyone for all the advice. I already had a shade cloth up, but it wasn't helping. They were choosing to sit on the floor of the steaming coop. I gave them ice/ water in an old kids water play table with the legs off and hosed everything down to the point of puddles. They were so much happier after that. I did that again today and all seams good. Thanks so much everyone for helping us all through this heat wave!
If you get a chance, wet down that shade cloth. The breeze blows through it and cools the air. It's neat stuff.
This heat is a beast this year isn't it?
Quote:
If you get a chance, wet down that shade cloth. The breeze blows through it and cools the air. It's neat stuff.
This heat is a beast this year isn't it?
I did that today. My husband came out to see what I was doing and he asked with a snear, "what good is that going to do?". I replied, "it can't hurt". I wet down the runs clear roof too. Didn't do the coop though, probably should have. I did realize how much the run needed a raking after I got it all wet though. What a stinky, mucky mess! Peeyoo! I guess that will be a project for a cooler day after it dries back out
If you get a chance, wet down that shade cloth. The breeze blows through it and cools the air. It's neat stuff.
This heat is a beast this year isn't it?
I did that today. My husband came out to see what I was doing and he asked with a snear, "what good is that going to do?". I replied, "it can't hurt". I wet down the runs clear roof too. Didn't do the coop though, probably should have. I did realize how much the run needed a raking after I got it all wet though. What a stinky, mucky mess! Peeyoo! I guess that will be a project for a cooler day after it dries back out
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