Well I have lived in the AZ desert for most my life now and today we are going to lose our first hen to heat stroke sadly. I am now joining the many others here at the forum experiencing this for the first time.
I Feel bad for her, poor girl and there just isn't much we can do plus the others have also added to the problem by pecking several bloody wounds into her tail and vent area as they will do to sick or wounded comrades unfortunately.
She is just over 3 years old and one of 6 remaining RIR purchased together already laying from a nice lady in Gilbert, AZ. These girls have been through two hot summers, but this year has been especially brutal here in my area with the weather man saying temps tomorrow could reach 116 to 122 across the desert regions of our state including here. Perhaps her age is a partial factor and she has been a very good layer and we will miss her even though she was due to be given away this winter.
Our neighbor has lost 2 goats and 5 hens in the last couple days as well, also a first for them.....
Everyone else looks fine including the 12 week old youngsters in the other coop and we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best as we can't move 33 chickens into the house for the next few months.
Wish us folks in the Southwest some chicken luck to get through this heatwave could ya?
Cheers, Bill
I Feel bad for her, poor girl and there just isn't much we can do plus the others have also added to the problem by pecking several bloody wounds into her tail and vent area as they will do to sick or wounded comrades unfortunately.
She is just over 3 years old and one of 6 remaining RIR purchased together already laying from a nice lady in Gilbert, AZ. These girls have been through two hot summers, but this year has been especially brutal here in my area with the weather man saying temps tomorrow could reach 116 to 122 across the desert regions of our state including here. Perhaps her age is a partial factor and she has been a very good layer and we will miss her even though she was due to be given away this winter.
Our neighbor has lost 2 goats and 5 hens in the last couple days as well, also a first for them.....
Everyone else looks fine including the 12 week old youngsters in the other coop and we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best as we can't move 33 chickens into the house for the next few months.
Wish us folks in the Southwest some chicken luck to get through this heatwave could ya?
Cheers, Bill