First hot day of year = 5 dead CX

[ellandeeranch]

Boy. Our first day over 100. I went out to check on the eight CX's I have. They're six weeks, and I was hoping to process in the next week or so.

Three were dead, and two more died in front of me. I got the last three over to an emergency dog run and sprayed them with some cool-down water.

They seem to be fine now, and are living in a cat run until harvest.

The New Hampshires, RI, Maran, and Americauna were putting on sunblock and listening to Jimmy Buffet.

Gotta love the heritage breeds. Next time, I'm going to plan a little better so the CX's are in the freezer by the first of May.

Anyone else lost any lately?

Richard

 

[BCMaraniac]

Boy. Our first day over 100. I went out to check on the eight CX's I have. They're six weeks, and I was hoping to process in the next week or so.

Three were dead, and two more died in front of me. I got the last three over to an emergency dog run and sprayed them with some cool-down water.

They seem to be fine now, and are living in a cat run until harvest.

The New Hampshires, RI, Maran, and Americauna were putting on sunblock and listening to Jimmy Buffet.

Gotta love the heritage breeds. Next time, I'm going to plan a little better so the CX's are in the freezer by the first of May.

Anyone else lost any lately?

Richard

I am so sorry Richard, to hear about your birds. I have heard that they are too lazy to get up and drink, even in the heat. I have 6 to process ASAP because they are 10 week old pullets, and we are having a warming trend here in TN, but nothing close to what you are going through. We have a good breeze going through the barn, and they are in the shade. I put their water and food close together because I know they will go eat...My husband isn't off till the weekend, and I need his help to process.

I had one about 3 weeks ago that went into severe congestive heart failure, complete with the cyanotic comb, and I ended up processing emergently in order to salvage the meat. Just skinned and cut off the meat so I wouldn't have to enter the abdomen.

I am a firm believer that we need to watch their behavior, and their comb color. If it's getting pale....better get ready to process with a day or so so you can fast them. If the comb is getting bluish discoloration.....gotta process right away.

The heat is the reason I ordered Red Ranger chicks to raise over the summer. Where are you geographically?

 

[NikonD2xer]

I lost one a couple of days ago before the heat hit. We had 103 way up here in Minnsota. Sunday not we had freeze warnings........go figure.

I noticed one of my birds with labored breathing and a raspy girgle. I figured some respitory ailment but being brand new to chickens i had no clue. I went into remove and quarintine the bird from the other 25.

The second I touched it the legs kicked out backwards and it was dead and instant rigor. I have been around animals my entire life including hunting, I have never seen anything die that quickly and go into instant rigor.

Anyone have any clues as to what happened so i can possible learn from the experience ?

 

[Mikedero]

Heat man I wish last night was 33 degrees I lost one 2 days ago 4 weeks old and it got down to 28 degrees.

todays high is 62 degrees we dont get 100 degree days at least until july and then only 3-5 days total per year. But this has me thinking freedom rangers for my summer batch

 

[ellandeeranch]

I am a firm believer that we need to watch their behavior, and their comb color. If it's getting pale....better get ready to process with a day or so so you can fast them. If the comb is getting bluish discoloration.....gotta process right away.

The heat is the reason I ordered Red Ranger chicks to raise over the summer. Where are you geographically?

I'm about 90 miles north of Los Angeles in the very western end of the Mojave, at 3000'. Near the town of Gorman, about 30 miles west of Lancaster.

Richard