Getting hot in the UK - worried about my girls

[caralouise1974]

Okay, by US standards, 71 degrees is not hot, but for us, this is about as good as our summer gets!

I'm very worried about my bluebelle hybrid (greyish black, but not too feathery) and buff orp (fluffy beyond belief!) as I have to leave them alone all day and go off to work.

Are temps of 70 degrees particularly worrisome for chickens? They have a tarp over one half of their run for shade, several open waterers (so they can dip their faces in!) and a full bell drinker. I also wetted up the earth in the shaded half today so that the ground is moist for them to sit on and keep cool. I also moved their dustbath into the shaded area.

Is there anything else I could be doing to help them? Ice blocks inside a big bucket (resting on it's side), so they can go inside it and sit next to them perhaps?

Or is this kind of temp not going to be an issue for them? They have been panting and doing very dry poop for a couple of days, but seem to be coping so far. Their crops are all squishy, so I know they're drinking lots of water to try and keep cool.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I understand. I once spent a year in London and enjoyed both weeks of summer. It actually got into the 80's then. It all depends on what you are used to. I thought the weather was nice.

As long as they have shade and water, they will do fine. Just don't coop them up in a building that will act like a greenhouse. We have a few nights where it does not get below 70 and the chickens do OK. Chickens, like people, get used to certain climates, so yours might have trouble in our summers, but they should have no serious issues with your weather.

 

[sherrydeanne]

70 wont' bother a chicken at all. When it gets into the 90's, then we start to worry about the fluffy ones

 

[horsejody]

It has gotten over 100 here and mine were fine with shade and water.

 

[Wifezilla]

With shade and water they will do fine. We have several chicken owners in Arizona. Now THEY have heat issues. Someone installed some misters for their girls, but I doubt you will ever have to go that far

 

[horsejody]

When it gets down to 70 in the summer, I start looking for my sweatshirts!

 

[TammyTX]

Can you please send me some 70 degree weather....pleeeease?

Our birds have shade and water and they do okay in our 95+ degree temps and humidity. By July/August we will be around 100 nearly every day. Not that they like it but they survive.

You will notice them panting like a dog and holding their wings out to keep cool when they get hot.

If you put a fan out for them just make sure they can't get stuck in it.

 

[caralouise1974]

Thanks everyone - I knew you would all scoff heartily at our UK summer temps!

For us, this is a heatwave!

 

[Uppity Peon]

I'm reminded of when my English relatives came to Portland for the summer to see if they would consider retiring here in Oregon. When we had a warm spell (in the 90s) they could hardly stand it. They retreated to the basement and would not come back up!

But I'm sure the chickens will be fine if they can stay hydrated and find a quiet shady spot to rest.

Cheers!

 

[Wifezilla]

Here is one way to tell if it is too hot for your chickens...

When they start to look like this...