Kansas City has been getting hammered with 95 - 105 degree heat for the last 4 weeks with very very little breeze and very very very little rain...
Our coop will be finished tomorrow... or the day after... We finished their run today, and decided to let them play in it for a little bit. Their coop and run are in the shade all day, so there is that... but they were panting and holding their wings out as any hot chicken does within minutes. It was only 98 degrees today with a heat index of 103... and it's been so dry their run is basically a giant dust bath. To the delight of one of my SLWs.
My chicks will be 6 weeks old on wednesday. I am planning to move them out as soon as the coop is ready to go... The forecast is calling for a 108 degree with a heat index of 118 in the coming week, which is outrageous. We are normally just hitting the 90's at this time here... So, I am disgusted and I am concerned about how they will fair in the heat as they are accustomed to a nice 75-80 in their ever shrinking brooder box in the guest room of our house. So I am having reservations.
Anyway, since the run is done... and they are safe and secure in there, we are going to start having them spend more and more time out there while we are working until the coop is done in the hopes that it helps them acclimate. We only need to sheet the interior, cut out the chicken door, and build the front window/human access. Then it's all furniture... roosts, Feeders, waterers, litter, straw, Stall Dry, and a poop board until I can get a poop hammock sewn and hung up for them/me.
What are the warning signs that the heat is too much for them?