Heat question

[longday]

This is not a disease/injury question, but we're expecting a heat wave here, and I need some quick advice. I have 3 australorp girls and they're used to temps in the 70/80s range. I hear we're looking at temps in the 90/100s. Humidity should be low. They have a 2 storey coop with a built in watering system both upstairs and down. Downstairs is a shaded run with all sides open, so should get a breeze.

I know australorps are somewhat heat tolerant, but at what point should I consider alternate arrangements, and what would those arrangements be?

Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

When we hit 100 I use the mister hose attachment but put it so they can get far away from it (they actually despise it blowing on them). It cools the general environment some. Some people use fans. I have fans in the large coops.

Also watermelon rinds are good (cold). I have also done ice water bowls but they just hide under the grapevines and ignore it.

 

[JumpingMouse]

what about frozen Ice packs? There is a photo of someone's pet chicken "chillen" on one put some of those under the grapevines?

 

[JumpingMouse]

I had my youngest hen get heat stroke when we had a couple of 110 days here in Boise last month. I simply got a dog crate put food and water in it and brought her inside till she felt better, I would take her outside for a few minutes each day but watched her closely. That way she didn't loose her place in the pecking order. After about 3 days she was just fine and runnin around like new.

 

[jeancordelia]

I'm from Phoenix, at this time of year it is normal to have those temps. The Australorps do much better than the Orphingtons. Use a fan and misters. Also when you say they have water, just what do you mean? They need to drink out of pans of water, not nipples. You need pans of water. They like to stand in them. ( Like oil pans) They mess them up but they need to stand in water. The fans without the misters don't help a lot because they are blowing blast furnace heat at them. However I think it is better than nothing. If you can't get a small mister system, hang a wet burlap over the fan so that the air is cooler. Rewet as needed. Also hose down the area. As much deep shade as possible and as much ventilation as possible. By deep shade I mean tall shade. Tall shade is cooler than short shade. Even a shade over the shade helps. Don't let them crawl under something and try to hide. Then they get no ventilation. We lost three hens (Orphingtons) in June that way and it was before we hooked up the mister. We did not loose any of the Australorps.
Also try ice in the water if you can and cool water to drink
Best to you

 

[longday]

Thanks to each of you for the wonderful advice. I will get a soaker hose, and put a cat litter tray with water out for them (yes, they currently get water from a nipple system). I'll also try some ice blocks.

So appreciate taking your time to respond!

LD