Heat related death and new housing question

[Nicole01]

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It's been working out for us. I bring my girls in when it's 96-97 or above. I almost lost a few leaving them outside. They were on their bellies lethargic and labored breathing/panting due to the extreme heat. Mine go in on their own through the basement door. They seem to tolerating the moving around really well. We also have a routine, I did carry them at first, but I've handled my chickens everyday since they've arrived here. I only give them feed inside the house. I really can't lose any of my girls to the heat, we'd be devastated. Our weather frequently changes from hot to cold, so I don't see any difference bringing them inside. I haven't lost one yet and I've done this all summer. My chickens are really quiet inside the house, especially during their bed time. I really don't mind them inside.

 

[tiki244]

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Well the fluctuating temps doesnt sound ideal and the catching them is going to cause a lot of stress. So I think that being in the crate would be the best for them. I dont believe it will harm them. If you can give them plenty of fresh water and a high protein feed, layer mash is only 16-18%, or just supplement their layer mash with sunflower seeds to give extra protein that may help on their weight. Just as long as you dont give them corn. They are probably eating less because the food is making them too hot and they are hot anyway. If you can get a chance to take them out of their cage(in the house not outside) just for a few minutes that would be good, but not if they are all stressed about it. Chickens get stressed easily and can die easily from stress.

 

[spiritdance]

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If they're getting skinny, the whole problem may not be the heat (although I'm sure that's part of it). When were they last wormed? Have you checked them for lice and/or mites? Since you have them inside now, it would be a good time to address these issues, as well as clean and treat the coop with DE or Sevin. Parasites can kill chickens even in the best of circumstances, and even if they don't kill them outright, they weaken the birds and make them susceptible to other problems, such as heat stroke.

 

[okiegirl]

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well the second two died under some bushes. I think our coop is great for ventilation. It has a bid door, a window and the beams are open under the roof. It's just flat too hot. They get to run the whole 2 acres during the day and are only in the run and coop at night.

 

[tiki244]

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If they're getting skinny, the whole problem may not be the heat (although I'm sure that's part of it). When were they last wormed? Have you checked them for lice and/or mites? Since you have them inside now, it would be a good time to address these issues, as well as clean and treat the coop with DE or Sevin. Parasites can kill chickens even in the best of circumstances, and even if they don't kill them outright, they weaken the birds and make them susceptible to other problems, such as heat stroke.

Good point. Worming chickens can be hard on them too. Get them a vitamin electrolyte probiotic solution to feed them also for them to gain strength if you decide to worm them. Vites and Electrolytes will help anyway regardless what you decide.

 

[tiki244]

Scrambled eggs is good protein too, and a bit of live yogurt for probiotics.

And probasbly no scratch for a while.

 

[Cetawin]

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Scratch actually heats their bodies up. I would not recommend giving scratch at all during the summer months if you live in a very hot area.

That is an old wives tale...it is based on the thought corn raises the body temperature and scientifically it has never been proven to raise body temperature.


OP: I lost 14 birds in one day to the heat on the 23rd of July. The remaining four spend their days in a large dog playpen with a box fan blowing right on them in the shade...at night and during the heat of the day, they are staying in a spare bathroom. As long as yours get out of the crate and move around, they can sleep in it for as long as necessary. Good luck with your birds.

 

[okiegirl]

Thanks guys. I'll leave them inside during the day and taken them to the run around 8. It will still be in the upper 80's low 90's but at least they can run around a bit. Then in the morning before put them back in the crate and take 'em back inside. Hopefully this won't last long because frankly, it's a pain in the butt to have to do this. I sure didn't have to do anything like this last year.

thanks for the advice. I was giving them scratch because I've always thought it was like chicken candy and it would help them at least eat something. They are eating in the crate. I would give them some eggs, but they only give us an egg every day or two.

I'll look for feather lice, but no, I've never wormed them. Is it like dogs where you can see the worms because their poop looks normal.

 

[okiegirl]

Well, I let them out in the afternoon (it rained so it was only about 85) they stayed in the coop last night, then when it was about 92 I brought them in. They promptly laid. I guess I did something right, however, my house smells like a barnyard (just like hay now) and they are very vocal.

 

[Nicole01]

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I hope you don't have any more losses in the future.

I use pine chips and DE and we can't smell the chickens in the basement. I also scoop out the poop a couple times a day too. I'm glad it's working out for you. Next we'll be dealing with -20F temps.