Heat stress

[entropy]

Hi,
I live in N.Ca near Sacramento and had a very hot weekend last week of close to 110 degrees. I lost 6 chickens and wondered what everyone does for very hot days. They have plenty of shade and water. They also had access to tubs of water to soak their feet in to cool down. This worked last summer with the same bird so I don't know what happened. I guess it was too hot too quickly and it usually doesn't get much above 100 degrees normally.
Thanks,
I feel really bad. I think I killed my hens.

 

[mg15]

Ohhh, how awful.
We installed a twin fan in the coop and it can suck the air out or just keep a breeze going near them when outside. here is the link to the fan
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/783503/fan-ventilation-for-the-coop

 

[StephieSky]

You might try creating a bog instead of straight water. I got the idea while looking up features to incorporate into a 4seasons habitat for my hens. Mine don't have any problems mucking around in a pool that has a mix of peat and soil but they won't even touch a pool with just water.


Heres a photo from the blog where I got my inspiration to give it a go:

 

[mg15]

I have used a pool too. Babies need rocks to get up on and climb around on.

 

[chelswaterman]

I always use 2 liters n fill them with water n freeze them it seems to work really good! N I put Gatorade in the water n I also use a pool my chickens love wading in it

 

[Sonia]

I don't have anything fancy, summer before last we had many many days 110 and up to 118. I went out every horu or two and sprayed everyone and the roof of the coop down. Totally soaked the birds (including cochins) they did NOT appreciate this but I only lost one all summer and it was a leghorn. I'm getting kiddy pools this year and will most likely continue the hosedowns.

The bog idea is interesting. Ill fill one with water and rocks and one with water/peat and see which they prefer

 

[mg15]

I always use 2 liters n fill them with water n freeze them it seems to work really good! N I put Gatorade in the water n I also use a pool my chickens love wading in it

Oh yes I read that and bought 2, two gallon milk jugs of water and put in the freezer. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[ernie85017]

I have a friend who is a famous chicken breeder in S. Africa. She is proud to claim that she has a bird in the Queen's Royal Flock (UK). Who'd think chickens could be royal?

Anyway, it gets very hot where she is, and she puts a bit of baking soda in their water. When they pant, they blow off CO2 and the baking soda counteracts the acidosis, which can kill them. I mix up baking soda, a vit/electrolyte powder, and probiotics in a shaker ( 4 parts baking soda, and the other part half and half lytes and probs). Sprinkle in their water.

I keep a big strong fan blowing the length of their pen with a double mister in front of it. Be careful not to have too much water and create a mold problem.
Shade!. Last year I had a shade cloth "awning" and shade cloth hanging inside the sunny wire wall. THis year the trees and vines are providing much more shade, but if
it's not enough, up goes the shade cloth again. I hate watching them pant.

THey like a patch of wet ground to dig in and put their chests against.

Mine resent being sprayed with the hose. Tho I have heard of others who do it and their birds like it.

Poor things, wearing down coats in Phoenix in the summer.

 

[mg15]

ernie:
" I mix up baking soda, a vit/electrolyte powder, and probiotics in a shaker ( 4 parts baking soda, and the other part half and half lytes and probs). Sprinkle in their water."

Good information thanks.
I keep the ground soaked it gives off some cool. I don't like to see them pant either.