Heat wave killed my silkies!! :( 😔 😟

[Anime2lover]

Let's see, I let them out this morning, everything seemed fine. Made sure they had fresh food and water. Checked their waters again come afternoon, they had plenty, though all of them were inside for some reason, didn't think much of it. Went to put them all away tonight and found all three of my roos dead, all of my adult hens (except the ones we separated to brood, and the one we had inside due to injury) dead, all four of our youngest silky chicks, and four of our older silkie chicks. Leaving just five of our oldest chicks alive (two of them really weak). When I put them on the ground to drink they were like horses at a river after a long run. For heavens sake, why didn't they leave the coop if they were so hot and thirsty!! Theirs fresh air and plenty of shade on the ground with the water!!

 

[LizGio]

Is it possible they were afraid to leave coop. Maybe they spotted a predator. What kind of coop do you have? I use bags of ice in shallow trays. It works very well cooling the air in the coop and as it melts they can put their feet in the water and drink it. I also have a fan blowing into my coop to move air around

 

[TJAnonymous]

I also put a fan in my coop to help circulate air. It also helps lower the air temperature inside the coop just a bit. My Silkies like to hide out in their coop too when it's really hot. They have lots of shade and water outside but they still prefer to stay in the coop.

 

[LizGio]

Make sure fans in coop are closed motor if you go that route

 

[Anime2lover]

Is it possible they were afraid to leave coop. Maybe they spotted a predator. What kind of coop do you have? I use bags of ice in shallow trays. It works very well cooling the air in the coop and as it melts they can put their feet in the water and drink it. I also have a fan blowing into my coop to move air around

An enclosed coop with a long window for ventilation on the side, two large doors for easy cleaning, and a small door for their everyday use. Their penn has other Penns and another coop butting up to it on all but one side. Wich has a shed just a foot away from it instead. Not sure if a predator could have gotten close enough for them to fear. The other flocks housed next to them had no reaction what so ever. They were happy and fearless.

 

[Anime2lover]

I also put a fan in my coop to help circulate air. It also helps lower the air temperature inside the coop just a bit. My Silkies like to hide out in their coop too when it's really hot. They have lots of shade and water outside but they still prefer to stay in the coop.

Mine have always proffered to hang in the shade outside. Them staying in like that is a first for them. Not normal.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is there only one long window for ventilation? The air won't move unless there's a window on the opposite side as well.

Did you feel the water to see if it was cool or hot? If the water is hot they won't drink it, or if they do, it won't cool them. We give ours fresh water around noon and put frozen water bottles in it to keep it cool through the afternoon.

We use 16-oz PowerAde bottles filled about two thirds full and frozen, then add cold water and put the lids on, and put one or two in each water bucket.

And if they congregate in the hot hen house, I go out there and chase them out, it gets like an oven out there in the afternoon. I think they kind of go into shock and lose their tiny little minds. They're safer outside where they can get under a bush or tree where the air is moving a little better. I've lost two birds to heat already this year out of a flock of 27. Anything you can do to help them beat the heat, do it. I'm sorry for your losses.

 

[Anime2lover]

Is there only one long window for ventilation? The air won't move unless there's a window on the opposite side as well.

Did you feel the water to see if it was cool or hot? If the water is hot they won't drink it, or if they do, it won't cool them. We give ours fresh water around noon and put frozen water bottles in it to keep it cool through the afternoon.

We use 16-oz PowerAde bottles filled about two thirds full and frozen, then add cold water and put the lids on, and put one or two in each water bucket.

And if they congregate in the hot hen house, I go out there and chase them out, it gets like an oven out there in the afternoon. I think they kind of go into shock and lose their tiny little minds. They're safer outside where they can get under a bush or tree where the air is moving a little better. I've lost two birds to heat already this year out of a flock of 27. Anything you can do to help them beat the heat, do it. I'm sorry for your losses.

One of The two doors on the opposite side are usually open to for air flow.

This is the first time we've lost one to heat in the last six years, that I know of.

They are our breeders. We had a rough winter to and lost most of our flock to some sickness that took us by surprise, we were still trying to rebuild the flock when this happened.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

One of The two doors on the opposite side are usually open to for air flow.

This is the first time we've lost one to heat in the last six years, that I know of.

They are our breeders. We had a rough winter to and lost most of our flock to some sickness that took us by surprise, we were still trying to rebuild the flock when this happened.

Sorry to hear. Sounds like it's been a rough year for you guys.

 

[Blyth-new chick mom]

I’m so sorry for your loss. That really does break my heart for you Those poor babies I’m in Ohio and it has been super hot lately. I just recently put a fan in my standards coop because I had to keep going out to chase them outside so they got fresh air and shade. Idk why but they always hang out inside the coop where it’s so stinking hot in there. I’ve been giving them a lot more water lately and also watermelons. They’re loving that lol. Then when they have the melon completely pecked down to the rind I’ll fill it up with ice water and they’ll drink out of that as well. This heat is just unbearable.