heat wave

[5bufforps]

my five hens are almost a year old. buff orps. we have had a cold winter and spring and now in a heatwave. how do i support my gurls through it. they have free range with shady options, a stream, and
i put out shallow water tubs for them to stand in but they dont seem to like them. they have a fan in the hen house but not in the run (although the run is sort of for show cuz they jump out to free range
most of the day. they have dry mash feed and frsh water. its been in the 60s and today and the next four days are in the 90s. what do you do for a young flock in a heat wave?

 

[5bufforps]

this seems like its wrong but do we hose them? or mist them? they have their wings bumped out and ipen mouths from heat. and one of them is 75% recovered from bumblefoot and that could go wrong from heat stress maybe?

 

[nuthatched]

They'll be fine. Don't get their feathers wet, it'll trap heat

 

[KetchupsOwner]

I’m very new to owning chickens, ours are just a few months old- so hopefully you get some responses from experienced owners!
We, too, have extremely hot days forecasted in the upcoming days. I have placed some water bottles and old juice cartons filled with water in the freezer. I will put the frozen water bottle within their waterer to keep it cool through the day. I read about placing the frozen water jugs in front of a fan to cool down the air it blows so that’s what I’ll do with the larger one.
Like you I placed some shallow water in the run so they could cool off in it, but they haven’t gone in yet. And then I’ll mist the ground with water periodically through the days.
And I’m thinking of putting some sliced watermelon in the freezer to offer to them during the hottest parts of the day- I’m thinking any safe produce would be ok to do this with!

 

[nuthatched]

And I’m thinking of putting some sliced watermelon in the freezer to offer to them during the hottest parts of the day- I’m thinking any safe produce would be ok to do this with!

Adding water melon is a good idea, but not everyday. Maybe twice a week. Water melon if full of water and fiber, it'll give your birds 'the squirts', especially everyday

 

[KetchupsOwner]

Adding water melon is a good idea, but not everyday. Maybe twice a week. Water melon if full of water and fiber, it'll give your birds 'the squirts', especially everyday

This is good to know, thank you!

 

[coach723]

Most important things are shade and cool water. When it's really hot I change water several times during the day, and sometimes put frozen water bottles in the waterers to help cool them (my freezer is full of them in the summer). Don't spray your birds, but a sprinkler running nearby or misters can cool the air a little bit. I also sometimes leave a hose on trickle in the yard in a shaded spot so the water pools and they can stand in that. Heat stroke is a real thing and I've lost a few to it. In hot weather I keep a bucket of water (ambient temperature not cold) in a shady spot just in case. I did save one bird that went down and I found her in time, dunked her up to her chin in the bucket and when she started to revive brought her in the house for about a week for more intensive care. She lived for quite a while after that.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Agree with the above.
Where are you located? How hot?

It will be in the 90s here next week and my BOs will not be happy. I put ice in their water and wet down the run, but do not spray the birds

 

[Anon112]

Lots of places that are shaded, good ventilation. Wetting down an area on the ground (not spraying the chickens themselves). If you are able to, giving fresh cold water several times a day. Leaving the hose on a trickle is a great idea.