I can't believe how little food you've used, although I've also been feeding my 25 laying chicks and not keeping track, plus, mine are now eight weeks old. I really need to process mine this week. We're going out of town for a few days and I don't want to take the chance of anybody having a bad leg or heart failure while my step-son is caring for them.
I have seen 99 degrees a total of two days since we have had these chicks. Meaning, those were the nice days when they weren't panting! It's been as hot as 121 and I really can't believe I didn't lose any the two weeks it was over 115! I think the key was shade, keeping them outdoors without a coop and wading pools. I discovered they like to stand in shallow tubs of water when it's hot. So, I have lids to rubbermaid containers filled with water for them sitting in the shade, that I refill with cool water twice a day, especially during the heat of the day. I also give lots of fruit and tomatoes to encourage fluids.
I also believe they acclimate to temperature, so a sudden heatwave is far more devastating than a gradual increase in heat. My chicks were set out at about a week of age, in 100-105 degree heat. They were able to acclimate to this, rather than living at 80 degrees and being suddenly hit with 105 or 110 at 5-6 weeks of age, which would probably kill many or most chicks.
While I would get layer chicks in the early summer again, as it wasn't difficult, the broilers were actually an accident, sent by Mccmurry by mistake and I would never intentionally attempt to raise them in this heat. I've really enjoyed the experience, as I was planning to do it later, and it forces my husband to get used to the idea, which he has. He was very resistant to raising meat chickens, preceding to not think about where his meat came from and how it was treated. He now realizes that the birds have a good life, much better than commercially raised birds, and that means a lot, in addition to having clean, healthy, good tasting meat.
I have seen 99 degrees a total of two days since we have had these chicks. Meaning, those were the nice days when they weren't panting! It's been as hot as 121 and I really can't believe I didn't lose any the two weeks it was over 115! I think the key was shade, keeping them outdoors without a coop and wading pools. I discovered they like to stand in shallow tubs of water when it's hot. So, I have lids to rubbermaid containers filled with water for them sitting in the shade, that I refill with cool water twice a day, especially during the heat of the day. I also give lots of fruit and tomatoes to encourage fluids.
I also believe they acclimate to temperature, so a sudden heatwave is far more devastating than a gradual increase in heat. My chicks were set out at about a week of age, in 100-105 degree heat. They were able to acclimate to this, rather than living at 80 degrees and being suddenly hit with 105 or 110 at 5-6 weeks of age, which would probably kill many or most chicks.
While I would get layer chicks in the early summer again, as it wasn't difficult, the broilers were actually an accident, sent by Mccmurry by mistake and I would never intentionally attempt to raise them in this heat. I've really enjoyed the experience, as I was planning to do it later, and it forces my husband to get used to the idea, which he has. He was very resistant to raising meat chickens, preceding to not think about where his meat came from and how it was treated. He now realizes that the birds have a good life, much better than commercially raised birds, and that means a lot, in addition to having clean, healthy, good tasting meat.
Last edited:
