Help, gunna lose another hen have no clue why!

TheOgdensmenagerie

Songster
6 Years
Feb 4, 2017
314
314
201
Eastern Montana
So I'm in Cali it has been excessively hot 105+. I have shades up I give fresh water every night including watering down the pen for moisture. I have 2 5 gallon waters and even a fan inside the coop.
I lost one RIR earlier this week when it reached 109. Now I have another thats down in the run and wont move. I was spraying everything down and didnt notice her till after she was a little wet. Can this just be from the heat or do you think something else is going on.
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Are they panting with wings spread out? If so, bring them in or get a small dishwashing bucket, filled with tap cool water, not cold. Submerse them in it to bring down their body temp. Hold them for a minute or two 2nd, give them Gatorade to drink, or some type of electrolytes asap....If they are not panting, or have wings spread, then what other symptoms do you have?
 
Are they panting with wings spread out? If so, bring them in or get a small dishwashing bucket, filled with tap cool water, not cold. Submerse them in it to bring down their body temp. Hold them for a minute or two 2nd, give them Gatorade to drink, or some type of electrolytes asap....If they are not panting, or have wings spread, then what other symptoms do you have?

She doesnt have her wings spread, her mouth is slightly open to breathe, but not panting or breathing hard at all. She tried to get up to walk but just fell right over and wont even try to move when I pet her which is not normal. Weight is good, no red vent
She keeps batting her eyes excessively, and looks like she may have had the runs.
 
Poor girl! She looks and sounds hot... :( 109 could definitely do it... Several of my friend's hens died from 105-110F temperatures... Have you tried putting some ice in the water? I know it is not a lot but it helps. The ice keeps the water cool for longer. The Electrolytes and cool water soak sound like a good idea but since I am not there, I can't say for sure she is not sick aside from the heat.
 
Get her in the shade and make sure the coop is not stuffy, dome fand would probably help and make sure the water in cold, they could even Benifit from being soaked in cool water if you are worried about them.
 
It may be heat exhaustion, , if you have any electrolytes,The added sugar may help give her the boost she needs to get up. I usually keep Gatorade for emergency in the summer, I would go get the clear type , avoid color or food dyes, of Gatorade from the convenience store and fill a bowl with it, and put it in front of her, if she drinks. keep an eye on her, if not try using a syringe to give her about 3 cc Heat can take a lot out of them, as high as the heat your describing, I would invest in the poultry electrolytes you can order online or buy from a feed store to add to their water
 
I have that problem when one of mine go broody, I have to pull them and put them in a cage for about a month by them self , to get them to stop laying on the eggs and losing their feather on their chest and bellies Has she refused to get off the nest?
 
I know it might sounds weird but depending on the size of the window in your coop try a small ac unit set to 75 it might help. Its something i was thinking of this year when it hit 103 plus humidity because i also brood older chicks in the coop for a see no touch bonus.
 

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