Help with high outdoor temps!

[CoulterMiniFarm]

I need some help. We built a coop with about 10 sq ft of ventilation (pics are in this post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/az-coop-deville.1626766/post-27790672)

Along with the ventilation, the coop has been moved to where it is mostly in the shade, and we installed a mister system in the run. We also put two 11" x 20" flat pans in the shade with about an inch of water in them for the chicks to cool off. However, the chicks don't seem to want to get in the pans of water, and they started to get overheated on their very first day outside. They were right at about 4 weeks old, and the temp hit 106º. Our temps can hit 110º in the heat of the day on occasion in the middle of summer.

We have 5 chicks - 2 Barred Rocks, a Starlight Green Egger, and 2 Silver Laced Wyandots. We got these particular birds from our local Tractor Supply because they are all supposed to be both cold and heat tolerant. They're currently back inside for now in a large pen that I created for them. They're fine for now, however, they're going to grow out of that pen within a few weeks, and I don't have any additional indoor space to give them. In a few other posts I've seen, people have suggested soaking the ground so they can scratch and bed down, but we have rocks, not dirt (welcome to AZ!). What can I do to get them acclimated to the outside temps? Is it just that they're still too young?

 

[Penpal]

You could hose down the roof of the henhouse. You could make a swamp air conditioner. Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan.

 

[CoulterMiniFarm]

You could make a swamp air conditioner. Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan.

That's not a half bad idea. Thank you!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

and they started to get overheated on their very first day outside.

How do you know they were overheated? I live in Central Texas, so we've got the heat and humidity, my ladies can get hot, they pant, raise their wings away from their body and just lay in the cool dirt and do a lot of nothing until it cools down. As far as the pans of water go, they aren't familiar with them, so they don't want anything to do with them right now (chickens don't like change). I would be a bit worried about the shock from bringing them back inside, that is quite a temp difference. They need to acclimate, maybe give them 5 hours a day early in the morning and increase it a little every day.

 

[CoulterMiniFarm]

Thanks for the reply. They were doing just that - panting, raising their wings, and just laying there.

They've acclimated back into the house just fine, but I'm concerned with how to get them back outside now. I'm thinking of moving them to the garage tonight, which is much warmer than the house, but doesn't reach the same temps as the outside. Then perhaps doing what you suggested and exposing them to the outdoor temps for a bit each morning and increasing their exposure over the week.

I put each one in the pans of water, hoping that they would then get the idea, but it was a no-go.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks for the reply. They were doing just that - panting, raising their wings, and just laying there.

They've acclimated back into the house just fine, but I'm concerned with how to get them back outside now. I'm thinking of moving them to the garage tonight, which is much warmer than the house, but doesn't reach the same temps as the outside. Then perhaps doing what you suggested and exposing them to the outdoor temps for a bit each morning and increasing their exposure over the week.

I put each one in the pans of water, hoping that they would then get the idea, but it was a no-go.

That sounds like a good plan, you need to get them used to temps that aren't anywhere near your AC temps, your garage will be perfect!

 

[Penpal]

Put a little dish with food in it in the center of the pan. They will step into the water to get the food.

 

[mcdze]

at 4 weeks theyre not quite ready for extremes or very experienced on how to cope ..id say yeah, a couple could die on you with heat like that, so id keep them sheltered from extremes until theyre a bit bigger .. couple 3 more weeks anyhow .. and in a hot climate the coop area really needs to be fully shaded, back under some trees etc .. if its not possible to get it out of the heat then they need to be let out in the heat of the day, to seek cool places themselves, then put them up in the eve .. keep the food situation limited and feed them in the eve at a set time and itl be easy .. theyll be waiting for you to put them up ..

 

[Auntiejessi3]

at 4 weeks theyre not quite ready for extremes or very experienced on how to cope .

I disagree with this statement: I hatched and raised a total of 56 chicks last year (broody and incubator) in the Texas heat. They stay inside for 2-3 days to be sure everyone is eating and drinking good, then go outside into the grow out area in the run. They acclimate just fine.

 

[igorsMistress]

I’m in Phoenix, try some mud puddles. Let the hose run on a trickle in a shady spot before the hottest part of the day so it can soak in. They’ll lay in little pits in the cool dirt later in the day. Get a large plastic container with smooth sides and freeze water in it. Take it out and let it sit for fifteen minutes or so, then let the block slide out into the empty pools. Don’t add water, it will make the ice melt faster. Don’t use cubes, they melt too fast to be any good. As the ice block melts they can stand in it and drink it too. I imagine the water gets hot quick, but ice blocks take a while to melt and it’s cold water. They’ll stand in it eventually. Also, give them some electrolytes a few days a week. You can mix it with some feed and/or just put it in a waterer. I like the feed option because they eat it vs letting it get hot and wasting it. I make it and put in the fridge the night before, then soak the feed. Good luck!