How are y'all doing with the heat advisories?

[Dhkoenig]

Hi All - up here in the North East we have been hit with heat wave after heat wave and it is not the norm for our girls. We have three adult chickens and they all seem to be struggling even with full shade, fresh cool water, tons of ventilation, watermelon and fruits, extra pans of water, ice scattered on the ground etc etc but we also have 6 new pullets and some of them look to be having a tough time too! Their coop is completely open in terms of ventilation and I have fans going for both groups. My question - how are you other Northern people doing in these heat waves? Has anyone lost any chooks? I am so scared!

 

[Callender Girl]

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. The Midwest has also been hit with ridiculous heat and humidity recently -- along with a drought.

I always find it a bit frightening to watch my birds struggle in the heat. My Bielefelder, especially, has been panting a lot lately. But, no, I haven't lost anybody.

My chickens have spent a lot of time digging themselves into the dirt -- good for them to insulate themselves; dangerous for me when I don't notice the "potholes."

Best wishes for your flock -- and that the heat wave breaks soon!

 

[3KillerBs]

I feel sorry for the northern chicken-keepers struggling with my sort of summer.

I at least had the advantage of knowing that I needed heat-tolerant breeds and designing my coop and system for it and you don't.

Shade, water, VENTILATION, and access to the ground where they can dig in.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

 

[aart]

Electrolytes once a week and huge ice blocks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[RubelliteRose]

Your weather looks about the same as ours and you are doing all the right things to try to keep them cool. It is just hard when the heat index soars into the 100s.
Hopefully, you will have a cool spell soon! I know chickens look and sound awful when they pant from heat, but do know that chickens are tougher than they look and yours should be fine

 

[SueT]

We’ve had temps over 100º for several weeks here in Missouri. The chickens do just fine. They have shade trees over their coop and run. I give them a fresh ‘pool’ every afternoon, after I found one of the hens standing in a water bowl....

 

[Dhkoenig]

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. The Midwest has also been hit with ridiculous heat and humidity recently -- along with a drought.

I always find it a bit frightening to watch my birds struggle in the heat. My Bielefelder, especially, has been panting a lot lately. But, no, I haven't lost anybody.

My chickens have spent a lot of time digging themselves into the dirt -- good for them to insulate themselves; dangerous for me when I don't notice the "potholes."

Best wishes for your flock -- and that the heat wave breaks soon!

Thanks CG! I appreciate the feedback and LOL on the potholes!!!

 

[Dhkoenig]

We’ve had temps over 100º for several weeks here in Missouri. The chickens do just fine. They have shade trees over their coop and run. I give them a fresh ‘pool’ every afternoon, after I found one of the hens standing in a water bowl....
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Wow that blue container is awesome!!! I’ve been using metal lasagna pans or foil lasagna pans but it seems like they keep digging nearby and throwing dirt into it LOL I wish it would be so clean and sparkly like your water. Where did you get that cool container? Nice idea!