How Chickens Respond to Extreme Heat

[centrarchid]

Today is likely first of 2012 when temperature is likely to exceed 100 F. The chickens being watched are cages in feild or under a large oak tree, or they are free ranging.

All in locations not entirely shaded are going to shaded spots. Birds caged in feild have only a 2 foot square spot of shade that is shifting as the day progresses. They are doing very well at moving to stay with shade as is moves. They are not moving around much; best to describe them as being lethargic with not more movement than needed. Feeders are full but regardless of location they are not being visited. Waterers were visited hard this morning but are not being approached by free-ranging birds now which contrast with confined birds that are drinking water frequently. Most birds are panting while laying down but almost all are panting continously. Most birds standing are also spreading wings exposing the thinly feathers surfaced beneath to shaded breeze. Many of those with spread wings are also oriented into what little wind is present. Smaller birds seem least stressed and birds that are confined are most stressed. Hens brooding eggs are staying on nest so far but temperature is only about 97 F.

 

[mnferalkitty]

Ice in there water helps them stay cool.

 

[centrarchid]

Ice in there water helps them stay cool.

I have too many birds in too many locations to treat all with such but some free-ranging birds on the front porch will be provided access to some icewater.

 

[mnferalkitty]

I have too many birds in too many locations to treat all with such but some free-ranging birds on the front porch will be provided access to some icewater.

I didn't mean for you to add ice, I just commented in case anyone doing a search on extreme heat comes across this thread they would know that ice water helps

 

[ChicKat]

There have been a couple of days > 100 here. My favorite hens pant very, very hard. When they are in the process of laying and I check in the nest box it breaks my heart because they appear to be suffering so much from this heat. Laying eggs in this inferno must be huge suffering.

They all take turns to stand in pans and saucers of water I have 4 out for 5 hens and I'm going to put out another one...or I should say the older ones facing their second summer and my Easter Egger wade in the water. My youngest pullet, who seems to suffer the most...hasn't caught the water-wading trick yet.

I try to wet things down, put a misting system in and just today put a gallon jug of ice water in the coop near the nest box. I'm beginning to really worry about this summer. I'm kind of bracing my self to loose some to the heat.

The only other relief that some of mine can find is flatten themselves against a piece of ground that is damp, or dig down (dust bath style) into the ground for some moisture. There is a chance that hurricane Debby may come toward Texas. We need the water, and even the clouds would be a relief.

 

[centrarchid]

I didn't mean for you to add ice, I just commented in case anyone doing a search on extreme heat comes across this thread they would know that ice water helps

Well, I am gonna do it anyway with Slugger. Will make for good photo op.

 

[dreamcatcherarabians]

Last summer we broke all kinds of heat records, hottest days, number of days over 100, heat & humidity.....It was GAWD awful. So far this year isn't that bad and I'm very grateful. I expected to lose a bunch of chickens last year and ordered some in May, thinking the heat wouldn't here yet, only it was 105 the day they arrived. I didn't lose a single chicken or chick to heat problems. I have several sources of water for them, the biggest one is a 35 gal stock tub that I put in the shade and they have a cinder block to climb up on and a large brick in the water so they can wet their feet. I find they take turns on that brick and sitting on the rim of the tub in the heat of the day. I have some tall bushes near one end of the house and that gives them lots of shade they can get into and I find they huddle down there during the ugliest part of the day too. Their coop and run is under a huge pine and is shaded 90% or more of the day but I don't see many chickens there during the heat of the day, they prefer the end of the house. They also have about 1/2 acre yard with grass that I water for them daily, it helps hold the heat down too. So as long as we don't get WORSE than last year, I'm reasonably hopeful for no heat losses again this year! Prayers and best wishes for everyone's flock to fare well this summer!

 

[RedDrgn]

This is our first summer with the flock outside (we got them as chicks at the beginning of last July), so the heat has been (and will likely continue to be) a learning experience for us.

On week days, our 6 chickens are confined throughout the day in a 100SF run that is 80-90% shaded (depending on the time of day) May-September. While they definitely respond to the heat similar to what you've reported (panting and holding wings akimbo), our hens have also developed another trick; digging pits. At first, we thought they were just going to take a dust bath, but they never went beyond scratching out a pit in the run soil that was deep enough for them to sit most of their body down in (almost to the point where their backs were level with normal grade). Then they just sit there and pant, occasionally getting up to get a drink (though not often). Pretty good technique, because the soil they dig down to is slightly moist and much cooler than surface grade. Unlike chicken dust bath pits, where they all tend to clump together for their rolls in the dirt, their cooling pits were 1 pit/bird. No one shared, though they occasionally changed pits when one would get up for a bite to eat or a drink. We have never seen the rooster participate, though. He'll stubbornly stand among them and just pant and fan himself.

The humidity also seems to play a bigger role in their comfort than the heat. Last week, we were hitting up 90s with around 70% relative humidity. It didn't seem to bother them near as much as conditions yesterday, which were low 80s, but with 85% relative humidity.

On weekends, when we allow them to free range during most daylight hours, they will stick to any patch of shade for a good 90% of their foraging. In the heat of the afternoon, they'll usually come back to the run and sack out in their pits or in the grass (also in the shade) right outside of their run door.

 

[flowerchic]

There have been a couple of days > 100 here. My favorite hens pant very, very hard. When they are in the process of laying and I check in the nest box it breaks my heart because they appear to be suffering so much from this heat. Laying eggs in this inferno must be huge suffering.

They all take turns to stand in pans and saucers of water I have 4 out for 5 hens and I'm going to put out another one...or I should say the older ones facing their second summer and my Easter Egger wade in the water. My youngest pullet, who seems to suffer the most...hasn't caught the water-wading trick yet.

I try to wet things down, put a misting system in and just today put a gallon jug of ice water in the coop near the nest box. I'm beginning to really worry about this summer. I'm kind of bracing my self to loose some to the heat.

The only other relief that some of mine can find is flatten themselves against a piece of ground that is damp, or dig down (dust bath style) into the ground for some moisture. There is a chance that hurricane Debby may come toward Texas. We need the water, and even the clouds would be a relief.

Good idea chickat, with the pans of water. I will have to try that today. Can you believe we are forecast for 103 for the next 2 or 3 days...no rain!! I feel myself melting!! Then a cold-front of 98, yeah - sad! I too have put frozen water jug in there coop and running the sprinkler during the hot hot parts of the day on the trees above the coop and sometimes directly on coop (roof and sides), seems to cool the area some. I too am worried about the heat, especially being new, this is my first summer with chickens, keeping my fingers crossed! They are panting and laying trying to press to the ground, especially in areas that I have watered. I bet they are going to love the pans of water, that is if I can get them to catch on to it. Thanks again,

 

[HappyHenMama]

Hi flowerchic, I'm in Drippin' also. pm me sometime it would be great to talk chickens. This is only my 3rd year with chickens but I am learning alot as I go and am especially learning alot on this forum. Good luck to us all in cooling down our chooks this summer!

Kimberly