How Chickens Respond to Extreme Heat

[eggfinder12]

I am adding electrolites to the water bottles to help them not dehydrate.

 

[cmclean]

Hello from the Houston area! My girls are also having a rough week with 100 degrees plus. I have done everything mentioned on this posting, but the best relief seems to be from the fans we put out. We mounted one in the coop and it points directly into the nesting boxes. We also have one beside their favorite resting spot by the porch. I even laid frozen 2liter bottles of water along a favorite shady, brick wall.
I wish you all good luck this summer. I think we all want the same thing.... Happy, healthy girls!

 

[baileybrood]

I am very new to chickens. I got my first few and still have them in the house. I was hoping to put them outside this weekend but the temps here in NC are going to be 103! Guess I'll be keeping them in a little longer.

My question is - how old should they be before they go out in the summer heat? My chicks are now 4 1/2 weeks old and are feathered out. The Barred Rock is HUGE and the Orphington isn't far behind. But, my Welsummer is about half their size. I'm planning on picking up a couple Black Australorps next week and want to be able to have this first set out in the coop before I get them. Will mid 90's be okay? My coop and run are always in the shade but it's still going to be hot! I dont' want to stress them too much but I can't keep them in the house all summer! LOL

Please help a newbie

 

[centrarchid]

Chickens are most tolerant to high heat at about age yours are now. Keep them out of direct sun with lots of water and ventilation and they should do fine.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

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.

This sounds very typical of how our birds in AZ respond as temps reach 105+. I think that having some acclimation to heat helps over time. At 100 degrees, our birds rarely show signs of heat distress. That may also be due, in part, to our lower humidity. Just from reading (thankfully not by experience) it seems that most deaths here occur in the first 105+ degree days of the season and again as they approach and exceed 115. It really is interesting how confined birds vs. free ranging birds respond to the heat. It seems like they're better able to find the right spots to moderate their temperatures when they can move to favored places. While free ranging they have a fairly rigid circuit they follow around the yard to their various places that provide the best refuge at that time of day. When I have to confine my birds in very extreme heat (approaching 110+) I provide them with cooled water. I keep frozen milk jugs that I rotate out daily into insulated waterers. They really like the cool water and I keep two so that they don't have to move far to get to one. I have one waterer in the run made of a 5 gallon bucket with nipples and covered with Reflectix radiant barrier. The waterer in the coop is made from an old cooler plumbed for water. Both keep the water cool throughout the day.

 

[welasharon]

Chickens are most tolerant to high heat at about age yours are now.  Keep them out of direct sun with lots of water and ventilation and they should do fine.

Off topic....but how is the little man doing? I haven't seen any pics in a while....wasn't sure if my subscription wasn't working to the other thread or if you hadn't posted...and scoobs of course!

 

[centrarchid]

Off topic....but how is the little man doing? I haven't seen any pics in a while....wasn't sure if my subscription wasn't working to the other thread or if you hadn't posted...and scoobs of course!

I just posted concerning Scoob in following thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/426408/planned-livestock-guarding-dog-for-poultry/60#post_9229773

He has been very busy with predators. I have not lost a bird to predators since February but several predators have met their end in Scoob's mawl during same interval. Trueman is doing very well, nearly walking and few weeks back got to interact with free-ranging bitties for first time. See silly video.

More recently he tried to crawl after a stag in manner that reminded me of an oppossum chasing a bullfrog. Short, rapid bouts of crawling. Trueman's intent was evil!


I have cool pictures showing chickens dealing with heat yet to be posted.

 

[welasharon]

 I just posted concerning Scoob in following thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/426408/planned-livestock-guarding-dog-for-poultry/60#post_9229773

He has been very busy with predators.  I have not lost a bird to predators since February but several predators have met their end in Scoob's mawl during same interval.  Trueman is doing very well, nearly walking and few weeks back got to interact with free-ranging bitties for first time.  See silly video.

More recently he tried to crawl after a stag in manner that reminded me of an oppossum chasing a bullfrog.  Short, rapid bouts of crawling.  Trueman's intent was evil!


I have cool pictures showing chickens dealing with heat yet to be posted.

He's getting so big! Sally is such a good mama hen. Good to see her again!

 

[centrarchid]

Trueman weighs 22 lbs. Sallie has produced 18 juvenile offspring this season and working on brood 3. I hope to keep her for a good decade.

 

[welasharon]

That would be great. What is she now...2?