How dangerous is mold?

[SarahGfa]

We had a massive heat wave last week. It was over 110 degrees in the coop (the thermometer maxed out). The laying hens looked distressed so I sprayed down the whole coop with a hose. (There was already a fan running, and bags of ice in the nest boxes. I was desperate to cool it down.)

The coop looked dry by the next morning, but today I noticed that the bottom layer of straw is still wet and a little moldy. I removed all the straw but there is probably still some mold spores in the coop. Also the nest boxes probably have mold, I could not check because there are broody hens in there.

Is this dangerous? Anything I can do besides keep the fan running? I am most worried about the chicks that will hatch in 10 days, they might hatch into moldy nests.

 

[black_cat]

Mold is not good. It can get them very sick. Most people separate their broodies from the flock anyway, so none of the older hens can hurt the chicks. Maybe once they hatch, move the chicks into a new location (a dog crate with a cat crate as a nest box usually works) and then move the hen? She'll just want to go with the chicks.

 

[Acre4Me]

The straw should be changed. Just do so when it is low light and do it as quickly as possible but carefully. Change and clean the nest boxes and replace the straw. Put broodies and eggs back in. By doing this in the lower light of evening, they will naturally be settled and won’t go anywhere from the nest

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also recommend changing the nest materials.

Keep a fan running but have it so one draws in outside air and a second one pushes coop air out. Air movement will help a lot. Oh and fluff that floor bedding at least once a day.

 

[SarahGfa]

I also recommend changing the nest materials.

Keep a fan running but have it so one draws in outside air and a second one pushes coop air out. Air movement will help a lot. Oh and fluff that floor bedding at least once a day.

Good idea, thanks.

I hope the broodies won't be upset when I change out the nests.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Oh gosh, I shudder at the thought of spraying water in the coop. How is your ventilation? I live in west texas where we have lows of 120 in july/august but the coop has always stayed cool because of the ventilation I have. For now I would do as others have said and try your best to remove all mold or anything wet. Then look at your ventilation and make sure theres enough.

And never spray water in the coop again.

 

[SarahGfa]

Oh gosh, I shudder at the thought of spraying water in the coop. How is your ventilation? I live in west texas where we have lows of 120 in july/august but the coop has always stayed cool because of the ventilation I have. For now I would do as others have said and try your best to remove all mold or anything wet. Then look at your ventilation and make sure theres enough.

And never spray water in the coop again.

It's an open-front coop (one wall is hardware cloth only) so it is the same temperature outside and inside. It usually does not get so hot here, but we have had some crazy heat waves this year, plus all the wildfires.

 

[RoosterML]

The straw should be changed. Just do so when it is low light and do it as quickly as possible but carefully. Change and clean the nest boxes and replace the straw. Put broodies and eggs back in. By doing this in the lower light of evening, they will naturally be settled and won’t go anywhere from the nest

X2

 

[RoosterML]

Oh gosh, I shudder at the thought of spraying water in the coop. How is your ventilation? I live in west texas where we have lows of 120 in july/august but the coop has always stayed cool because of the ventilation I have. For now I would do as others have said and try your best to remove all mold or anything wet. Then look at your ventilation and make sure theres enough.

And never spray water in the coop again.

Sorry I find this funny. It’s 120 and you say your coop is cool. Regardless of your type of ventilation it can’t get cooler then outside temp unless you have a/c on for them. So no I don’t consider 120 “cool”