I have lusted for a couple/three dark Brahma hens for awhile now, actually since I saw my first picture. I live in N TX, summer temps consistently over a hundred June until Labor day. It is a dry windy heat. Last summer was my first year, and I lost 2 birds to heat exhaustion, a black EE and one of the Cuckoo Marans. Almost lost the Speckled Sussex. I have improved their coops to keep them cooler this year (already have had 100 degree days) but I don't want to get these beauties if they will suffer from heat. Any experiences?
My first chickens were Light Brahmas. It was a bad drought year - they panted a lot in the heat, and sneezed from the dust. We have plenty of shade, and I gave them ice water twice a day, so none of them died.
My flock of brahmas does very well in our horrible SW Arkansas summers. I'm from Florida originally, so I can rightfully call Arkansas summers horrible. Plenty of fresh water, both inside and out, and fans in their coop. I've noticed a pattern with my brahmas. In the summertime they will forage in the early morning and later in the evening. During the heat of the day they find a nice patch of shade to lay in and keep cool. My birds free range. The brahma flock is a little over 3 years old and doing great. Added bonus, no special care in the wintertime. They breeze right through it. ETA: Keep stresses to a minimum during the heat of the day. If I want to give them treats or work with them or their coop, I do it in the cooler morning hours so they don't get overheated with activity.
