How do you help your chickens handle the extreme heat?

[meeerylou]

thank you!!

 

[Merryment]

You can give them frozen fruit or veggies. Mine love cucumber. Make sure they have a mud wallow in one corner of the run, and fans on. We lost a couple of pullets yesterday, so now there's a block of ice in front of the fan and electrolytes in the water. In a pinch, you can use pedialyte, or get chicken electrolytes. And a bit of molasses in the water, if they are really stressed. We moved all the pullets in with the hens, because then hens are under a pecan tree. We're in high gear trying to keep them cool here; the heat's going up and staying up with no relief in sight. Oh, and give them change-outs of cool water when you can, and ice in their water. Good luck.

 

[gmendoza]

my DW hoses them down. ever see a wet chook? too funny.

 

[CarolJ]

So my chickens got ice in their water today - I took a bowl and went through the freezer and put a little of whatever bags of fruits and veggies I had in there - and then gave them the frozen treats - a veritable smorgasbord! Last fall I froze a bunch of pureed pumpkin in square freezer containers. So I took a block of frozen pumpkin and put it in a wire suet holder - and they're having a great time pecking at that.

I bought a second plastic waterer - filled it partway with water and put it in the freezer. Next time I fill their waterer, I'll add that to it - and then freeze another one for the next time. I stuck two peaches in the freezer for tomorrow's treats, too. I think I'm spoiling them, but I would be crushed if any of them got sick or died from the heat.

Our heat index was up to 110 today - absolutely miserable! But I think they'll be okay. Tomorrow they'll be 21 weeks old, though - and still no eggs.

Thanks for all the ideas for how to help them get through these hot days.