How hot is too hot for chickens?

[Clucked Up]

North Central TN and the heat index is hovering at 105 ... same for the next few days. Our 7 chickens are 5 mths old. They coop at night on their own, but free range our 1/2 (+/-) acre all day. While there are plenty of cool(er) spots to hide, I decided that they need more! Unlike our rabbits who would sprawl alongside frozen liter bottles, the girls will have nothing to do with it.

We capture water from the house roof and shed roof when it rains, so there are 3 150 gallon tubs to use. I left the closest one dribbling from a hose just inside the run after 5PM and it was a hit! There is just enough of a grade so it won't puddle, and the tomatoes on the other side of the fence are also enjoying a drink!
The girls were sipping, standing, and just watching the hose drip, cooing the way they do when relaxed. They stopped panting and began their pre-roost rituals of pecking and walking up and then back down the ramp to the coop. Phew!

Admittedly, I was "Mother Hen" concerned all day about what level of heat they could tolerate. Even I had a hard time in the garden this morning prepping to can all day, and I don't have feathers (well, maybe a few...)
So, if their water is too hot for YOU, change it. Need air, hook up a fan, and find some shade.
I love fried chicken ... but not like THAT!
(I even caught the old (almost 70!) man in a freshly filled tub the other day at 102 degrees...forgiven!)

 

[Chickens#2017]

I will start using ice. We had 90 degree temps all weekend and they seem to do ok. I like the frozen treat ideas!
They stay in the coop during the day (and run). Lots of shade I let them out in the yard to free range in the evenings when I get home

 

[The Golden Egg5]

That heat sounds miserable! It was nearly 80 degrees today and my spoiled gals were panting
I live in the mountains of NC and it rarely gets above 85. I moved here a year ago from Houston TX, so I understand how miserable it can be.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Ice, misters, wading tubs, water, water, water, frozen treats, and plenty of shade outside, and a fan in the coop at night. We're going to hit 117F in Phoenix end of this week, and I'm hoping I'm prepared.

 

[2iceblest]

It’s nasty hot and humid in central Indiana today: 93 degrees with 74% humidity.
I put a cooler with ice leaned against their run and they’re laying in front of it. I also wet the ground. They ran away but came back to lay in the cool grass. Also, lots of water with nutridrench and electrolytes. And, I took some of my frozen fruit and put it out for them.

 

[nuthatched]

It’s nasty hot and humid in central Indiana today: 93 degrees with 74% humidity.
I put a cooler with ice leaned against their run and they’re laying in front of it. I also wet the ground. They ran away but came back to lay in the cool grass. Also, lots of water with nutridrench and electrolytes. And, I took some of my frozen fruit and put it out for them.

Careful not to Od the electrolytes and nutridrench. Also cut back on the frozen fruit, high fiber and high water content could give them diarrhea and cause dehydration.

 

[EddieSalita]

It depends on a lot of variables. My chooks see 110+ several times a year. 95 is an average summer day.
They struggle a bit on the 110 days. But with lots of heavy shade trees and shrubs for cool dirt dustbathing, wet ground from irrigation and periodic misting to sleep on. They do well. Laying never slows down.

A favourite place is in amongst the banana trees, under dense shrubs that are already under the shade of a tree.

I plan to put a very shallow self flushing pond in the shade at some point. Fed from a much larger irrigation dam. They can wade, drink etc....

 

[2iceblest]

Careful not to Od the electrolytes and nutridrench. Also cut back on the frozen fruit, high fiber and high water content could give them diarrhea and cause dehydration.

Didn’t see this but I did and opted for wetting the grass which they loved because it brought the bugs out!

 

[rcm1201]

yesterday it was around 95 here and my chickens looked pretty miserable. They had plenty of shade and plenty of water plus there was a slight breeze.

How hot is too hot for them though? I have a feeling this summer is going to get pretty bad. We were hitting 80's in march

It’s been over 100 multiple weeks this summer In Louisiana. Chickens look miserable but my 7 are still pumping out 5 eggs a day. Not much I can do other than a box fan. 90+ nights in the coop with no fan is also brutal.

 

[Happy hen lover]

Mine have a big fan and I went ground to the point of puddles turn off hose and they're standing knee deep in mud and all mouths are shut