How hot is too hot?

[Serrin]

I'm a bit concerned for my two year old Golden Brahma, Brewenna, who tips the scales at somewhere around 15-20 pounds. We're forecasted to hit the century mark on the thermometer tomorrow and she's already having trouble with the mid 80's as it is.

Is there a temperature at which I should be seriously concerned for her health and well being? While everyone in the flock is walking around with wings outspread, Brewenna is doing that as well as doing open beak panting.

I'm pretty sure she could be considered overweight. I've never bothered to weigh her, so I'm not sure of what her exact weight is. If that information is needed, I can certainly check.

The girls always have a good supply of fresh cool water in several locations throughout their normal ranging area. Yesterday I wetted down a number of areas that they like to congregate in when the weather gets hot, as I've noticed they like to lay around where the sprinkler ran the night before, and they seemed to like that too.

I'm just wondering if there is anything more I could or should do, especially with regards to my rather rotund little Brewenna. Maybe I'm worrying needlessly, but these are my babies. I'm prone to be an overly protective mother hen and just want what's best for them! Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Wynette]

Gosh, if they have shade & water, they "should" be okay with the heat. BUt, you can run a fan if you like, and some fans actually have mister attachements which seem to help. YOu can also feed them frozen spinach or broccoli - the kind that comes in a box in your freezer section. I put it in a large, metal feed pan and just let it unfreeze as it warms up. Short of putting little...er....large...Brewenna in an a/c suite, there's not a ton you can do, but she ought to be just fine. Best of luck!

 

[citrusdreams]

You can also run sprinklers or misters for them. You can put a baby pool out for them.

You can also make a chicken cooler: Take a foam cooler, dog house, some kind of container that has an opening for them to get into and put ice or bags of ice, or those reusable blocks of ice inside. They can get in there and keep cool.

They should be okay, but you really have to look at your chickens and go by how they act/look. If they're uncomforable, you have to do more, if they're not uncomfortable, don't worry, they'll be fine.

On really hot days mine disappear under outbuildings, decks, porches and always have access to water.

 

[LynneP]

The frozen food sunds good and you could add frozen jugs of water to their other drinking bowls and/or provide them to huggle against, possibly in a cloth grocery bag or old towel.