How hot is too hot?

[jfarm]

Anyone raising meat birds now in the Pacific Northwest? I would like to start about 24 chicks on pasture, but am worried about the summer heat. We rarely get over 75, but we do get the occasional heat wave.

Thanks

 

[Judymae]

I live in Texas where the heat can be unbareable!!! What we do to keep our meat chickens comfortable is supply them with a huge shop fan 24/7. It's been up to 100* here already and they seem to handle it just fine. I replenish their water several times a day to make sure it stays cool. I also give them frozen fruit as treats.

 

[dangerouschicken]

Well, I am out past Hood River, Oregon and we have been having triple digits the past few days. I lost 3 meat birds in a matter of hours. BUT if you are in a cool area, then they might do okay.

 

[Mahonri]

It's been over 110 for a couple of weeks now.

All of my girls are doing fine.

Give them fresh water twice a day, I spray down their coop at night to cool it with evaporation.... so far so good... c'mon September.

 

[HillCountryMomma]

What kind of meat birds are y'all raising in the heat?

Do they seem to slow down on thier eating when it's hot?

Dangerouschicken, I read about yours dying so quick. Sounds like you shocked them. Most animals wouldn't do well going from a cool basement to high temps. Might wanna try a more gradual transition to outdoors and they'd probably do better.

Liz

 

[HFC]

I'm in the Texas gulf coast-we stay mid-upper 90s for 4 months straight.

75 degree days in January aren't uncommon. You'll be fine.

 

[dangerouschicken]

Yeah, I suppose it might have been shock. I don't really care anymore. I hate CC and I will never do them again. They are monsters engineered to self destruct. No thank you.

Mahonri, you have female meat birds?

 

[LoneCowboy]

The heat is horrible on poor little fluffy butts. I bought a solar fan off ebay today. Going to try it out then if it works good, get more.

You can freeze bottles of water and put them out with the chickens, a fan is good, I mist mine with the hose when it's really hot. Mine love playing in puddles of water so that's a good one too. I've put a trap over the run to try to keep the sun out a little plus all my coops are heavily insulated so they stay inside a lot in the heat.

 

[Judymae]

HillCountryMama I'm raising the plain ole' cornish crosses.

A solar fan?? I want one of those. Please let me know how it does. With electrical costs doubling this summer (like everything else) that would be awesome!!

 

[Judymae]

Lonecowboy which solar fan did you buy? I just looked at them and can't figure out which one would work. I was thinking the one with a detachable solar panel? Or several of the small ones you put in like a skylight?