Here in the Pacific NW we don't get the melting heat, but right now we're heading twoard our second day over 100 and they say it'll be that hot tomorrow too. My girls have shade and I wanter down their run at night so there's some cooling from the evaporation. The ducks have a freshly filled kiddy pool and there's several fresh 5 g waters everyone can access. Last night I quartered a green cabbage and soaked it on water all night so it was very cool and water filled this morning when I gave it to the girls. Yesterday they had watermelon. Is there anything else I should be doing for them?
Sounds to me like you are doing everything right. As long as they are panting constantly and they have shade and water I bet they will be fine.
They should be fine. If you can get your hands on some poultry electrolytes to add to their water, that would help them cope too.
I like to freeze fruit and mellons for mine when it is hot. They are a ball to watch plaing with the pieces trying to break some off.
I think you did everything you could. I used the frozen 2 liter bottle trick too and they love laying next to them in the hot run. I also see mine getting dew off the bottles as they melt.
Yeah-it has been sooooo hot! I think one thing about our heat is that is happens quickly and is a big temp change. We are supposed t be down to the high 60s by Wednesday, but 100 degrees today. Here is what I do when it's really hot: block ice in big water tub, fan pointed to blow over the ice and into the coop, sprinkle the roof and surrounding areas as often as you can, and a roll down shade on the front of house. During this snap, I also let my girls out because their hen house has no natural shade and it gets hot i there despite all that I do. They were able to find their own shade that way, and got some of my nice ripe veggies and fruits from the garden as well
you can also fill butter containers with water freeze them and drop them into 5 gallon buckets in the run . 2 gallon containers if your chickens are smaller . I have 2 buckets filled with water and drop the frozen butter containers inside . Mine all drink from this and love it .