How much panting is too much??

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Please advise... we have been trying for 2 weeks to get our 10 week old chicks outside on a permanent basis. It's been in the 90s with heat index in the 100s. We have them in their open air run, but have been bringing them inside at dusk to sleep. I'm scared to lock them up in their coop. My husband's temperature gun says its 96 degrees still and its 6:15pm. That's with the human access door fully open and their pop door closed to keep them in the run. Today has been the worst so far. I have continually added ice to their water to keep it cold. I've dipped their feet in the water, fed them ice cold lettuce even. They are STILL panting. I'm scared for them. How many hours of panting is too much?? Hubby even put his huge shop fan on them, just outside the run.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Please advise... we have been trying for 2 weeks to get our 10 week old chicks outside on a permanent basis. It's been in the 90s with heat index in the 100s. We have them in their open air run, but have been bringing them inside at dusk to sleep. I'm scared to lock them up in their coop. My husband's temperature gun says its 96 degrees still and its 6:15pm. That's with the human access door fully open and their pop door closed to keep them in the run. Today has been the worst so far. I have continually added ice to their water to keep it cold. I've dipped their feet in the water, fed them ice cold lettuce even. They are STILL panting. I'm scared for them. How many hours of panting is too much?? Hubby even put his huge shop fan on them, just outside the run.

P.s. they have been in full shade of their run all day, nobody laying in the sun like previous days.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Ive had a similar problem. Some of my ladies get really hot and pant a awful lot. Ive tried the ice in the water and the fan and they both help but not as much as I would like. What I like to do is get an old Tupperware container that fairly big. I fill it with whatever fruits or veggies I have on hand. I fill it up with those and some mealworms if I've got them and birdseed. I fill it with water and then freeze it. When the ladies start getting hot I dump the block out there for them to peck at. It lasts for a few hours (Depending on the size) and it cools them off really quickly. I also will freeze bananas and strawberries and toss them out there for them and that helps.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Ive had a similar problem. Some of my ladies get really hot and pant a awful lot. Ive tried the ice in the water and the fan and they both help but not as much as I would like. What I like to do is get an old Tupperware container that fairly big. I fill it with whatever fruits or veggies I have on hand. I fill it up with those and some mealworms if I've got them and birdseed. I fill it with water and then freeze it. When the ladies start getting hot I dump the block out there for them to peck at. It lasts for a few hours (Depending on the size) and it cools them off really quickly. I also will freeze bananas and strawberries and toss them out there for them and that helps.

Thanks for the idea! I dont know what to do for them tonight though. Bring them in, leave them out and lock them in their coop? I would feel horrible if they died from my lack of knowledge. This is my first flock of chickens.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Thanks for the idea! I dont know what to do for them tonight though. Bring them in, leave them out and lock them in their coop? I would feel horrible if they died from my lack of knowledge. This is my first flock of chickens.

Does your coop have a lot of ventilation? If not I would definitely put some in. I just drilled 1 and 1/2 inch holes I'm my coop and it helps them out. You could try putting a fan in the coop for them as well. I have a old box for that I put out for them but I haven't ever used in the coop before.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Does your coop have a lot of ventilation? If not I would definitely put some in. I just drilled 1 and 1/2 inch holes I'm my coop and it helps them out. You could try putting a fan in the coop for them as well. I have a old box for that I put out for them but I haven't ever used in the coop before.

It has 6 ventilation windows, the size of a man's shoebox. 2 on each of 3 sides. Not sure how we would put a fan inside, without them injuring themselves on it. Guess we could try a small personal fan mounted up near the ceiling?

 

[FathertoFeathers]

It has 6 ventilation windows, the size of a man's shoebox. 2 on each of 3 sides. Not sure how we would put a fan inside, without them injuring themselves on it. Guess we could try a small personal fan mounted up near the ceiling?

I don't know how you could go about that. It would definitely need some brainstorming. How hot does it get at night?

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

I don't know how you could go about that. It would definitely need some brainstorming. How hot does it get at night?

Right now its 97 with 102 heat index and 6:36pm. 8pm it's supposed to be 90, 10pm to be 84. Arrgghh. The coop was 88 degrees closed, by 11 am today. Will I ever get them in the coop?

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Right now its 97 with 102 heat index and 6:36pm. 8pm it's supposed to be 90, 10pm to be 84. Arrgghh. The coop was 88 degrees closed, by 11 am today. Will I ever get them in the coop?

Jeez that’s warm. I’ve heard of people filling old milk jugs with water and freezing them to help cool off the birds.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Jeez that’s warm. I’ve heard of people filling old milk jugs with water and freezing them to help cool off the birds.

I've been freezing water filled Gatorade bottles all day, they are almost solid now.