I need to vent about the heat!

[Blue Raptor]

Did I mention MY a/c in my house is out too? I'm gonna die. It might be cooler in the chicks castle

 

[jaybyrdsfarm]

Especially with chicks, but in high heat, dehydration can be a real life threatening issue. I just add water to my crumbles - about good sand castle consistency. If you think about it, dry food, is naturally dehydrating.

Mrs K

Hadn't thought about that! I have been throwing out some cool melon slices to keep them hydrated and they like to play dunking for mealworms (make meal worm ice cubes and float them in a little bowl and then they peck at the water

 

[aart]

Weekly dose of EL/Vits and ice blocks is what I use here.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[3KillerBs]

Fortunately, our NC birds are acclimated to heat by now.

I'm doing electrolytes once a week in hot-by-our-standards weather, plenty of fresh water, and letting them chill in the shade -- well dug into the cool ground.

I don't give them treats or do anything to make them move around in the hot part of the day -- just collect eggs as softly and unobtrusively as possible.

They pant, but they're fine.

This is from a couple weeks ago. Some of the hens got up in case I had something tasty for them, but you can see the holes they've dug in search of cool ground -- the California white behind the Brahma is almost down to the level of her back.

The little ones stayed well dug in.

 

[mamablair]

I'm so sorry your AC is out . That really sucks. It's 98 here right now, I'm definitely ready for fall. Maybe a treat of frozen peas? My ladies love them when it's hot.

 

[Coops Dad]

I put a kiddie pool in their run with about 4" of water in it. They jump in to drink, splash around, take a sitz bath, throw water onto their backs and generally make a filthy mess out of their world. After they're in for the evening, I dump whatever is left into the pasture and refill it for the next day. Most of the chickens will at least get in and wade around for a bit and get a drink but some are serious enthusiasts.

My littles (integrated into the main flock a few weeks ago) gave me the idea when I caught a few of them jumping into a cut-down bucket that I use for chicken water in the pasture. One or two would get in and the first time I saw it, I thought one was drowning. Nope.

The turkeys are murder on the pool when they can get to it- they splash and thrash around so much that I sometimes have to drag the hose out and refill it for the chickens.

 

[springvalley123]

Can I/should I put ice cubes in my waterer for my 4 week old chicks? I have a fan in the 82 degree brooder room, 3 windows & the door open. Outside temps are 90 so I’m very glad the room is a bit cooler.

I would, or at least give them a choice. and turn off the heat source when it's warm or give them plenty of space away from the heat. I don't know how well feathered they are at 4 weeks, but babies in general can't take the heat at all--e.g., the new hatchlings can't have it any hotter than the 95 or so spot you're supposed to give them to warm up. I actually had to put an ice bottle next to a day-old once! then brought them back into the house until temps dropped back down.--by 4 weeks you should have a little leeway but not much, especially if you have high heat indexes.