Is heat exhaustion a real thing for chickens?

[jllracer55]

I am continuing the Corid just to be safe but it seems the only way they are getting it is by mixing it with the food? they are going to the 2 waters I have with them to drink :/

 

[Tesumph]

Please read this. It is for humans but is the same concept and symptoms for animals.
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/heat-disorders/heatstroke

Heat stroke can happen in a matter of hours or over the course of several days. The resulting organ failure can cause coma, seizures, long term liver and kidney failure, and just about every other organ damage you can think of.

Submersing in water is effective but risky. I would not try this without a way to check internal body temperature, as you can easy send the body into shock and overcool the animal. Providing a shallow pan or tub where they can submerse their feet in cool water is much better.

Your coop is way too small for your birds, they do not have the ventilation or space to properly cool down. I would suggest researching some open air coops and keeping in mind that the general rule of thumb is 4sq ft per bird in the coop, and 10sq ft per bird in the run.

 

[jllracer55]

well the small coop is down to 4 birds now. lost number 7 today.

 

[Kiki]

well the small coop is down to 4 birds now. lost number 7 today.

Sorry.
Do you have some where else you can move the remaining 4 for now?
I'm thinking you might need to deep clean this coop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

 

[jllracer55]

Sorry.
Do you have some where else you can move the remaining 4 for now?
I'm thinking you might need to deep clean this coop.

How much more deep clean can I do? I sprayed it out for hours the other night and put new pine shavings down for them. I could clean house again ? :/ Beyond that I am unaware of a safe chicken cleaning solution? ive only ever used water

 

[Tesumph]

How much more deep clean can I do? I sprayed it out for hours the other night and put new pine shavings down for them. I could clean house again ? :/ Beyond that I am unaware of a safe chicken cleaning solution? ive only ever used water

There’s no harm in deep cleaning but personally, I am almost certain this is just damage from not having water in the heat, and there is nothing you can do besides bring them into the AC for a while.

 

[jllracer55]

The 4 that remain are being very active birds now that rooster boy is gone. But they are also acting like they may have mite issues (itching a lot) i am surprised they aren't trying to dust bathe like they have done before with the other hens.

 

[jllracer55]

There’s no harm in deep cleaning but personally, I am almost certain this is just damage from not having water in the heat, and there is nothing you can do besides bring them into the AC for a while.

well my wife nixed that idea.. so I brought the A/C to them with an older window unit we had hanging around that still works, it is behind a box fan with the box fan allowing it to push the cold air through the coop.

 

[jllracer55]

We will see how they look and act in the am but the 4 remaining chickens are eating and drinking like chickens should finally. Hard lessons learned here but I hope these 4 remain healthy they look better than any of the others did so far.