Is heat exhaustion a real thing for chickens?

[jllracer55]

Glad to hear they are doing better!

Thanks I am glad too that they are doing better. Hopefully the weather continues to be cooler out so that it only helps their recovery process.

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

10 is way too many for this little coop.

i have the same coop. it is an awesome starter coop for TWO birds. if each chicken needs 10 feet...this coop provides 6 feet per bird. if your birds can free range, that's different. they can sleep in it. However, the coop part is super closed for heat wave days.
Poor birdies, poor OP for the loss of the birds.

 

[MissChick@dee]

How old are these birds and how long have you had them? What does their poop look like? This might be heat stroke but it could also be coccidiosis or Marek's disease for that matter.
What is your gut feeling? Do you think it could be heat stroke or possible disease. You can see your set up and must have a better idea than us about how hot it is, if they have sufficient shade and ventilation throughout the heat of the day etc..

?

 

[Hanathehappyhen]

Yes heat exhaustion is a real thing. To heLP them out leave ice cubes in there water trays and if they let you give them baths. You can give them chunks of water melon, cold cucumber, frozen fruit, or chicken mash which is just crumble chicken feed mixed with water until it's got a sludgey texture. Them add what ever treats your birds like.
You could also set up a tarp in there run and give them a few fans and maybe a mister.

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

The high heat indexes we had arent here thankfully but we are still at mid to low 80's which is still warm for chickens.. and humidity levels at 70% or higher are not uncommon:/ I will keep watching for changes and make sure these ones and the older 12 get the TLC they deserve. They are usually spoiled bird given treats and all so this neglect and lesson learned is not easy on me.. I know many think im a terrible animal care giver but I usually give them fresh garden veggies and all. This is definitely hard considering my loss total for the year is now 10. Sure hope if anything this extensive post helps someone else save their birds.

i am so sorry for your losses.
yes it is! your post probably saved lots of birds from Newbie inexperience. we have had several heat waves already, and because of this post i went overboard on providing a safe space for my birds. i do have the same exact coop, with an added double extended run. (fyi: they are like $80 each)
Thanks to this post, i wet the earth around and in the coop, added electrolyte to the MANY waterers filled with ice, a tray with water in it for the birds to stand, frozen fruit, and the funniest...umbrellas to shade any sunlight spots through the trees.
It's only july, so there are A LOT of birds you saved being vulnerable and posting your tragic experience.
again, i am truly sorry that you had to experience this.

 

[Brummie Pekin]

I just spray my hens with cold water every hour or so and keep the water topped up, throw in a bit of watermelon. Should do the trick

 

[Killer Tomato]

Another suggestion for ALL of us:

Have the phone number of several friends and neighbors who could come assist your flock (and others) in a crisis. Just a phone call, "Can you let the chickens in/out, and make sure they have lots of feed and cool water with ice?"

My friends wouldn't know exactly how I do it, but they would err on the side of caution, and I'm sure I'd have 20 water dishes scattered throughout the yard, Bob Marley playing, and ice cream sundaes for the chickens!

We had a crisis last year, and were in the ER for many hours -- called our neighbor, and he willingly crawled through the dog door to take care of the fur and feather babies (the chicks were little and brooding in the bathroom)!

People want to help, you just gotta ask sometimes.

 

[jllracer55]

i have the same coop. it is an awesome starter coop for TWO birds. if each chicken needs 10 feet...this coop provides 6 feet per bird. if your birds can free range, that's different. they can sleep in it. However, the coop part is super closed for heat wave days.
Poor birdies, poor OP for the loss of the birds.

Thanks for your post. my plan was and still continues to be that this coop is just being used to raise the hens until they are big enough/old enough to go in with the older 12 hens. The larger group was purchased originally as a means to continue building the flock and preparing for when the older hens stop laying as often and eventually stop laying all together. we will see how it goes now that I am down 5 hens, the 2 roosters I lost I was told I had to re-home even though I was hoping to incubate some eggs one day but that likely wont happen now. :/ Although these chickens seem terrified of the older hens right now ive left the coop open trying to get them to free range the yard a bit.

 

[jllracer55]

Another suggestion for ALL of us:

Have the phone number of several friends and neighbors who could come assist your flock (and others) in a crisis. Just a phone call, "Can you let the chickens in/out, and make sure they have lots of feed and cool water with ice?"

My friends wouldn't know exactly how I do it, but they would err on the side of caution, and I'm sure I'd have 20 water dishes scattered throughout the yard, Bob Marley playing, and ice cream sundaes for the chickens!

We had a crisis last year, and were in the ER for many hours -- called our neighbor, and he willingly crawled through the dog door to take care of the fur and feather babies (the chicks were little and brooding in the bathroom)!

People want to help, you just gotta ask sometimes.

This is great advice, I have one friend in particular that owns chickens but can only have 4 i am sure he would have checked on them for me, wish i had thought of this idea when I needed it however last time I had someone watch them while we were away I ended up with one dead (got smashed by the water dish as a youngin, sure upset me..) From real tiny baby chicks to now we lost 11 total this year. such a rough year..its a little easier when they are really small compared to when they are so close to full growth.

 

[jllracer55]

Yes heat exhaustion is a real thing. To heLP them out leave ice cubes in there water trays and if they let you give them baths. You can give them chunks of water melon, cold cucumber, frozen fruit, or chicken mash which is just crumble chicken feed mixed with water until it's got a sludgey texture. Them add what ever treats your birds like.
You could also set up a tarp in there run and give them a few fans and maybe a mister.

They have fans now after all of this. And they love the chicken mash, they almost wont even touch the feed without it being this way.. unless they peck at the food they dumped all over.