Is heat exhaustion a real thing for chickens?

[ChickenCanoe]

Perhaps they have recovered from the issues. If it is still extremely hot there, other precautions still need to be taken.

 

[jllracer55]

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.

 

[Kiki]

Keep the treat giving to a minimum.
Feeding a complete feed only is better.

If you feed treats offer a dish or grit.

Get some permethrin, it works to kill mites and or lice.
Look tonight when it is dark, with a flash light, in the coop and on the birds for little bugs.

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

Martin's Horse & Stable Permethrin Spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• flies lice mites permethrin

Permethrin

 

[BarkingDog]

I’ve put mine in dog kennels and in a cool room when temperatures go over 100. Below 100 lots of fresh cool water, they also like sunflower seeds in trays with water on them, that makes them drink. Watermelon, anything cool. And always shade.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There is a learning curve for sure.
The learning curve is much greater for those that didn't grow up with livestock. If one didn't, not much of this stuff is intuitive.

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.

Our humidity stays high most of the time too. Seems like on the hottest, steamiest days there isn't even a breeze. Luckily, today is the last day in the mid 90s for about a week.
Don't let this event get you too down. Lord knows I've made many huge mistakes with animals in my life. That's why I post on here, so others can learn from my mistakes.

 

[jllracer55]

There is a learning curve for sure.
The learning curve is much greater for those that didn't grow up with livestock. If one didn't, not much of this stuff is intuitive.

Thanks for the positive reinforcement They look good still today sure hope this is the upswing. I am about to do a corid water refill either it drained out or they did some drinking today finally!! Sure wish I could get them to leave the coop to free range for a bit so I can spray the bottom hardware cloth of all their poop again. Trying to keep up on the cleaning so that dont help make them sick again. Thanks to those of you that have made suggestions and help along the way I will keep you posted.

Our humidity stays high most of the time too. Seems like on the hottest, steamiest days there isn't even a breeze. Luckily, today is the last day in the mid 90s for about a week.
Don't let this event get you too down. Lord knows I've made many huge mistakes with animals in my life. That's why I post on here, so others can learn from my mistakes.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It hit 98F here today but luckily the humidity has dropped. Record for the date was 110 and last year was 102 today. The weekend looks nice though.

 

[jllracer55]

It hit 98F here today but luckily the humidity has dropped. Record for the date was 110 and last year was 102 today. The weekend looks nice though.

Better crank up the fans and the ice water for your flock.. sure glad today was so nice, did good for what remains of the birds that are in recovery mode. They actually went into the coop part to sleep on the roosting bars tonight pretty excited for that! we will see what tomorrow brings, have continued the corid just to be safe and check water and food levels multiple times a day, right now they are mostly turned on to eating the food mash food but its a whole lot better than no food.

 

[jllracer55]

Woke up to still 4 alive pretty hens. Ironically enough probably the best looking ones of the bunch. They seem to enjoy the food mash more than the dry feed right now but that’s ok I’d rather see them eating something than nothing again. I will have to get some updated pictures posted as they are looking pretty good and the weather has given us a beautiful breezy day again so hopefully that continues to help if only the beginning of the week would have been this nice could have saved 3 more of them. Thanks again everyone hopefully someone still cares to follow this.

 

[Eggcessive]

My chickens prefer wet mash to dry feed any day. I make them a pan every afternoon on hot days just to get more fluids into them. I am glad that you have stopped losing chickens, and glad that you have taken advice so well. Some people would not have continued posting after receiving some criticism. I hope you continue to post on BYC since you can offer others advice in the future from what you have learned. Good luck.