Is my chicken dying of heat?

[ParadiseChickens]

It was 105 INSIDE the coop today here in Texas. I checked on the girls and they were huddled around their waterer. I made them some ice water and put some water inside a spray bottle and sprayed the air in the coop for quite awhile, felt cooler to me anyway. I tried to mist the girls but they would have no part of that. I put frozen water bottles inside the coop but they dont even go near them. They wont eat watermelon or canteloupe either. The weatherman is teasing us with 90 next week, I sure hope so.

 

[kelar]

Is it possible to put them outside somewhere in the dirt/shade in your yard? I don't usually let me birds free range without close supervision, but when it gets really hot, I let them out so they don't cook. Heat is so darn dangerous for them.

 

[wren]

They need a shallow water hole to lie down/stand in. You will have to train them to it.

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

I had a little banty hen do the same thing earlier this year, during an unusual heat spell in Feb or Mar. I brought her in, sat her next to the A/C vent on the floor, gave her water in small cups, electrolytes, vitamins, etc. I also gave her a couple drops of liquid B complex vitamins every few hours. The vitamins seemed to stimulate her to eat and drink a bit more. She stayed inside for two full days, and then on the third day, she looked good enough to go back outside.

Can you put an EZ up over your coop for shade? Also the misters, and fans are great for summer. I use all of those things.

Best wishes to your little hen.

 

[KatGold]

Gosh, I forgot to subscribe to this thread and I didn't know there were so many responses. Thanks folks!

The little hen was just fine and is doing well. Unfortunately, there was an incident with our terrier terrorist, but she only lost a few tail feathers. It was a rough week for the gal.

The coop is mostly open air with a small hen house inside. We have a sheet over it to provide shade and now we wet it down every afternoon if we are here. And spray the hens too. They don't like it, but I don't care. We haven 't had any close calls since their daily bit of "rain."

They are free ranging more than normal. It is easier for them to find a cooler place when they have full access to the yard (not to mention, I've seriously needed their extermination services with all those grasshoppers in the garden

Thanks for your help. It's been a tough spring--what the heck is going to happen in August???!!!

Kat

 

[juliawitt]

We put in a thermostatically controlled vent fan. It cost around 50 dollars at lowes. Makes a nice breeze and makes the coop seem cooler.

We have large windows on the South and East with foor vents on the west wall. Lots of cross ventilation. When it's 100 degrees outside, the girls are all inside with the nice breeze ruffling their tail feathers. They LOVE it. As it continues to get hotter, I put a very shallow pan of water on the shady side. of the run. They like to stand in it. I didn't have to trail them, they figured it out on their own. I try to keep some cool melon to give them in the afternoons. August is going to be brutal.

 

[KFox]

I fill coffee cans with water and freeze them. Then I put them in the coop. I have an 8 x 12 coop and four large coffee cans keep it cool enough.

Other things that I have used:
-filling a box or litter pan with sand
-feeding frozen berries during hottest times
-fresh cold water supply
-fan in front of the coop door blowing out (brings air flow through without blowing directly on them)

If this is repetitive, I apologize. I didn't read the responses that you have so far.