Keeping chickens comfortable in an Oklahoma summer and how much panting is too much?

[newchickenista]

How much panting is too much?

Today, in southern Oklahoma, we are 1 degree away from breaking triple digits. My chickens (who will be 18 weeks old this week) have been panting some in the heat of the day. But they are always in the shade, with plenty of water and air flow. I look at my chickens panting the same way I look at my dog panting: When dogs get hot, they pant, as long as he is not acting funny and has plenty of access to shade and water I don't worry about him.

Is this a right way of looking at it? Should I try my hardest to keep them from ever panting (is panting a sign that disaster is imminent?!) or is panting just a normal part of being really hot, like sweating is for humans?

Also any advice in keeping chickens cool in a chicken tractor during an Oklahoma summer would be greatly welcomed!

 

[supaflyz]

Yeah same here in Tx. I think it is already over triple digits here for 3 days. I spray the ground for my chickens. I also put some water bottles in the freezer and give it to them in the morning.

 

[rosewolf22002]

I am in Texas and we hit 102 today. I have a tarp for extra shade. I have a kiddie pool with bricks so they can cool off. At noon I went and watered down the yard so they could lay in the cool wet sand.

 

[ivymae]

We lost one of our chickens to the heat last summer, so I have been worrying myself to death about the fact that we are going to have three 100+ degree days in a row later this week. We are thinking about buying a large dog crate and bringing our girls (we only have 3) inside the house during the hottest part of the day. Am I worrying too much? We already put a fan on them on hot days and put frozen water bottles in their coop, but I'm terrified that we will lose another one!

 

[bucky52]

no,i have been worring all week,we had some 95 plus degrees last week.than had a few days of cool. they are calling for 105 on fri.sat and sun.i had five fans running full blast last week.i have been preparing for the hot temps.that are coming .freezing water in gallon jugs have electrolites on hand.plan on purchasing sand to put in their runs to water down.so they will have something to cool to lay on.have frozen and cool veggies for them to eat.i'am thinking what else can i do.but hope and pray this heat wave does not last long.but we have july and august to get through.

 

[RedDrgn]

How much panting is too much?

Today, in southern Oklahoma, we are 1 degree away from breaking triple digits. My chickens (who will be 18 weeks old this week) have been panting some in the heat of the day. But they are always in the shade, with plenty of water and air flow. I look at my chickens panting the same way I look at my dog panting: When dogs get hot, they pant, as long as he is not acting funny and has plenty of access to shade and water I don't worry about him.

Is this a right way of looking at it? Should I try my hardest to keep them from ever panting (is panting a sign that disaster is imminent?!) or is panting just a normal part of being really hot, like sweating is for humans?

Also any advice in keeping chickens cool in a chicken tractor during an Oklahoma summer would be greatly welcomed!

Panting for chickens is the same as it is for cats and dogs and doesn't mean the end of the world. They can't sweat, so they must pant to cool themselves.

As long as they have plenty of water and shade, you're doing good. Putting out a shallow pan of water big enough for them to stand in will help, too, as they also lose heat through their feet. Some people use fans and/or misters, too. Offering chilled/frozen fruits and veggies also helps.

 

[GuineaMama]

I'm so glad to see a post about this. I live in NE OK and we are on day 3 of 100+ degree temps. It's not even cooling down much at night either. Last night's low was 80 degrees.

My older chickens get under their coop during the day where it's a little cooler. The almost 9 week old chicks can get under the coop in their pen as well, but my 3 1/2 week old babies in the brooder on the back porch are really having a hard time. The porch is covered and enclosed on the end though air can flow thru. The Guineas hide under the porches where it's a bit cooler.

I hadn't thought of frozen water bottles. Thanks for that tip. I do spray down the 2 big pens and we keep the waterers refilled every morning with cool water, but I'm gone during the day so can't spray or cool down water then. When I get home all the chickens are just panting like crazy. Poor babies! I hate this Oklahoma heat.

 

[bucky52]

i give them fresh water in the mornings before i leave for work and than fresh water in the evenings.i will be at home on sun.and mon.so i will be able to keep a closer eye on them.

 

[bucky52]

i'am in central virginia,and the heat is headed this way.

 

[phelpcd1]

All my hens are panting like crazy too and we've hit 100 a few days now - I believe 106 yesterday. They are all fine so far........still eating/drinking etc. They stay in the shade mostly - I put out a tub of water in the yard plus their other 2 waterers with ice so they can drink and stand in it. I've also sprayed down the ground, used a fan when no wind and giving frozen fruit in the afternoon. They are loving the frozen red grapes.