Lethargic chicken, seems unable to swallow water, unsteady on feet

[ChickieBoo1]

We've been experiencing (like many places in the US right now) a lot of high heat index days. One of my 2 year old bantam ameracaunas is very lethargic - does not come out with her sisters to forage, sits in the bottom of the coop or inside the coop - and barely walks, and seems unsteady when walking. We picked her up to examine her, and the water she had just appeared to drink dribbled out of her beak.
I did add some electrolytes to their water this morning, but am unsure how long to wait and see with her condition. Any thoughts ? Could it be as simple as dehydration due to the heat?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[ten chicks]

We've been experiencing (like many places in the US right now) a lot of high heat index days. One of my 2 year old bantam ameracaunas is very lethargic - does not come out with her sisters to forage, sits in the bottom of the coop or inside the coop - and barely walks, and seems unsteady when walking. We picked her up to examine her, and the water she had just appeared to drink dribbled out of her beak. I did add some electrolytes to their water this morning, but am unsure how long to wait and see with her condition. Any thoughts ? Could it be as simple as dehydration due to the heat? Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Heat is extremely dangerous to chickens,and can kill them. Chickens have no sweat glands,they rely on their respiratory system to cool themselves down. That is why they pant,spread wings,etc. Normal body temp for chickens is 103-107 degrees Fahrenheit is their body temp reaches anywhere near 113 degrees and up,they are in immediate danger. Always keep pails of COOL(NOT COLD)water in yard,if one of your chickens is showing signs of heat stress/stroke(hard panting,spread wings,lethargic,non responsive,dehydration-causes body to shut down)submerge them into pail up to their neck,this will immediately cool them and drop their body temp,and possibly saving their life. You need to cool this girl down,bring her inside home if you have to. May take couple of days(if not longer)for any chickens suffering from heat stroke to start feeling better.

 

[UncleEric]

Ten Chicks is right on. Get that chicken cooled down. If you have a cement pad that is out of the sun (like a garage floor) that you don't mind the mess on, put together a small make-shift pen to put her in, directly on the concrete. Wetting her down first will help. Make sure the floor is cool. She needs to maintain her cool for a while, possibly a day or two. -Uncle Eric

 

[realsis]

If it gets too hot depending on how big your flock is you might consider bringing them inside .I had to do this with my flock because our tempatures were up to 112/113 degrees! It would have killed my flock of silkies so I made an area in a spare room for them. I used a huge box one big enough for me to lay in both length wise and with wise. I made a temporary area for them inside where they are at still. When its 112 outside they can't cool down so I really didn't have a choice. I'm not sure how hot it is in your area but if its too bad you might consider bringing them inside to a temporary area. That's what I have to do during the hottest summer months because where I live 110 is a average July temp.it goes up from there if were having a heat wave. If possible it might be something to consider. Especially if they are getting ill. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless!

 

[ten chicks]

If it gets too hot depending on how big your flock is you might consider bringing them inside .I had to do this with my flock because our tempatures were up to 112/113 degrees! It would have killed my flock of silkies so I made an area in a spare room for them. I used a huge box one big enough for me to lay in both length wise and with wise. I made a temporary area for them inside where they are at still. When its 112 outside they can't cool down so I really didn't have a choice. I'm not sure how hot it is in your area but if its too bad you might consider bringing them inside to a temporary area. That's what I have to do during the hottest summer months because where I live 110 is a average July temp.it goes up from there if were having a heat wave. If possible it might be something to consider. Especially if they are getting ill. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless!

Realsis,i have my silkies and orpingtons(they are 12 weeks) in the house also. They are loving this arrangement,i even let them out to play during the day. Every morning around 5 am my silkie roo likes to serenade me,and at 9 am the orpington roo starts,then they both sing together. Good times!

 

[realsis]

Realsis,i have my silkies and orpingtons(they are 12 weeks) in the house also. They are loving this arrangement,i even let them out to play during the day. Every morning around 5 am
my silkie roo likes to serenade me,and at 9 am the
orpington roo starts,then they both sing together.
Good times!

Mine love it inside too! Even getting some eggs inside! Haha ! Its always fun to hear them in the morning! Its just too darn hot outside to keep them alive! I don't want them during of heat stroke! I raised half of them from chicks and it would kill me if I lost them to this heat! I think silkies are espically sensitive to the heat with all there feathers! I being mine out to play too! They don't mind this arrangement one bit

 

[ChickieBoo1]

Thank you all for the good advice and feedback, and so quickly. Very unfortunately, the hen I was monitoring died just about an hour after I posted this. ;-( So sad....Her sisters were clustered around here, and said their goodbyes. I will be setting up a makeshift pen on the cement of our garage, and giving them either a bucket dunk or mist all over - I don't want to lose any others. I only had three to begin with, also raised from chicks.....
But again, I thank you for the advice, and am sure hoping to prevent any more -- the other two are still active, not panting, seeming to drink and eat normally and forage -- though now it is very hot in the coop and they are staying inside. I will get them out asap onto the cement floor to cool down. Heat index is predicted to surpass 100 today.