- Mar 15, 2012
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I did a search and read a few other threads about heat stroke, but still have questions.
It's been over 100 here every day for a week or more. I have been putting ice cubes in the water about halfway through the day.
However, today we went to let them out for free-ranging after we got home from church and one of the girls was dead. She was a Cuckoo Maran, so black in color. The kids are broken hearted of course.
The girls do have access to shade, dirt, etc all day while they are out. I keep water out for them and as mentioned, put ice into the water. At night they are in the coop, but the coop is mostly wire, two solid walls, two screen walls, so plenty of ventiliation.
Now, I noticed on the other threads about watching for the chooks panting. They pant all day, all the time (well, you know, in this heat) I thought that was just the way that they cooled off, not a warning that they were getting ill from heat--or did I read the panting part wrong?
So, I will continue with adding ice to the water and free access to shade. I read in another thread that they might like a puddle of water to play in? what bout a mister? would that be helpful?
At this point I have 10 of my "big" girls (hatched in March this year), 12 little ones (probably 4 weeks old), and 5 guineas, approx. 8 weeks old.
Any guidance would be so helpful, I want to keep these girls safe and healthy through this heat.
It's been over 100 here every day for a week or more. I have been putting ice cubes in the water about halfway through the day.
However, today we went to let them out for free-ranging after we got home from church and one of the girls was dead. She was a Cuckoo Maran, so black in color. The kids are broken hearted of course.
The girls do have access to shade, dirt, etc all day while they are out. I keep water out for them and as mentioned, put ice into the water. At night they are in the coop, but the coop is mostly wire, two solid walls, two screen walls, so plenty of ventiliation.
Now, I noticed on the other threads about watching for the chooks panting. They pant all day, all the time (well, you know, in this heat) I thought that was just the way that they cooled off, not a warning that they were getting ill from heat--or did I read the panting part wrong?
So, I will continue with adding ice to the water and free access to shade. I read in another thread that they might like a puddle of water to play in? what bout a mister? would that be helpful?
At this point I have 10 of my "big" girls (hatched in March this year), 12 little ones (probably 4 weeks old), and 5 guineas, approx. 8 weeks old.
Any guidance would be so helpful, I want to keep these girls safe and healthy through this heat.
