My baby's face is red!!! What's wrong??!

[BY Bob]

Okay, if it were me I'd try isolating her inside where it's coolest until she's totally calm and relaxed with fresh, cool water then watch her. If, amidst that, she's still red and sporadically panting I'd start checking crop, feeling belly, checking vent and skin, etc (the full physical).

Good plan, cool her down and see then. You will need to wait for her to calm down as stress will cause a similar reaction as heat.

 

[azygous]

It's normal for chickens to become very red on the tissue around the face when overheated, especially when experiencing temperature gradients. Panting is also very normal and the way they cool down, a sort of heat exchange mechanism.

During extreme weather, it's best to keep exposure to temperature extremes to a minimum, trying to keep exposure to the outdoor temp as close as possible to the indoor temp, both winter and summer. Chickens adapt to a temperature, but suffer significant discomfort if they go from hot to too cool or freezing to a warm room in the house.

When you see a chicken panting, it's wise to put some electrolytes in their water to keep their body chemistry functioning at a high level. You can also mitigate the heat by wetting a dirt bathing area so they can roll around in the damp soil exchanging the excess body heat for coolness.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Good plan, cool her down and see then. You will need to wait for her to calm down as stress will cause a similar reaction as heat.

Good example of "stress redness"

This is Cleo, mom to the rest in the picture. I had just moved them to the cage they are in to do some cleaning in their pen. She was not very happy with me as you can see in her stance. The redness edging her beak and (note sure of the term...) "eye ridge" is never that pronounced. BTW, we are in FL, and it's just always hot here.

This is her about 5 minutes later. Still cautious, but not ready to fight the camera, nor as red.

 

[BY Bob]

Good example of "stress redness"

This is Cleo, mom to the rest in the picture. I had just moved them to the cage they are in to do some cleaning in their pen. She was not very happy with me as you can see in her stance. The redness edging her beak and (note sure of the term...) "eye ridge" is never that pronounced. BTW, we are in FL, and it's just always hot here.

This is her about 5 minutes later. Still cautious, but not ready to fight the camera, nor as red.

Excellent example. Thanks for posting.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Good example of "stress redness"

This is Cleo, mom to the rest in the picture. I had just moved them to the cage they are in to do some cleaning in their pen. She was not very happy with me as you can see in her stance. The redness edging her beak and (note sure of the term...) "eye ridge" is never that pronounced. BTW, we are in FL, and it's just always hot here.

This is her about 5 minutes later. Still cautious, but not ready to fight the camera, nor as red.

Great example! And good idea! I'll go snap a pic of my RIR! First at rest then I'll pick her up and take a picture. They'll be a natural increase in red. Brb!

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Outside it can get into the high 80s and low 90s and humidity can be high. Inside we keep it 79-81. I have to bring my chicks inside in the evening- I cannot leave them outside at night because the area I leave them in during the day isn't safe enough to protect them from raccoons, possoms, skunks and the nasty such.

Yes, pine shavings. From the Tractor Supply.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

It's normal for chickens to become very red on the tissue around the face when overheated, especially when experiencing temperature gradients. Panting is also very normal and the way they cool down, a sort of heat exchange mechanism.

During extreme weather, it's best to keep exposure to temperature extremes to a minimum, trying to keep exposure to the outdoor temp as close as possible to the indoor temp, both winter and summer. Chickens adapt to a temperature, but suffer significant discomfort if they go from hot to too cool or freezing to a warm room in the house.

When you see a chicken panting, it's wise to put some electrolytes in their water to keep their body chemistry functioning at a high level. You can also mitigate the heat by wetting a dirt bathing area so they can roll around in the damp soil exchanging the excess body heat for coolness.

But would that hurt for them to roll in damp dirt?

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I did notice the redness fluctuation right after I picked her up.

 

[Henriettamom919]

But would that hurt for them to roll in damp dirt?

It would not hurt them but it might redden the face from rolling/ vigorous bathing! My girlslove to dig down where the soil is cooler and damp and roll around! My guess is the panting is in direct correlation with the anticipation of being movedin and out each day or the act of.

Here's Ruby on a cool evening a few nights ago and then just now after being picked up and held.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I just went and checked her. Her face is still red. And as for panting, everybody was panting because it's hot out there and they were stupid for huddling up together like that.