My chicken is panting like crazy in her nesting box

[MomJones]

My 4.5 month old white leghorn has been going from box to box for a few hours now. She just layed her 1st egg yesterday. She hasn't layed an egg today, but I'm concerned that she is panting so much, while hanging out in the coop and in the boxes. She'll move hay around and sit for a few minutes, then repeat.

My chickens have lots of space for shade and shallow areas with water to walk in, but not sure why she stays inside. I don't know if it's an egg issue, and that's why she chooses to stay inside?? Any ideas or suggestions? Thank you. I provided a pic. View attachment 1841219

Not sure where you are but down here in South Carolina it's normal for the girls to all pant during the heat of the day. We have 9 older hens and 13 pullets (one roo), on hot days they all find sections of dirt and straw they dig out and hunker down in the shade. They do still use their small coop which has a full size fan on 24/7 to keep the air circulating. So yeah, the panting is normal.

A couple of my overweight girls will also become quite pale in the face during the day some times. That's a different story and they're getting ready to go to Chicken Heaven in a few weeks.

 

[cqangie29]

Not sure where you are but down here in South Carolina it's normal for the girls to all pant during the heat of the day. We have 9 older hens and 13 pullets (one roo), on hot days they all find sections of dirt and straw they dig out and hunker down in the shade. They do still use their small coop which has a full size fan on 24/7 to keep the air circulating. So yeah, the panting is normal.

A couple of my overweight girls will also become quite pale in the face during the day some times. That's a different story and they're getting ready to go to Chicken Heaven in a few weeks.

I'm in East Texas. All my chickens are under 5 months old. I just checked on her and she isn't panting quite as much as earlier. I think she was panting so hard cuz she was inside the coop. I'm sorry about your older hens. I bet they've had a good life

 

[MomJones]

All under 5 months, that's awesome. Congratulations on your new flock! And yes these girls have lived like queens since the Spring of 2017. They're just plumb obese, in fact when I processed two of their sisters last month the fat content was unreal. So much fat. And pale livers, so they had developed fatty liver disease most likely. The other breeds have no issues-- all normal weight. But my barred rocks and buff orphingtons, whew!

 

[hispoptart]

Mine are also panting in this heat. I'm going to buy one of those shade umbrellas to see if that helps. I feel so bad for them.

 

[aart]

I'm in East Texas. All my chickens are under 5 months old. I just checked on her and she isn't panting quite as much as earlier. I think she was panting so hard cuz she was inside the coop. I'm sorry about your older hens. I bet they've had a good life

She may have been stressed(can also cause panting) as a new layer.
Panting is OK, even the wing spread..when they hold wings away from body to help cool the skin under there. Lethargy is the key point for me, if they don't rouse for a treat, then they may need more attention.
The weekly SAC and daily ice chunks has kept any of my birds form getting too hot.

Oh, and..here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I use this shade cloth.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Easy-Gardener-Shade-Fabric-By-the-Foot/3037772

I have had the same cloth for 7 years and it is still going strong. Best investment I ever made for chicken comfort.

Air and water flow through with no problem. If I need an area to have heavier shade I double it up.

I take it down before snow happens so it doesn't get stretched out.

 

[MomJones]

Mine are also panting in this heat. I'm going to buy one of those shade umbrellas to see if that helps. I feel so bad for them.

I know the feeling. I spent last weekend (at great personal expense to both my back as well as my knees) on top of our huge run, spreading a very large tarp over 16 x 20 feet of it so they can have deep shade when they want it. Gawd the things we do for our birds...

 

[chickens really]

Hmmm? Some actually are drama queens when first laying eggs and really get themselves in a tither laying the first few eggs...Just watch her and I'm sure she will lay soon..

 

[aart]

Air and water flow through with no problem. If I need an area to have heavier shade I double it up.

Just got all my shade cloths up yesterday, added another this year...
....am always torn between the much needed shade and the reduced air flow.
I have some 70% and the new 90%...both air and rain goes thru, but air flow is reduced making it stuffy when humid unless wind is coming from the 'right' direction.

spreading a very large tarp over 16 x 20 feet of it so they can have deep shade when they want it. Gawd the things we do for our birds...

I've used tarps too, total shade but no airflow, and watch out for rain runoff or worse rain collection.

Left most is new cloth, tarp there last year was a disaster every time it rained I had to go take it down.

 

[jaxonann]

It IS hot where you are. We were just at Lake Fork over the weekend. My girls are walking around with their wings lifted. They look like tiny body builders!