my chickens are dying

[CBECK]

We have /had 16 chickens..and over the past 3 weeks 5 of them have died.. (2 today)
I live in Tempe AZ and the temperatures have been over 105. We have been trying to keep up with all the water they drink..and I know a few times the water has gone dry...but only for part of a day.
Do chickens need to be cooled? We are setting up a mister system in hopes that will help.
I do not know if that is why they died but it is hot and want to cool them off.
What can I look for as why they are dying? Any ideas?

Cathy

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, they need constant water, especially in your climate. They become dehydrated easily so if the water ran out at all, that may be your problem. They do much better in cold weather than hot.

 

[debakadeb]

I would try to put them in the shade as much as possible. A fan might also help them.

Another thing that might help is to freeze a small block of ice that would melt over the course of the day (probably an hour or less at those temps). Chickens prefer cold water so they will help encourage them to drink.

 

[chickenbottom]

yes chickens can die of heat. a good way to keep em cool is in the early morning wet everything in the run even them put frozen bottles of water in there waterer or just around the run or coop um or a shallow wadding pool so they can get their feet wet. and im so so sorry for your loss its so hard expecally in these hot temps. also how are their droppings are they watery sometimes heat is not the case

 

[crazy for chicken]

water and more water put lots of water dishes in the pen. I use old crocks for waters in the summer it keeps the water cool. also put big blocks of ice in the water