Ok its 109 here right now and my chickens are panting?

[chookchick]

My chickens wouldn't go into the box of water that I put in for them. (Under the bed box, idea from BYCer). So I filled it with chip and sand, and then with water, and put a frozen water bottle in to keep it all cool. They have had a ball with it, and kicked out a lot of the chip (now the water doesn't seem so scary....) but it makes me nervous how much they sip the muddy water. I better take it out and redo the whole mess soon. Anyone have any problems with chickens making themselves sick on muddy water?

 

[weaveagarden]

If the dirt isn't full of chemicals or toxins, it shouldn't make them sick. Chickens eat dirt all the time in one form or another. So muddy water shouldn't hurt them.

 

[chickenrunnin]

With the heat do they decide not to lay? Its been hot all around lately, but boy my poor chickens. They are panting too. My egg production is half of what it normally is and they are laying in weird spots.. Do you think if they laid an egg in the sun and the shell is discolored like it dried really fast. Should I throw it out?

 

[ChickenOlympia]

I live in Olympia, and we recently had days in the 100's and got up & over 104. My chickens were having a rough time. Every afternoon I would chop up watermelon or other fruits and put it in a shallow container with ice chips and water. they would have to bob for the watermelon and it really cooled them off. They also drank the ice water.

 

[2txmedics]

Im in HOT, HUMID TEXAS....this is what I use, its a water mister, just hook it up to your water hose....HOME DEPOT....9.99

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=224754

 

[cgmccary]

I live in NE Alabama and in the summer of 2007 (August), we had about 24 days straight of over 100 F with humidity pushing the heat index up to 115 F-120 F. I pretty much tried everything mentioned here then. Didn't lose a bird. It is sudden changes in temp that can wreck havoc. Birds will adjust if given shade and plenty of fresh cool water.

Every August here is a challenge but June, this summer was real bad. July was OK and cooler than normal -- now it is in low 90s but very humid. During the summer months, my chickens pant all during the day and even on the roost at night. I feel bad seeing them panting at night so I run a fan over the roost all night. I have fans I run across the runs during the day as well. I use the "gatorade" or 16 oz coke/ frozen bottles for ice in the waterers (sometimes 2). I provide plenty of shade with parts of my run ALWAYS in shade. I've also tried putting the 2 liter ice blocks in places they gather.

Instead of wetting down the run (as it is too wet & humid here), I just take the hose and let it trickle a stream in a slightly elevated portion of the run so the chickens can stand in a stream of water to cool off-- I only do this when over 100F-- or a high heat index. Dry heat is a lot easier to take than this humid, coking heat.

 

[UrbanEgg]

Debo's Chickens :

Quote:

hey! we must be neighbors! I'm just a few blocks from Silver Lake.

I gave my chickies frozen corn kernels, they ate it up! I tried misting them down w/ the hose, but they weren't down w/ that.

I just threw a bunch of ice cubes around the area in the shade where they're laying, because every time I try to spray an area down, they move to a dry area.

LOL Wow, we are all close by! I am just south of Mill Creek

LOL

And we got back from vacation last week on the hottest day--Wednesday. We thought our car thermometer was wonking out on us, reading 111 coming through Kirkland on our way home. Good thing I had some great chicken-sitters who were coming several times a day giving cold water! Although now it seems that fall is here Can't it just be 75 and sunny?​