Over heated chickens.

[Spie335]

This is my first post and unfortunately a sad one. I went out in my backyard after work today and noticed both of my 11 month old chickens were dead. It was 123 degrees today in Chandler, AZ. I feel horrible and dont know what I could have done to prevent this. They had a 5 gallon self watering station, food and their coop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Those are hot temperatures, about the only thing that might have helped was moving them into somewhere air conditioned. Chickens don't do well in the heat. Sorry.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Those are extreme temperatures that take a lot of additional measures to keep your chickens alive in (some folks will actually bring them in or give them AC at those temps, as they may be incompatible with chicken life - they do not have sweat glands). There are some good ideas in these threads - rather than repeat it all, I'll direct you there.

Hot outside, how to keep my girls Cool.

Question About Summer Heat

I would recommend also posting in the Arizona thread to get tips from local folks.

Arizona Chickens

I am "pinging" a friend who keeps chickens in AZ at high temps, she can also advise.

@DesertChic

 

[Spie335]

Thank you! I really appreciate the input.

 

[Junochick]

Thank you! I really appreciate the input.

Sorry to hear about your loss today. I also live in Arizona my temperature is cooler I am in the mountains. I have a lot of shade I also keep a depression in the ground damp it's cooler than the dry ground.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

We're they confined in the coop or did they have access to go out to the run/free range? Is there shade where they could get to it? Are you certain it was the heat that caused their death?

 

[CapricornFarm]

We used to freeze jugs of water and the chickens can cozy up to them. Also, we put pans of water or swimming pools with about 5 inches of cold water for them to wade in. Also, they love to eat cold water melon. Fans can help too. Plus if you dunk them in water, they will float and you can pour water under their wings. If it is super.hot, ac may be the only solution if all else fails.

 

[Stephine]

I am so sorry!
Here's what I learned: If you normally use nipple waterers you should add simple water dishes on hot days - apparently the panting interferes with their ability to drink from the nipples. Plus they can dunk their wattles while drinking which will cool them, too.
A mister is great in dry heat, basins with water nd bricks to stand on and cool off, large iceblocks in their water to keep it refreshing longer. Water melon is great. Electrolytes in their water during the heat of the day, no ACV. If you find a chicken panting very hard and becoming lethargic, dunk it in a bucket of cool (not icy) water, so the water reachsa just their belly, wait until they stop panting. Repeat if heavy panting resumes. It is a good idea to check on them every 30 minutes, at least until you know that your chickens are using the options you gave them to cool off and it is working.
Yes and if all else fails bring them in the house...

 

[Spie335]

I do use nipple waterers. I didn't know that the panting interferes with their drinking. Its good to know that. I also bought large ice cube molds to put in the watering dishes. I want to make sure this never happens again. I'm devistated.

 

[dfalco]

So sorry, Spie335.