Hello All,
I'm just past the emergency part of an overheated 3-month old Nankin Bantam cockerel in serious heat distress and could use some advice about getting him back outside.
We've got pre-Fair testing this weekend, so I've got some of our youngsters kenneled on the front porch for easy access. I happened to glance out the front window to see Pippin laying on his side with his wing stretched out, panting heavily. The cover on his end of the porch had shifted and he was in full sun (the rest are fine, all shaded and lounging comfortably.)
I brought him inside and ran cool water over his legs to cool him off, quickly. I then filled the bathroom sink with an inch+ of cool water and had him stand in it until the panting stopped and he took a good drink. I then set him on my shoulder so I could watch him closely ... and the panting started again. I took him right back to the sink for another ten minutes. He is now locked in a tiny bathroom, contentedly munching on a piece of cold french fry.
How long should he stay inside before he can go back on the porch? The shade has been repaired and his (large) kennel is now on the floor, right up against the house. Will it hurt him to stay in the air conditioning until nightfall, when it cools off considerably?
I'm just past the emergency part of an overheated 3-month old Nankin Bantam cockerel in serious heat distress and could use some advice about getting him back outside.
We've got pre-Fair testing this weekend, so I've got some of our youngsters kenneled on the front porch for easy access. I happened to glance out the front window to see Pippin laying on his side with his wing stretched out, panting heavily. The cover on his end of the porch had shifted and he was in full sun (the rest are fine, all shaded and lounging comfortably.)
I brought him inside and ran cool water over his legs to cool him off, quickly. I then filled the bathroom sink with an inch+ of cool water and had him stand in it until the panting stopped and he took a good drink. I then set him on my shoulder so I could watch him closely ... and the panting started again. I took him right back to the sink for another ten minutes. He is now locked in a tiny bathroom, contentedly munching on a piece of cold french fry.
How long should he stay inside before he can go back on the porch? The shade has been repaired and his (large) kennel is now on the floor, right up against the house. Will it hurt him to stay in the air conditioning until nightfall, when it cools off considerably?