Panting / Beak open in heat question..

[sknight88]

Tried a search but no luck, we live in Fl, and our 6 chickens, usually @ 4 pm, all seem to start to get overheated and stand around with there beaks open? Plenty of shade and plenty of fresh water, not sure what else to do?Spraying them with water seems to really irk them lol... Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

that is how they get relief from the heat much in the same way a dog does. Mine do it in the summer too, also they will hold their wings out from the bodies a little too. just make sure they have plenty of fresh cool water and shade. I run a fan in real hot weather in their coop.

 

[TeamChaos]

I've been known to dip their feet in cool (not cold) water to help get the chickens' core temp down.

 

[BrattishTaz]

My birds do the same thing. I put a large pan of water out for them to stand in. Chilled treats such as watermellon seems to cool them down a bit too.

and

 

[welasharon]

I am in N FL and I noticed mine getting a bit warm lately. I have an open air pen and have sand down. I usually wet an area of sand that stays shaded and they like to lay in it. I sometimes put frozen bottles of water in their water bowl when it is really hot. I have lots of shade and their run is covered. I have also planted lots of vegetation around to help keep the air a bit cooler.
sharon

 

[Capvin]

We are in central Florida and it is hot every day. In addition to everything suggested here, i.e shade, pan of cool water, we have a covered run with ceiling fan and we use a mist system. The chicks like it and it cools the temps about 10 to 15 degrees. Also give them frozen watermelon. It is going to be a long, hot summer.

 

[Kitt]

I have a very shallow pan with water so they can stand in it for a bit, i spray an area til damp, give chilled treats and I also have misters hooked up. Sometimes they go under it or stand close to get cooled off.