Panting Chicken

[ValerieJ]

I have one chicken panting today. It is hot out, maybe 80, but none of the other chickens are panting. Also, she is not holding her wings out. I have put a little vinegar and electrolytes in her water and isolated her in her own coop and run for the day. Anyone have any idea what's going on with her? Or what else I can do for her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have one chicken panting today. It is hot out, maybe 80, but none of the other chickens are panting. Also, she is not holding her wings out. I have put a little vinegar and electrolytes in her water and isolated her in her own coop and run for the day. Anyone have any idea what's going on with her? Or what else I can do for her?

How old is she?
When is the last time she laid an egg?

Some hens don't tolerate heat as well as the others.
It might be a good idea to check inside the vent for an egg, feel the abdomen for bloat/swelling, see how the crop feels and look for lice/mites. If you find nothing, then I would put her back with the flock to lessen stress and just observe her to see if she's drinking well and eats later in the day.

A couple of my heavier gals have a harder time with heat and seem to pant a bit more when it's time to lay their egg. Yours may just be needing to lay.

 

[kimberley848]

She might be too hot... If it's not over-heating, I'm not sure what it could be. For hot days, I over water some bushes in my hen's run making big puddles, then the hens dig in the mud, lay in it and stay cooler. You can offer frozen treats, or even just cold ones. Today, my girls will get some frozen blueberries to help with the current heat wave. I also turn on the water for my fruit trees and just let the water puddle under it for them to cool off in. My oldest girl will lay in the mud spots to cool off. I don't use misters, but a neighbor does for her hens.
Best of luck!

 

[IamRainey]

Different breeds have different tolerances.

I'd treat it like a reaction to the heat. Provide as much shade as possible. Cool the water. Consider misting her with water and providing a shallow pool or cool, wet concrete paver or something so she can cool her feet.

We're already in triple-digits in SoCal. I'm freezing bottles of water and using them to cool my chickens' water and pulling out the box fans.

 

[ValerieJ]

Thanks everyone! I will put a pan of water out there in case she wants to get into it. She is eating and drinking, so that's good. I'll pick her up and check her for an egg problem and mites, etc. Good ideas, all! Oh, and she is young. About a year old.

 

[sourland]

Some hens don't tolerate heat as well as the others.


A couple of my heavier gals have a harder time with heat and seem to pant a bit more when it's time to lay their egg. Yours may just be needing to lay.

 

[ValerieJ]

Good news. My little hen is already much better. I don't know if it was the heat or the egg, but when I went back out there she had laid an egg and was back to making her happy sounds. I gave them all cold watermelon and put a pan of water out to wade in. I'm guessing they wont wade. For some reason my chickens are leery of anything new that shows up in their area. I put out some treat balls to peck at and they wont go near them. Silly girls. They have been eating watermelon in the summers from the beginning, but last year I put out a cantaloupe and it took them all afternoon to get up the courage to go near enough to know it was food. Then they loved it. First I put it out in a tray and that was a no go. I had to put it out on the ground. LOL They are so funny.

 

[IamRainey]

Good news!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good news. My little hen is already much better. I don't know if it was the heat or the egg, but when I went back out there she had laid an egg and was back to making her happy sounds. I gave them all cold watermelon and put a pan of water out to wade in. I'm guessing they wont wade. For some reason my chickens are leery of anything new that shows up in their area. I put out some treat balls to peck at and they wont go near them. Silly girls. They have been eating watermelon in the summers from the beginning, but last year I put out a cantaloupe and it took them all afternoon to get up the courage to go near enough to know it was food. Then they loved it. First I put it out in a tray and that was a no go. I had to put it out on the ground. LOL They are so funny.

Glad she is doing better and laid her egg!
I hope all goes well for you.