PANTING CHICKENS???

[Half-a-dozen]

It has been very hot here as everywhere else in the US!
I've made sure the chickens (11 weeks old) have plenty of fresh water and food and shade everyday. I have noticed though it looks like they are "panting". Usually they stand with a closed beak but most of the day today they are hanging around with thier beak slightly open and moving thier neck funny- which makes it look like "panting".
Do they do this or are they sick??
I have never seen them do this. It's hot outside but not unbarable in the shade and they are in the shade all day.
The only thing I have changed was that I put down some DE on the ground in the run and in the floor "bedding" of the coop for the fly control- could that have made them sick???

Or do they pant when they are hot?
Any response would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[MayberrySaint]

That's what mine do in the heat...they are trying to get rid of their increased body heat by panting. Are your hens doing it at night when they go to roost? If not, they are probably OK.

 

[ChickenMommy]

My chickens do this latley as its been quite HOT and HUMID here in north texas. I put 2 liter bottles of frozen water in their shaded run area and they all lay around them when they get too hot and are panting.

 

[Gracefulspice]

Mine too...they are all hot, and so are we. My do the panting and holding of their wings out away from their bodys. It helps cool them down. I've read some people use misters, frozen 2 liter bottles of water and ice in ziplocks laid in the coop for them to lay against. I've caught and poured cool water over my hens...not Cold just nice to the touch. I made sure I got their bellys, bottoms and under their wings. They did seem much more comfy. You can find lots of ways to help keep them cool by doing a search in BYC's search area. Summers not over yet!!
Good Luck!!

 

[Half-a-dozen]

I went out to check on them and some are panting on the roost others I didn't wake when I snuck up on them so they are sleeping comfortably. Do you think the ones panting on the roost are sick? Thier eyes were open so they weren't sleeping

 

[MayberrySaint]

I went out just a few min ago and looked at mine...half are still panting. It was in the mid-90s today so the coop is still warm. I would check them again first thing in the morning after it has been cool all evening. They shouldn't be panting by then if healthy.

 

[ozark hen]

I have been giving mine cold watermelon each afternoon. They only leave the dark green rind. Looks like someone's helmet lying out there now.

Cold yogurt mixed with a bit of food seems to be another treat they love. I have sprayed the large bushes they stay under during the hottest part of the day hoping it will cool them down and not make it more humid. It has been awfully hot and humid here but a storm came through this afternoon and cooled things down a bit. I love the idea of freezing water bottles and putting them in their waterers. Very good idea!

 

[Half-a-dozen]

Thanks so much Andy- I feel much better and can now hopefully go to sleep, I will be out there first thing AM!!!

everyone around here is snoring away while I'm up worrying!!!!
Thanks again so much everyone!!!

 

[schmoo]

Its been hot here too, but the strange thing is mine haven't been panting during the day, only at night. We have lots of shade and I fill their waterer twice a day with cold water. Mine ONLY pant when they get on the top roost- the silly buggers ALL want to be on the top, so they crowd each other and get hot. Thers 26 of them and its so funny they all try to fit and they look SO crowded. I finally started coming in and putting a few on the second level (only a foot lower) none of them are panting by midnight, so I'm not worried, they are just kooky.