Panting

[aldarita]

averagetallguy, keeping up with the topic of trying to cool our chickens in HOT HUMID WEATHER

I am constantly reading posts to get new ideas, so I read somebody is placing frozen gallons of water on the dampened sand. I think this idea will keep the chickens closer to the cold source; I am trying this also (besides the chunk of ice which keeps the water cool for a long while. I put the ice around 3PM and it lasts way after 7PM and then the water stays cool even overnight.
Thankfully we have not had those horrific hot days (yet) when temps go over 106F. We got 107F last Saturday but it was just for a day. We have been in the 90s but with the heat index it feels like 100. I hope your chooks are keeping cool and that this summer goes by very soon

 

[averagetallguy]

Aldarita, that is a genius idea. I didn't think about the block of ice on the ground. I have a good amount of shade under my coop that would be perfect for that. One idea that came to mind would be putting berries in the water and freeze it. Bet that would keep the birds entertained and cool. You are a genius.

 

[lauranickerson]

This isn't quite related, but looking for advice here (I might post this in other forums, so don't be surprised if you see it again).

I bought a few mature hens off craigslist not too long ago. They've been in quarantine in the garage since I found lice on them. One also had vent gleet, and appears that it hasn't quite gone away fully yet. I think they are in molt (the lady said they were), because they are looking a little rough in the feather department and aren't laying eggs.

Anyways, so I went to just go say hi to them one last time before I went to bed. I went into the garage where they were roosting on old chairs and whatnot, and the one that had/has vent gleet was panting. It's not hot out tonight (I'm wearing a sweater). I couldn't tell by the dim light in the garage, but I thought I saw she had a runny nose.

Any ideas what this may be?

 

[aldarita]

Aldarita, that is a genius idea. I didn't think about the block of ice on the ground. I have a good amount of shade under my coop that would be perfect for that. One idea that came to mind would be putting berries in the water and freeze it. Bet that would keep the birds entertained and cool. You are a genius.

Well, Thanks nice to be of help!!

I sort of copied your idea. I purchased a kiddy pool and I am trying to entice my girls to jump on it (it only has like about 2 inches of water) to cool off. I even added some frozen corn to see if they will jump in but no luck so far. They just look at the corn and try to see if they can reach it from outside. I added the corn because I know they love it although they are not supposed to eat corn when it is hot because the high caloric content that makes their metabolism speed up making them hotter. I will try frozen berries next time. CHICKENS

How are you holding with the heat?

 

[gratzalk]

I have a pullet that's been not really panting, per se, it's more like yawning all the time. She's about 3 months old and it's winter time. I have all the chicks in the coop with heating lamps and it stays a descent temperature, usually. She also appears to be walking gingerly if you will.. While the others just hop around readily, if she's off the perch, she, first of all, runs from everyone else and sometimes tries to hide in a nesting box, but then she'll also just kind of stand there and sometimes lift one leg up and tuck it. But it's not necessarily one specific leg like there's an injury there. Any guesses or suggestions?