Panting

[haylee]

I know I'm probably just a HUGE worry wart, but it's been so hot lately, way hotter than my chickens are used to here in New Hampshire since it went from an early spring chill to scorching hot bleh. I noticed that my chickens are panting a lot and their wings are super droopy. I give them water with electrolytes all day with fresh water too even when they're outside and they have a fan in the window of their coop. Should I be worried or is this just a normal way for chickens to cool off.

 

[ChickenRaiser95]

give them watermellon also leave a five gallon bucket near them in the sun. the water will evap and cool the air sorrounding it

 

[Pinky]

The fan should help a lot if they use it. Panting is a way many animals cool off. I thought only dogs did it until I got my chickens. I thought something was wrong with them, lol.

I place shallow pans of water in the shade for my chickens and most of them like to stand in it when it's really hot out.

 

[CherishHolland]

It is hot as heck here also, we installed a window ac unit in the coop because today it was knocking on the 100 degree mark.

 

[haylee]

Thanks ChickenRaiser95 and Pinky!!

Okay, I'll have to look into the watermelon and the bucket thing, I want my chickens to be as healthy as possible since they're still young and I want them to start out laying healthy. My sister always makes a big deal out the chicken's panting, more than I ever have, she starts putting ice in their water and whatnot

. I never really thought it was that big of a deal, I really just wanted some reassurance just to make sure there isn't a problem. I feel better now, they seem to stop panting when they take a dustbath, I'll just make sure they stay near their water and some cool dirt.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Shade. Dampen the ground in that shade. That's the ticket. The chicken's love damp ground, in the shade.

 

[haylee]

Shade. Dampen the ground in that shade. That's the ticket. The chicken's love damp ground, in the shade.

Cool, will try! Thanks!

 

[averagetallguy]

I live in Louisiana and lets be honest, we get hot. Not just hot, humid hot. Ive noticed my girls (and Tom the rooster) pant quite often. I built my coop with space underneath and try to keep more than enough water. I found an article (Sorry I cant give credit) which talked about putting a block of ice in the water. That helps tremendously but I kind of worry they aren't drinking as much because it is so cold. The panting threw me off the first time though, but my dog was doing it at the same time so I figured it just works. We have planted edible plants around the coop and I am hoping that helps to draw the heat away some too. Just a thought.

 

[aldarita]

I live in Louisiana and lets be honest, we get hot. Not just hot, humid hot. Ive noticed my girls (and Tom the rooster) pant quite often. I built my coop with space underneath and try to keep more than enough water. I found an article (Sorry I cant give credit) which talked about putting a block of ice in the water. That helps tremendously but I kind of worry they aren't drinking as much because it is so cold. The panting threw me off the first time though, but my dog was doing it at the same time so I figured it just works. We have planted edible plants around the coop and I am hoping that helps to draw the heat away some too. Just a thought.

I started putting a big chunk of ice in a tub every day and my hens are gathering around it, I also dampen the sand where the tub is. I keep three extra waterers so they don't have to drink the cold water if they don't want to but they like to lay around the tub with ice and the dampened sand. We are hot and humid here too

 

[averagetallguy]

that's a great idea aldarita.