Raising Meat Birds in the summer heat

[clkirk]

Last year was our first year raising broilers and we started them in early spring. This year we decided to wait until warmer temperatures hoping to get them out of the brooder and into the pasture sooner. Now I am concerned if the young birds will do well in high heat. We are considering ordering at least 50 cornish cross but didnt know if the warm temps in Ohio in July and August would be too much or if we should wait and get them in late August when they would be finishing up late Sept/early October. Any thoughts on what is best?

 

[tacothechicken]

Chickens to chicks due fine in high temps as long as they have good amounts of shade and constant water, also be sure they are heat hardy breeds because some aren't. make sure that if your raising them out in the open they have good ventilation and breeze so they don't get stroke or catch parasites, and the ground is soft and moist enough in some spots for dust bathing to cool off.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Your local people will have specific location answers, but I can say that meaties, especially Cornish Cross, are sensitive to heat. They are also a bit dense. I have had two friends lose a lot of their meaty flock as the birds wouldn't travel to water if they had to cross sun or if the sun shifted and the water was in the sun.

My son in law raises meaties in Tennessee, where it gets pretty warm in the summer. He has a misting system to keep them cool, and they are under cover. Food and water are in shade at all times.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[tacothechicken]

But to answer the actual question...I'd advise before August, if outside immediately as chicks because they cant regulate thier temperature for some while and in hi temps that can be risky

 

[Tooleman]

My Question is if your suppose to keep the chicks at the temp of about 90 degrees while they are chicks wouldn't they be ok???

 

[clkirk]

I went ahead and ordered 55 cornish cross. They will be out side in pasture with shade. We use and old swimming pool frame with fencing around it inside our fenced pasture. They also have a hutch they can get into fro protection from the weather. Hopefully the will do OK. Temp ranges from about 65 to 85 degrees. I may still have to put a heat lamp on them at night in the beginning.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

My Question is if your suppose to keep the chicks at the temp of about 90 degrees while they are chicks wouldn't they be ok???

The very warm temp of about 90 are only for the first few days to the first week and that is only if you subscribe to that approach. As the birds develop the necessary temperature drops because the birds are more able maintain their own body temperature. Also, as noted already, breeds such as Cornish cross are more prone to heat related complications. Chicks actually need lower temps than most think

 

[keesmom]

We are considering ordering at least 50 cornish cross but didnt know if the warm temps in Ohio in July and August would be too much or if we should wait and get them in late August when they would be finishing up late Sept/early October. Any thoughts on what is best?

I'm not in OH, but I start Cornish in mid-late August. It's still warm enough that no heat is needed, they are still young enough to suffer from any late summer heat waves, and by the time it does turn chilly they are fully feathered out. I very much prefer the late summer start than the early spring one most people seem to prefer around here.