So Far Surviving AZ Heat Wave 118 degree

[RRIRMom]

Thought I would pass on what is working so far for my four 13 & 20 Week old Rhode Island Pullets. And one is just started laying eggs. They seem fine and are not in heat distress. It may seem a lot of work, but I have invested so much time in raising them to this point, I am not willing to have them die on me if I can help it.

1. Every morning I set out a bowl of homemade electrolyte solution (recipe at end). Has to be changed each day to prevent slim. My four drink a little over one cup each day...regular water has to be available too.
2. 5' x 10' Cage (Chain Dog Kennel) has a Commercial grade 30# sand floor--drains, cooler, dries quicker, easier to clean droppings.
3. Roof has 1" Styrene reflective boards sandwiched between a 10 mil tarp and another 1" styrene board (Lowe's Styrofoam insulation and reg styro boards) on the roof...adjusted air space so heat can escape between the two tarps. (kennel form fitted roof tarp, plus two 10 mil tarps). Air space made by using a wadded up plastic grocery bags at the top point and one on each side.
4. One board (cut into 3's) One cut piece on the back where afternoon sun hits and one on the sunny side. Left 1 foot opening at the bottom for air circulation. These pieces are put on the outside of the cage with cardboard facing inside to prevent chickens from pecking it. They peck at the cardboard, so if it lasts 2 months, I am fine with that.
5. Three 7-9 ft beach umbrellas to provide roof shade until my trees are large enough to provide shade.
6. From a broken outdoor misting fan, I removed the misters and attached them to the cage where 3 misters are adjusted for the inside and 1 mister adjusted for the outside. (This lowers the inside temperature 15 to 20 degrees)
7. A plastic tub insert drawer- a little shallower than a bus boy tray. This is to catch some of the water that drips onto the ground and provides cooling and additional drinking water.
8. Two digital transmitting thermometers. One is a backup in case one malfunctions. One hangs down to the height above chickens from the center in the cage away from getting wet and the other by their day roosting area. I monitor both in the room where I am.
9. A box fan on high located on the side of the cage to blow on the mist that enters from the front side of the cage. (Misters reach half of the cage so food has to be positioned at the far end to prevent getting wet).
10. In the afternoon I hang frozen ice packs in a plastic grocery bag outside the cage where the fan can blow on it into the cage. I do not want to put it in the cage in case they peck at it and rupture the bags--toxic.
11. Since my freezer is small, I can only use a one gallon milk jug of water to freeze. (filled 2/3 to prevent rupture). I set this in the middle of the cage on the ground so they can sit near if needed. More would be better. I set this out during the hottest time of the day around 3 pm. It lasts only about 2 hours.
12. Around 3 pm--I wet the roof, umbrellas, and several feet around the cage to cool down the ground.
13. When the sun sets, I turn off the misters and tilt the box fan now to dry the sand inside the cage. This dries the sand and continues to cool.

I hope my efforts will continue to pay off and keep my chickens alive during this record breaking heat wave. If you are facing the same situation, I hope this will help you too and if you have any other suggestions, please feel free to share!

**no ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) during heat

Chicken Electrolyte Recipe... (not mine, gathered from reading all the posts and Internet search)

1 gallon water (do not use water softener tap water instead use regular tap or filtered water)
2 teaspoons CANE White granulated Sugar (must use CANE as it is pure sugar...if it doesn't say CANE, it is not real sugar)
1/8 teaspoon Iodized Sea Salt (has minerals) or regular table salt that have no minerals
1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda
Refrigerate.

 

[countrycakelady]

Best of luck with your flock...that is horribly hot!

 

[Casey09]

my kids arent enjoying it either. we put a fan out front and have a mister on it so it blows cool water at them, in the mornings it sits on the porch and when the sun moves to the other side of the yard we keep it moved into the shade, we empty the ice tray into their water every few hours (we have to alternate between chicks, dogs and humans for ice) and ve been spraying the shaded areas with the hose to try to keep the ground cool. they arent happy but theres not a lot i can do other than that.