Sunburned chicks? Uh-oh!

[Lil Chickie Mama]

So I thought I'd be a nice chicken-mama and bring the hutch full of chickies outside (they've been in the garage the whole month) since it was nice outside and they can see what real light and breeze and what not are. I cleaned out the hutch, put fresh hay in, cleaned the waterer and refilled it, blah blah blah, which took about 2-2.5 hours. I got sunburned (not hard since I'm usually ghost-white) but not too bad. However it wasn't until we brought the chicks' hutch back into the garage that I started looking closely at them and wondering why THEY were red. I think I let them get sunburned!!!! I didn't even think to give them shade!

I'm horrible I know, but how bad is it for them? They are eating and drinking just fine now, but what about tomorrow? When I get a real bad all over sunburn I get really sick the next day, do I have to worry about heat stroke or anything? Please help I feel terrible!

 

[Laurieks]

add vitamins to their water? I used to take extra vit E, C, & A when I got burned. I don't know if they synthesize D in the sun like we do.
I suspect they'll be fine. I hope so as well!

 

[cheshie]

Don't feel bad, it was an honest mistake!

I am new to chickens and I certainly would have never thought they would get sunburn. Unless they are naked necks, which I understand can burn easily. Anyway, those little fuzzy butts will forgive you, so please forgive yourself. I'm sure they will be fine, but please keep us updated.

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

Well I do have one naked neck but she isn't as red as the others. They probably huddled up (how they like to stay when not eating or drinking or flying) so some chicks aren't red at all, some like the NN are a little red, and some have little red combs. At first I thought picking, but there are no marks, just redness that wasn't there before. As I said, they seem pretty happy with the new clean home and fresh water so hopefully they'll be fine. I can't wait to get them outside permanently though. Fortunately the outside coop HAS shade. I'll update in the morning on how they are.

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

I checked on them this morning and the redness is down on most of them and they are still eating and drinking well.