The heat is too much!

[bobzant]

The day before yesterday i came home to find my eexcochin Rose dead...i assumed it was from the heat because her and her sisters pant when its not even hot out... Today it got up to 109 degrees and i had more waterers than chickens out and they all had electrolites in them, plus they were free to roam and find all the shady spots. But, i came home to another one gone (opal), in the nest box sitting on an egg. idk what to do. im afraid of them smothering eachother if i keep them penned up because they all pile up under the coop. I'm absolutely desperate for answers. I can't keep losing my babies!

 

[mnferalkitty]

can you put a water sprinkler in the run? frozen jugs of water for them to sit around, a fan blowing in the run or coop.

 

[WalkingWolf1]

We have started putting water in a kiddie pool and putting the chickens in for about 45 minutes. We do this between 2 and 3pm. They quit panting and squat down in the water. They are refreshed for the afternoon and enjoy the cucumbers and squash much more enthusiasticly after.

 

[kathyinmo]

Shade and water. Those are 2 most important things to consider.

The heat can be a killer, for sure.

Sorry for your loss. Good luck with this heat wave.

 

[Chris09]

To add to what Kathy said if you are feeding a high protein feed drop the protein some.
High protein feed will make a bird really hot.

Chris

 

[Arielle]

Cold water melon. Mine love the white rind. But were eyeing DH tonight hoping for more.

Freeze water in plastic soda bottles and put out where they can access them. ALso check tha the water stays cool. You can use various sized soda bottles, especially single sized, to freeze and put in their waterers.

Sorry you have lost two of your girls.

 

[bobzant]

Thank you all. It has cooled down a lot and everyone looks to be okay for the night. tomorrow i plan to get some fruits and veggies to freeze and try making more shade with wet burlap, (something i read on another post). I hope this heat wave is over soon.

 

[leadwolf1]

I make frozen yogurt/vegie/fruit popblocks and feed them to them several times/day. They really seem to love it and the frozen stuff keeps them cooler longer.