two dead hens in a matter of 3 days

[csaylorchickens]

it has been hot here in cali. mean like 100 to 108. i know that chickens are not heat tolerant. put a fan out, have sheets with water on them over the run and coop. i use ice in their water. i have now found two dead in the past three days. No warning at all. One was found under the waterer and the other in the coop like she just fell over on the roost poll. No signs of illness before. All healthy combs, healthy poops, no signs of distress. Do you think it is heat related? They were my salmon faverolles too only have one left. i know salmons are not heat tolerant , even more so than the average chicken.
i feel so sad and at a loss.

 

[orrpeople]

I am totally feeling your pain right now...it's hot and bound to be hotter in the next couple of days.
It sound like you are doing all the right things, but you're right, some are not nearly as heat tolerant. My 55 Flowerys have been the worst this summer. I would try a couple more things, short of bringing them inside
Try putting electrolytes into their water and hang some misters in the run, or if they free range, try putting them up in their favorite spots (ours love being under our deck, so we have hung some there). It also wouldn't hurt to use a fast acting vitamin like Nutri Drench on anyone that looks weary. Hot weather seems to lower their resistance to other ailments, so keeping them full of electrolytes and vitamins will help.
The other thing you might want to do is worm them. Flies and other critters have been bad this summer as well. There are lots of good worming threads on here, but this one in particular, is my go to.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/worming-with-horse-wormer.744734/
Sincerest wishes for no more dead birds and cooler temps to head your way soon!

 

[csaylorchickens]

I tried a misting fan but all the chickens huddled in the corner away from it and didn't use it. I even left it out from the majority of the day but I started to get worried because they were hanging out in the hot area. Okay Phil Dave wheelbarrow full of water when I got home yesterday and I dunked each one of them and left them in the water for about 5 minutes. They stop panting and seem to cool off very well. I guess I will just have to dunk them at the hottest point in the day and let them cool off by the fan. I put a huge sleeping bag over the coop and I put a fan in the coop leaving all doors openbwiyh protective witebto keep out critters. The only Predators I have in my neighborhood are raccoons and cats. The raccoons are pretty vicious though they have ripped off the head of my neighbor's chickens and the people across the street from me chickens. But it should hold

 

[orrpeople]

It probably took my birds about 4 days, but they love the misters and often sit right under them. A misting fan might be a bit forceful. Also make sure, when you dip them that the water isn't super cold. The change in temp can send them into shock.

 

[csaylorchickens]

Yes i fill the wayer in am and it sits outside jn ambient temp so its probaly 80 degrees at least. Ill try the fan again but maybe in a small section

 

[orrpeople]

And i keep looking at the forecast... supposed to be 115* here this weekend. My poor chooks! (Although it's really hard to complain compared with what folks enduring hurricane Harvey have had to deal with.)
Keep cool, my friend!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

it has been hot here in cali. mean like 100 to 108. i know that chickens are not heat tolerant. put a fan out, have sheets with water on them over the run and coop. i use ice in their water. i have now found two dead in the past three days. No warning at all. One was found under the waterer and the other in the coop like she just fell over on the roost poll. No signs of illness before. All healthy combs, healthy poops, no signs of distress. Do you think it is heat related? They were my salmon faverolles too only have one left. i know salmons are not heat tolerant , even more so than the average chicken.
i feel so sad and at a loss.

Chickens descended from the Jungle fowl of India, Sumatra, and Java. Therefor chickens are remarkably tolerant of high humidity and heat. However STRONG unrelenting Sun light will kill a young and healthy chicken in as little as 5 minutes. I don't remember seeing much jungle shade or a high humidity the last time that I was in LA.

 

[EggMan1991]

I live in Texas, and the last 2 months were pretty brutal for my chickens. I have a back porch I added on to my house, and the chickens LOVE getting under it because of how cool it gets for them.

The best way to cool them off is to keep them out of direct sunlight in the heat of the day, and stay away from sand or very fine dirt... That stuff will cook them. Places where you'd normally plant Annuals with garden soil and dense shade will be great for your chickens.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes i fill the wayer in am and it sits outside jn ambient temp so its probaly 80 degrees at least. Ill try the fan again but maybe in a small section

How large are you water stations? Put a frozen block of ice or water bottle in the water station to help keep it cooler longer.