Unusually high heat

[nfoster70]

Hello everyone,

here in Washington, we are going through an unusually strong heat wave for about 3-4 days and we are worried about the flock. We have 2 roosters and 8 hens of assorted breeds. Today was the start of the heat wave at 103. Everyone was panting constantly and had their wings down. The next two days will be 115 ish.

I know it’s a shock to their system but I was wondering if it would be better to bring them to our cooler basement for the next two days, our house doesn’t have A/C but at least the basement stays naturally cooler and they stayed in there from 3 day old chicks until they were ready to go to the run.

they have varying areas of shade throughout the day in their run. We’ve been making sure their are several cool water sources, plus lots of frozen fruits and veggies. Plus, some looked pretty roughed so we put them in a kiddie pool we set up in the run and cooled them down. They also have a pop up beach tent for artificial shade. Unfortunately, a fan isn’t an option where they are located.

they seem to be eating regularly and are actually laying pretty dang well. But we are just worried about losing a bird. They are all cockerels and pullets.

what day you, bring them in or leave them in the heat?

appreciate they help.

 

[cavemanrich]

You are doing good by offering them frozen food, and cold water. It probably is somewhat late to set up a mister.
If you have real concerns about the heat,,, I suggest you take them into basement,,,,, during hottest part of day. Have a light there, and offer food and water. In the late afternoon,, when temps drop to more bearable,, let them outside. It is only for a few day,, according to predicted weather forecasts. (hopefully)'
Summer is just beginning. You may consider getting a mister system set up. It does work to cool the flock down.
I subscribe to the Arizona State Thread, and read the posts by locals. They deal with 3 digit temps on a regular basis.
Here is a link to the Az thread, You can visit and read ..and ask questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/page-7776

Right now they are also dealing with fires.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[nfoster70]

You are doing good by offering them frozen food, and cold water. It probably is somewhat late to set up a mister.
If you have real concerns about the heat,,, I suggest you take them into basement,,,,, during hottest part of day. Have a light there, and offer food and water. In the late afternoon,, when temps drop to more bearable,, let them outside. It is only for a few day,, according to predicted weather forecasts. (hopefully)'
Summer is just beginning. You may consider getting a mister system set up. It does work to cool the flock down.
I subscribe to the Arizona State Thread, and read the posts by locals. They deal with 3 digit temps on a regular basis.
Here is a link to the Az thread, You can visit and read ..and ask questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/page-7776

Right now they are also dealing with fires.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[nfoster70]

Thanks for the reply!
You know I set up a mister and they really seemed to not like it. Maybe I’ll try to get a real mister system. I was using a gardening wand with the mist function (maybe it was too much or something they were scared of).

and yeah, our summers usually never get this hot. I mean we’ve lived here for 30 years and a week of maybe mid 90’s is a heat wave typically for us, so I’m not too worried going forward. It’s just these couple of days.

thanks for the link and advice!!!!

 

[nfoster70]

We also having been icing their water and have some frozen bottles for nesting boxes and etc for tomorrow. But Washington isn’t set up for these temperatures so the entire state is out of ice when I went to like 10 grocery stores and gas stations today. We are making our own with ice cube trays and zip lock baggies but I’m worried about running out.

 

[Danny451]

Hello everyone,

here in Washington, we are going through an unusually strong heat wave for about 3-4 days and we are worried about the flock. We have 2 roosters and 8 hens of assorted breeds. Today was the start of the heat wave at 103. Everyone was panting constantly and had their wings down. The next two days will be 115 ish.

I know it’s a shock to their system but I was wondering if it would be better to bring them to our cooler basement for the next two days, our house doesn’t have A/C but at least the basement stays naturally cooler and they stayed in there from 3 day old chicks until they were ready to go to the run.

they have varying areas of shade throughout the day in their run. We’ve been making sure their are several cool water sources, plus lots of frozen fruits and veggies. Plus, some looked pretty roughed so we put them in a kiddie pool we set up in the run and cooled them down. They also have a pop up beach tent for artificial shade. Unfortunately, a fan isn’t an option where they are located.

they seem to be eating regularly and are actually laying pretty dang well. But we are just worried about losing a bird. They are all cockerels and pullets.

what day you, bring them in or leave them in the heat?

appreciate they help.

Hi neighbor!! with ya in PNW. I’m trying to figure this heat thing too out I’m worried about my girls too. I’m doing everything except no kiddy pool. We did get a fan hooked up. Had to get a lot of the Christmas extension cords out. My big girl is having the hardest time. I think we will have to keep her in the chicken jail/ hospital tomorrow. she is going to be upset. I think the rest of the girls will be ok. They found a spot under a old gate leaning up and had dug a little bunker. I wet it down lightly before I turned in tonight so it should be damp at least in the morning. I also set a sprinkler that can hit the coop area. It’s on a timer and it will go off a few times furring the day. Good luck hope all of us survive.

 

[nfoster70]

Hi neighbor!! with ya in PNW. I’m trying to figure this heat thing too out I’m worried about my girls too. I’m doing everything except no kiddy pool. We did get a fan hooked up. Had to get a lot of the Christmas extension cords out. My big girl is having the hardest time. I think we will have to keep her in the chicken jail/ hospital tomorrow. she is going to be upset. I think the rest of the girls will be ok. They found a spot under a old gate leaning up and had dug a little bunker. I wet it down lightly before I turned in tonight so it should be damp at least in the morning. I also set a sprinkler that can hit the coop area. It’s on a timer and it will go off a few times furring the day. Good luck hope all of us survive.

Yeah this really sucks! Not exactly what we are used to here in the PNW. Good luck and I hope everyone makes it through.
Even at night it’s near 100 the next two night, and im seriously considering just making them a coop away from coop in our basement for the next 2 days.

not only their well being but for us taking care of them out there without a real a/c system in our house. It’s miserable outside!

 

[cavemanrich]

Maybe I’ll try to get a real mister system. I was using a gardening wand with the mist function (maybe it was too much or something they were scared of).

Yes that mist was way too much. The mister I have sprays a mist that you don't get wet underneath. It cools the air by evaporation. I have used it on my patio for people comfort. I also sometimes set it up in the backyard (attached to a clothesline) for the children to play under.
I seen such misters in amusement parks to cool attendees as they walked thru the walkways. It was a refreshing feeling. Their misters were somewhat larger capacity than my little one.

 

[BlueBaby]

Thanks for the reply!
You know I set up a mister and they really seemed to not like it. Maybe I’ll try to get a real mister system. I was using a gardening wand with the mist function (maybe it was too much or something they were scared of).

and yeah, our summers usually never get this hot. I mean we’ve lived here for 30 years and a week of maybe mid 90’s is a heat wave typically for us, so I’m not too worried going forward. It’s just these couple of days.

thanks for the link and advice!!!!

I'm one of the member's here in Arizona that @cavemanrich was talking about with the mister's for my flock. Mine seem to enjoy it and hang out under it. I put the mister's up in the end of the attached run at the opposite end from the coop, so that the water doesn't get the coop wet. @cavemanrich showed you a picture of the mister that I am using. I also bought a timer that I have connected to it, so it's programed to only go off on misting during certain hour's, and then shut itself off. If you get one, pick up some extra nozzles for it, so that if a nozzle get's clogged up and starts streaming out the water, you can quickly replace it. The clogged one that you took out can be soaked in some of the CLR to get the junk out of it so that it can be reused again.

 

[nfoster70]

Thanks for everyone’s advice and responses. We got everyone safely inside the basement where it is a little cooler than where we stay upstairs. It was like instant happiness and I was able to use a giant tarp be bought at Costco. One of our girls has even laid an egg since being down there!

misters are on order from Amazon, appreciate the advice on that.

as always, everyone is super awesome on this forum. Looks like we will make it through these two days of hell.