With how hot it has been, our chickens have been really hot. Our friend actually had to chickens die yesterday from being overheated. Other than giving them frozen treats (watermelon, grapes, etc) and providing water and changing it frequently, is there anything we can do to help protect them?
Wet down the coop roof..water it down! If they are nesting in boxes that are hot, close those off, make some other type of nesting area for them. If you can't do this, put frozen water bottles in the nest boxes..I have several frozen in my freezer that I will put out once I go see if they haven't all laid yet. They are fine in the mornings. Of course, all of the windows and doors are open.
Wet down areas that they can go kick up some mud. I wet down under the apple trees really well yesterday, soaked it under there. That's pretty much where they stayed. If you have an area that can be kept wet where they have to walk to food, keep it damp, or even a puddle.
I have actually sprayed my girls down the last couple of days.
Don't give them any other treats right now other than cool fruits and veggies. I bought grapes yesterday, will freeze some for them later.
Water, water, everywhere! Put it out all over the place, keep it cool. I have bowls of ice frozen ice also, I put that in a couple of their bowls of water once it starts heating up..into the 80's. While you are waiting for things to freeze in the freezer..keep their water cool by putting fresh in.
I find the wetting down an area for them is what they like best. Just soak it. They will go to it.
Sounds like a lot of work, but once you have the bowls and water bottles frozen, it really isn't. Just water everything down really good out there for them.
