Will chicks survive these temps outside?

[liljenjennc]

I have a broody who is 18 days into hatching eggs. We are having a terrible heat wave with highs around 100 and no end to it for about 2 weeks. I'm trying my best to keep mom comfortable with multiple fans and a swamp cooler of sorts. And I give her frozen treats during the heat of the day. Will the chicks that hatch be able to survive this heat? If they suffer from it I could move them to a brooder inside. What do you all think I should do? What will mama hen do if I have to take them? Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Percheron chick]

They'll do fine. They need the heat.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Leave her alone and leave them alone.....provide shade to be accessed and used, continue providing fresh water and let them be.

 

[liljenjennc]

Great!! I've been so worried!! If there was a bad egg would it be smelly? I got down on my knees and sniffed each of them yesterday while she was off the nest and none of them smelled and I'm sensitive to smells. Yeah I know I'm crazy... lol

 

[desertrocks]

I understand your concern. I have 22 7-8 week old pullets and we are into our 5th consecutive day of +110. I am using frozen gallon water jugs for cooling stations and a misting setup to keep an 8'*12'*7' tall covered outdoor enclosure. Just got the misting setup and I only run it in short stretches to make sure no areas become overly damp.
I am also providing an electrolyte water station in addition to the normal waterers.
Some would call it overkill perhaps but if they could hear how happy my girls are when I turn on the misters and see them gathered around the frozen jugs it should put a smile on their faces.
A happy chicken is a healthy chicken.

 

[liljenjennc]

I understand your concern. I have 22 7-8 week old pullets and we are into our 5th consecutive day of +110. I am using frozen gallon water jugs for cooling stations and a misting setup to keep an 8'*12'*7' tall covered outdoor enclosure. Just got the misting setup and I only run it in short stretches to make sure no areas become overly damp.
I am also providing an electrolyte water station in addition to the normal waterers.
Some would call it overkill perhaps but if they could hear how happy my girls are when I turn on the misters and see them gathered around the frozen jugs it should put a smile on their faces.
A happy chicken is a healthy chicken.

Wow!! If we were having those temps I would have a 'heartastroke'from worrying!! I have frozen jugs that I blow the fans over and put frozen water bottles in their waterer. My chickens HATE the mister though?! So I dunk their feet and legs in cool water when I see them panting. Too bad they'd ha e to wear diapers or I'd bring them I side. Haha ;-)

 

[desertrocks]

I don't worry so much about the panting as long as they are alert and active when I go into the enclosure. I read that it is one of the 4 ways that they release body heat. There are a lot of people out here that keep chickens and do a whole lot less to keep them cool and they seem to do OK.
Mine didn't seem to like it much the first day or 2. I only run it long enough to cool the area and dampen the shade cloth, not usually more than 5-10 minutes at a stretch. Fans are a constant so circulation is always good. Now they seem to take it in stride and ise it as another active period. A happy chicken is a healthy chicken.

 

[azygous]

If there's any way you can dampen the ground without creating a muddy situation, that brings the air temp down a good ten degrees down where the chickens hang out. That's one great thing about sand runs, you can hose them down on very hot days, they stay damp for hours, creating an evaporative effect which lowers the temperature. The chickens also get an added benefit of dust bathing in damp sand, cooling their bodies in the process.