Chickens in the heat

Gwenoakes · Post by **Gwenoakes** » 26 Jul 2019, 11:29

My seven ladies have really seemed to have suffered in this hot weather, gaping mouths etc. I have hosed their run down and it is totally shaded including the top which was done to keep out any risk of bird flu. They have a block built house with tiled roof (just because we had the materials left over from the canine hydrotherapy unit we built), have fresh cold water and been given things like cucumbers straight from the fridge.
What has anyone else done to help their ladies?

Post by Mo » 26 Jul 2019, 17:10

Ice cubes in the water?

kitla · Post by **kitla** » 26 Jul 2019, 21:12

On Thursday I put icepacks by the feeders & in the coop at night

KarenE · Post by **KarenE** » 27 Jul 2019, 11:36

I've been giving mine lots of fruit esp melon, raisins and sweetcorn in water so they have to dip for them, plenty of water with icecubes in occasionally but thjey find shady spots to hide in and conserve their energy by not doing much until later in the day. Icepacks are a good diea or if you don't have any, lemonade bottles filled with water and frozen would do the trick. I've seen some people putting trays of water out for them to paddle in but not sure mine would go for that - might be worth a try though

Gwenoakes · Post by **Gwenoakes** » 27 Jul 2019, 15:08

Thanks for the tips everyone.
I didn't lock them up on Thursday night as it was soooo hot even at past 10p.m. Went down to them early Friday morning with baited breath, just in case something had got into them, but they were fine. Got to admit I do not like not locking them up at night though.

KarenE · Post by **KarenE** » 27 Jul 2019, 15:59

I never shut my pop hole door - it's automatic and broke down last year and we haven't got round to fixing it. They are in a secure run though so I think they are safe enough (touch wood of course) - if yours are in a run they should be okay, just maybe check around for any gaps or weak spots, and of course make sure it's covered. And with galvanised mesh not bog standard chicken wire