Chickens dehydrating

With temperatures in the high 30's to low 40C range, chickens will struggle to drink, feed and eventually, lay. Chickens are pretty resilient birds, but, if you have ever been severely dehydrated, you will appreciate how hard it would be for birds that go beyond hot and thirsty, to make themselves drink, let alone eat. A vicious downward spiral can soon kick in, depleting resources and resolve. When heat stroke kicks in, it doesn't take long to weaken physically and mentally.

So what can you do to help hot-winged chickens cope in the peak heat of summer? Primarily, you need to look out for them, just like I needed assistance when I was dehydrating!

First sign of heat stress is the open beak panting. They flex their wings to increase airflow. If they are in a bad way, their combs start to go from bright red to grey-pink and droop to one side. They lose their drive to be a busy-body and settle down in a quiet spot. If nothing is done, they will fade away quietly.

• Keep them in the shade.
• Add thick layers of straw or insulation to the roof of their coop or covered part of the run.
• Rig up extra shade cloth shelters.
• Make sure they can take dust baths and dig themselves into cooler ground
• Keep their drinking water topped up and clean.
• Treat them to water-rich veggie snacks.
• Make sure their coops are well vented at night.
• Ensure they have space when roosting.

DO NOT SPRAY THEM WITH WATER. THEY AREN'T DUCKS.

Be patient if egg production drops. 300 eggs a year is a lot of laying. It takes considerable energy and mineral resources at the best of times. When chickens are expending extra energy on keeping cool, something will give, eventually. But equally, so, when the temperatures drop, either at night, or a break in the weather, expect healthy birds to recover soon enough.

The chickens in the photo live in a deep litter coop. They are doing just fine. In fact they are complaining a lot less than me.