3 week chicks in extreme heat

[ForFlocksSake]

My 3 week old chicks live outside in a prefab coop and run inside our very large run with our entire flock. Next week we are expecting record heat with the index hitting 116 degrees F. I know the tricks for my older girls and they did well last summer when the index hit 113 but im not sure if my tactics are safe for younger birds. For my older ones I have hanging water containers on the sides of the run where I keep very cold ice water. They seem to really love dipping their waddles in there for a cool drink. I also give them frozen watermelon and frozen blueberries in a shallow kiddie pool. Neither of these things seem ok for younger birds. Should I put ice cubes in their nipple waterer or is cold water a no no at this age? Are there other things I can do to help them? They are obviously not fully feathered and I worry about their ability to regulate the heat.

 

[GodLovesU]

I would give them shade,cool water,and could you possibly get a fan?

 

[SweetieChicken234]

I am having the same issues. Heat and nasty humidity in Florida. My older chicks are 4 weeks and I keep trying to put them out. It's so hot here triple digits with the humidity. They just can't deal with it outside. They start panting and lay down within 10 minutes outside. It's awful. My older birds are mostly ok. The Wyandottes need to come in sometimes to cool down.. I also have a broody outside in the coop with 1 week olds and she really is suffering. It's miserable.

My 1 month olds I just can't seem to get used to being outside. It's sweltering. They can't stand it anymore than I can. Poor things. Florida is so unpleasant for chickens.

 

[NatJ]

I am having the same issues. Heat and nasty humidity in Florida. My older chicks are 4 weeks and I keep trying to put them out. It's so hot here triple digits with the humidity. They just can't deal with it outside. They start panting and lay down within 10 minutes outside. It's awful. My older birds are mostly ok. The Wyandottes need to come in sometimes to cool down.. I also have a broody outside in the coop with 1 week olds and she really is suffering. It's miserable.

My 1 month olds I just can't seem to get used to being outside. It's sweltering. They can't stand it anymore than I can. Poor things. Florida is so unpleasant for chickens.

You may have already thought of this, but have you tried putting the chicks outside at a different time in the day or night? They might be able to sleep outside at night, or go out early in the morning, because it is often cooler at those times. If they can stand that, you can probably start stretching how long they stay out, as they gradually build their tolerance.

If that doesn't work, maybe keep trying the 10 minute increments, as many times a day as you can manage.

And this is backwards of almost all advice, but maybe do use a heat lamp inside with the chicks, to keep them near the top end of what temperatures they can tolerate. Most people want to wean them off heat as soon as possible, so the chicks can go outside in cool weather. But you need them adapted to high temperatures, so you would need to push them the other direction.

 

[NatJ]

My 3 week old chicks live outside in a prefab coop and run inside our very large run with our entire flock. Next week we are expecting record heat with the index hitting 116 degrees F. I know the tricks for my older girls and they did well last summer when the index hit 113 but im not sure if my tactics are safe for younger birds. For my older ones I have hanging water containers on the sides of the run where I keep very cold ice water. They seem to really love dipping their waddles in there for a cool drink. I also give them frozen watermelon and frozen blueberries in a shallow kiddie pool. Neither of these things seem ok for younger birds. Should I put ice cubes in their nipple waterer or is cold water a no no at this age? Are there other things I can do to help them? They are obviously not fully feathered and I worry about their ability to regulate the heat.

I think it would be fine to offer ice water and frozen fruit to 3-week chicks. Just leave the normal water and food available as well.

As regards regulating heat, chicks are usually very good at moving to warmer or cooler areas to be comfortable, if they are given a choice. (I know that is not what people usually mean when they talk about an animal regulating their own heat, but it definitely is different that just sitting there and suffering in the wrong conditions.)

 

[Altairsky]

I just installed a solar powered fan for my chicks and it's awesome. They are cheap on Amazon but you can't go wrong if you spend a bit more. Cheap fans usually have weaker solar panels so they end up being useless. Fan might look the same, but the panel is not. I spent 60 bucks for mine, will buy again.

 

[Birdsonghill]

I too worry for my current chicks even at 9 weeks plus age in this heat they are stressed during the late afternoons. We commonly have near 100F and 80 % plus humidity common in July and August. Heat indexes in the high teens over 100 all week some weeks. One year 113 F and humidity hovering about 83% and the chickens did suffer some. But they all made it. I try and build in good ventilation in their coops and open up the wired over roost clean out area box in the coops for added air in the summer hot times. I provide shade with fast growing hops vines( make good beer also!) and annual gourd vines, that by July cover most of the southside and top of the runs. Shade trees nearby on the west sides give afternoons complete shade. Still it is tough on them and I give fresh cold water morning and afternoon. People have been raising chickens long before we had electricity in some very hostile environments. If we provide good shade, water and adequate natural ventilation they will be fine. Still, it is good to make your stock as comfortable as reasonably possible for best performance and long life. You may feel better too! Knowing you are doing the best about your responsibility to these creatures relying on you for their care!

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I too worry for my current chicks even at 9 weeks plus age in this heat they are stressed during the late afternoons. We commonly have near 100F and 80 % plus humidity common in July and August. Heat indexes in the high teens over 100 all week some weeks. One year 113 F and humidity hovering about 83% and the chickens did suffer some. But they all made it. I try and build in good ventilation in their coops and open up the wired over roost clean out area box in the coops for added air in the summer hot times. I provide shade with fast growing hops vines( make good beer also!) and annual gourd vines, that by July cover most of the southside and top of the runs. Shade trees nearby on the west sides give afternoons complete shade. Still it is tough on them and I give fresh cold water morning and afternoon. People have been raising chickens long before we had electricity in some very hostile environments. If we provide good shade, water and adequate natural ventilation they will be fine. Still, it is good to make your stock as comfortable as reasonably possible for best performance and long life. You may feel better too! Knowing you are doing the best about your responsibility to these creatures relying on you for their care!

My babies are almost 10 weeks now and they're doing great! I put up some tarps for extra shade and keep their water in the shade so it stays cool. On the extra hot days I bring them (and my big girls) a nice cold slice of watermelon. They love it. I also raised their temporary coop (the nursery before they're big enough to integrate with the whole flock) so they really enjoy dust bathing in the shade beneath it.

 

[Birdsonghill]

My babies are almost 10 weeks now and they're doing great! I put up some tarps for extra shade and keep their water in the shade so it stays cool. On the extra hot days I bring them (and my big girls) a nice cold slice of watermelon. They love it. I also raised their temporary coop (the nursery before they're big enough to integrate with the whole flock) so they really enjoy dust bathing in the shade beneath it.

I built my two current coops raised 21/2 ft. above the ground and enclosed that with the runs so they can seek the cooler soil and deep shade there. In the afternoon , most all the birds will be under the coop on hot days, despite shade nearby in the run. Watermelon treats also, occasionally, from the squirrel damaged watermelons from my melon patch. I keep two waterers in the runs on hot days so easy access and plentiful supply of clean water that insures healthier birds. New chicken keepers, Make sure the water is in the shade all day!

 

[Birdsonghill]

I should repeat what others have noted, timing your new chicks ,if possible, to come when the weather is mild is the best idea. I usually try for late spring , here about May1st. The chicks have 6 weeks or so before the terrible summer heat arrives here, usually. Late summer/Early fall can work well here too, ordering in time so that the chicks can get about 8 to 10 weeks before frost. I like to get my chicks out of the brooders and into the coops within 6 to 8 weeks maximum time in the brooders, even if not real crowded. I do not have fans or heaters/pads, only lights in my coops. Our minimum low temps are usually above 10 degrees F, but have dipped below zero occasionally and our maximum is commonly about 101 to 103F. but may rise higher. Humidity running commonly from a , low of about 40% and up to 87% and often higher without rain or fog, raises the heat index to incredible amounts. People were successful raising chickens in this weather without electricity. I use a waterer heater for convenience in the winter colder months.