Chicken breathing with mouth open at night. Too hot?

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

I have a hen who breathes with her mouth open in her bed area. This happened two days in a row now and I’m wondering if it’s too hot inside? She started doing this yesterday afternoon when she was laying an egg. It was 63 f out there. Then she also did it yesterday night, but the weather was around 55 f. Today she’s doing it again. There’s a little window covered in wire that is usually open but we covered it up last year during winter. It’s starting to become Spring and I’m wondering if I should take the coveroff. She is breathing with her mouth open and had her wings held away from her body. It’s 61 f right now.

 

[Lucy Brown]

I have a hen who breathes with her mouth open in her bed area. This happened two days in a row now and I’m wondering if it’s too hot inside? She started doing this yesterday afternoon when she was laying an egg. It was 63 f out there. Then she also did it yesterday night, but the weather was around 55 f. Today she’s doing it again. There’s a little window covered in wire that is usually open but we covered it up last year during winter. It’s starting to become Spring and I’m wondering if I should take the coveroff. She is breathing with her mouth open and had her wings held away from her body. It’s 61 f right now.

ive had hens do that, its because it is warm inside the coop. No worries I think it is time to take the cover off then.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Yeah Ive had a few do that when its hot or after they ran all the way across the property because they heard me shake a bag of cracked corn

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

It’s 63 f now but it becomes 48 f at night so I’m hoping she will be alright. I removed some of the boards that we usually use to cover the coop, when I offered her water she drank quite a lot.

 

[Ryguy3684]

It sounds like she's warm. At those temps, I would leave the window unblocked. Do they have water available 24/7?

 

[Ryguy3684]

If it's a lot hotter in the coop, than outside, you should add more ventilation. Depending on the breed, most chickens are much better handling the cold than the heat. I have an non-insulated, non-heated coop and mine are fine down to single digits.

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

It sounds like she's warm. At those temps, I would leave the window unblocked. Do they have water available 24/7?

Yes, though the water is on the first floor, the area where they sleep is on the second floor of the coop which is accessed by climbing a mini ladder.

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

If it's a lot hotter in the coop, than outside, you should add more ventilation. Depending on the breed, most chickens are much better handling the cold than the heat. I have an non-insulated, non-heated coop and mine are fine down to single digits.

I believe she is a red sex link, she does have a lot of feathers which should keep her warm at night. The weather is going to be around 70 f in the afternoon the next few days so I should probably remove the board tomorrow. Time to change up the coop again!

 

[dawg53]

I'd make sure soiled bedding in the coop is cleaned out often as well. Ammonia fumes can be an issue. Heat and ammonia fumes rise.

 

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

I'd make sure soiled bedding in the coop is cleaned out often as well. Ammonia fumes can be an issue. Heat and ammonia fumes rise.

Yes, i will. I always check for soiled bedding and change it at least 3 times a month.