We had a couple days of cool weather, and today went back to being 80F again. This may be significant to what happened.
I was working in the run when April, my two year-old Blue Australorp came inside the run from free ranging. She stood there still, then she appeared to be lowering herself to the sand to lie down and dirt bathe. But she was off balance, and her legs began to give up supporting her body. Then two hens came over and started to peck her on the comb. That's when I knew April was in big trouble.
I whipped her up into my arms and rushed with her into the garage. She was losing consciousness. She was very hot, comb and wattles a cherry red. I grabbed a bottle of Gatoraid, room temp, not chilled. I didn't want to shock her system. I have my first aid supplies all on a shelf over my work bench. So I easily found the tube feeding kit and inserted the tube down the esophagus of a semi-conscious chicken and filled her crop with Gatoraid. Then I wet a rag with cold tap water and turned her over and placed it on her conveniently bare breast.
She was limp, eyes closed, and I was hoping these measures were in time to save her. She began slowly to revive. Eyes opened, head became more steady, and her feet uncurled and relaxed. I stood her on her feet to get her upright so her circulation would be better. Gradually her strength came back and she was able to stand. Her color was better, eyes became bright again, and she began talking to me. I carried her back to the run and let her rest in the jail enclosure. Five minutes later, she was clamoring to be let out, and she made a beeline for the coop. She's now in a nest, appearing for all the world to be back to her normal self and laying an egg.
Wanted to post this because this time of year we can get some temperature extremes and chickens may not do well with it going from cool to hot again, especially during molt when they may not have a full compliment of feathers to regulate body temperature. April's feathers are in terrible condition, those she has left. Her new ones have barely begun to come in.
To sum up, watch your chickens on hot days following a cool spell. Have room temperature Gatoraid handy with a syringe and tubing if you know how to use them. (Time to learn, if you don't) Watch for sudden change in behavior - lethargy, poor balance, stumbling. Don't second guess yourself. If it appears abnormal for the chicken, especially if the comb feels very hot, get the chicken to a cool spot, not air conditioned, and get some fluids plus electrolytes into the chicken as quickly as you can manage. Then cool the chicken down with cool compresses under the wings and on the breast where blood vessels close to the surface can carry the cooling blood to the rest of the body. Do not plunge your patient into cold water. The sudden temperature shock will kill the chicken.
If I hadn't been right there when this happened, April may have died. But if you happen to see a chicken lying on the ground, unconscious but still breathing and it's a warm day, assume it's heat exhaustion and treat immediately.
I was working in the run when April, my two year-old Blue Australorp came inside the run from free ranging. She stood there still, then she appeared to be lowering herself to the sand to lie down and dirt bathe. But she was off balance, and her legs began to give up supporting her body. Then two hens came over and started to peck her on the comb. That's when I knew April was in big trouble.
I whipped her up into my arms and rushed with her into the garage. She was losing consciousness. She was very hot, comb and wattles a cherry red. I grabbed a bottle of Gatoraid, room temp, not chilled. I didn't want to shock her system. I have my first aid supplies all on a shelf over my work bench. So I easily found the tube feeding kit and inserted the tube down the esophagus of a semi-conscious chicken and filled her crop with Gatoraid. Then I wet a rag with cold tap water and turned her over and placed it on her conveniently bare breast.
She was limp, eyes closed, and I was hoping these measures were in time to save her. She began slowly to revive. Eyes opened, head became more steady, and her feet uncurled and relaxed. I stood her on her feet to get her upright so her circulation would be better. Gradually her strength came back and she was able to stand. Her color was better, eyes became bright again, and she began talking to me. I carried her back to the run and let her rest in the jail enclosure. Five minutes later, she was clamoring to be let out, and she made a beeline for the coop. She's now in a nest, appearing for all the world to be back to her normal self and laying an egg.
Wanted to post this because this time of year we can get some temperature extremes and chickens may not do well with it going from cool to hot again, especially during molt when they may not have a full compliment of feathers to regulate body temperature. April's feathers are in terrible condition, those she has left. Her new ones have barely begun to come in.
To sum up, watch your chickens on hot days following a cool spell. Have room temperature Gatoraid handy with a syringe and tubing if you know how to use them. (Time to learn, if you don't) Watch for sudden change in behavior - lethargy, poor balance, stumbling. Don't second guess yourself. If it appears abnormal for the chicken, especially if the comb feels very hot, get the chicken to a cool spot, not air conditioned, and get some fluids plus electrolytes into the chicken as quickly as you can manage. Then cool the chicken down with cool compresses under the wings and on the breast where blood vessels close to the surface can carry the cooling blood to the rest of the body. Do not plunge your patient into cold water. The sudden temperature shock will kill the chicken.
If I hadn't been right there when this happened, April may have died. But if you happen to see a chicken lying on the ground, unconscious but still breathing and it's a warm day, assume it's heat exhaustion and treat immediately.
I was shocked. (RIP Blue Feet) It's sad enough when our favorites die, but so much worse when it is by our own hand, however well-intended our efforts may be. So again, please take note and heed Azygous's advice as far as how to treat heat exhaustion; which does Not include submersion in water. 
