Hot weather!
As the weather warms up, consider how heat will affect your birds. While most birds will enjoy a nice sunbathe, excessive heat can be harmful.
How hot is too hot?
The ideal environmental temperature for most birds is 17°C to 25°C (63°F to 77°F). Above 25°C, birds begin to feel the effects and adapt to cope with the heat. Above 30°C (86°F), birds are significantly affected and will show signs of severe heat stress. In extreme circumstances, this can make your birds very unwell or even kill them!
How do birds adapt to get rid of excess heat?
Chickens don't have sweat glands, making it tricky for them to get rid of excess heat. They rely on the respiratory system to blow off excess heat, of course birds have to be different….they do a special type of panting called a gular flutter, which is a rapid movement of the throat to increase air movement, which helps to get rid of excess heat.
Chickens will also spread themselves out to lose heat by evaporation. They will also look for somewhere cool to rest against, such as a cool wall or cool patio slabs, to exchange heat (by convection)
Body heat is generated by metabolism (there are other factors involved), but simplistically, it makes sense that reducing heat production would lead birds to eat less and produce fewer eggs.
Chicken enjoying the sunshine!
What can I do to keep my birds cool?
Fluids - Birds will lose a significant amount of fluid when hot, primarily due to water loss through breathing. It's essential to provide cool, fresh drinking water, with added electrolytes and a sugar (e.g. dextrose, glucose, glycerol) to help replace the losses. A high-quality multivitamin will likely contain all the necessary ingredients. Try and place drinking water in the shade.
Cool the coop by placing it in a shady spot, if possible. If coops are poorly ventilated, heat can build up to uncomfortable levels and take a long time to cool down. Ensure the coop door and ventilation holes are fully open to allow maximum air flow.
Shade -if you don’t have any direct shade, try to make some or even relocate to a different area of the garden. Trees, large shrubs, and even large planters are ideal for providing shade. Use a sheet or a parasol to keep direct sun off the ground.
Cooling the birds can be hugely beneficial. Ensure birds have access to a dust bath. A garden sprinkler or a spray bottle is ideal to create a fine mist. Menthol can also be sprayed in the environment (not on the bird), which has a cooling effect.
Flystrike - In hot weather, birds will drink more and eat less, which can upset their guts and cause wet faeces. Keep a close eye on those fluffy butts! Dirty vent feathers are an invitation for fly strike!!!
Signs of mild heat stress and normal adaptations:
drinking more, eating less
less active
seek shade
expose poorly feathered areas (outstretched legs and wings) to lose heat
Signs of increasing heat stress :
open mouth breathing/panting (gular flutter)
produce fewer eggs or soft/ pale eggs
wet faeces
Please keep a close eye on your birds during this time.
If you are concerned, please book an appointment with the Chicken Clinic or contact your local vet.