Preventing heat exhaustion in your flock

2010 is currently on track to be the hottest summer on record, with July already beating out the scorching Dust Bowl summer of 1936.  We've felt the heat on our farm, and are keeping a careful eye on our flock.  Heat exhaustion is nothing to mess with, as we discovered during our first year of chicken-keeping when two of our birds succumbed to the heat.

How do you know if your birds are too hot?  In an effort to cool down, they will pull in their feathers, stick out their "elbows", and start to pant.  That's your cue to make sure your flock has access to shade and water at all times.  If you're worried, throw some ice cubes in your homemade chicken waterer --- your chickens will adore the cool treat, and the ice water will help lower their body temperatures.

Chicken tractors can be dangerous at this time of year since chickens are confined in a small space.  Turn the tractor the wrong way, and your hens will have no shade to retreat to during the blazing afternoons.  We are careful to situate our chicken tractors so that the protected side is aimed toward the sun on summer days, and when temperatures soar into the mid 90s, we add a tarp to provide extra shade.

I have to admit that this year I counted the days until the dog days officially ended on August 11.  It's all cooler from here!