To keep themselves cool in warm weather, chickens breathe through their mouths. A mature chicken starts breathing through its mouth when the temperature reaches 85°F, a chick when the temperature reaches 1 O0°E As the temperature rises, chickens also breathe more rapidly and spread their wings away from their bodies. Both signs are indications of heat stress. At a temperature of 105°F or above, chickens may die. To prevent deaths in hot weather, ensure continuous access to fresh water that remains as cool as possible, either by putting waterers in the shade or by periodically furnishing cool water. Since chickens drink less when their water isn’t pure, avoid putting medications in drinking water during hot weather. Make sure your chickens can get into shade without crowding together. In a dry climate, you can cool off your chickens by spraying them lightly with a hose. In a humid climate, spraying doesn’t help, because the air is already too full of moisture to allow evaporation. During hot weather, hens lay smaller eggs with thinner shells, a problem you can mitigate somewhat by using a lay ration with a higher than usual protein level. If you live in a hot climate, your farm store probably carries high-protein ration during the summer months.Next: Winter Care |