UCP Episode 020: The Heat is On for the Hens – Summer Proof Your Flock

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Saguaro Sized Chicken

Chickens in the Desert – photo by cogdogblog

If you think summertime heat is uncomfortable for you, imagine being wrapped up in a down comforter and trying to stay cool out in the hot weather.  Your backyard hens are essentially robed in their own down comforters and dealing with the sun blazing down outside on them all day. There are however, some thoughtful and creative ways to keeps your birds cool this time of year.

Chickens of all breeds are susceptible to heat stress and Acidosis whenever the temperatures outside get above the mid-90s.  Heat stress can quickly become severe and kill you birds if you are not paying attention. Similarly, a chicken panting to cool its body off, can cause a ph imbalance in their system and slip into a lethal state of Acidosis.

There are numerous techniques for battling heat stress with your flock.

Bags of Shredded Zucchini That You can Freeze and Feed as Cooling Treat to Hens

Bags of Shredded Zucchini That You can Freeze and Feed as Cooling Treat to Hens

Here are just a few ideas: 1) provide your hens with a shady spot to get out of the sunshine; 2) give your birds cool, fresh water throughout the day; 3) rig up a box fan to provide your flock some relieving air movement; 4) feed your birds frozen treats (such as shredded zucchini); and 5) add an electrolyte solution to your chickens’ water. These are just 5 of the 20 suggested strategies that I discuss at length on today’s episode.

Here are two recipes for homemade electrolyte solutions to enriched your heat stressed hens’ water.  The first recipe comes from GailDamerow’s book, The Chicken Encyclopedia: An Illustrated Reference.

Damerow’s Electrolyte Solution

Take one gallon of clean, cold water.  Add to the water: ½ teaspoon salt substitute; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon table salt; and 1 tablespoon sugar.  Note: Find salt substitute in the spice aisle of most grocery stores.  Give the electrolyte solution for four to six hours each day for a week. Do not give to chickens that are not showing signs of heat stress.

The second homemade chicken electrolyte solution recipe comes from Lisa Steele at Fresh Eggs Daily blog.

Homemade Electrolyte Solution Recipe

1 Cup Water
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
Use full strength on severely ailing chickens, otherwise mix into their drinking water as needed, a cup per gallon of water.  If you are disinclined to make either homemade electrolyte recipe, you can just buy it in a powder form ready to add to water – Milk Products Sav-A-Chick Electrolyte & Vitamin Supplement.  This insta-electrolytes solution you can purchase is really relatively inexpensive.
On this week’s Main Segment, we also discuss which chicken breeds are better suited for hot weather climates.  Though any chicken can be raised anywhere – why not pick birds that will not suffer in the heat and require constant special attention.  I also explain how to treat a severely heat-stressed chicken when minutes count.
In the Chicken News, I discuss a recent list of the top 5 chicken friendly cities in the U.S.  Do you think you have a guess as to which cities made the list?
In Sally’s Sidenotes, I answer Urban Chicken Podcast listener, Matthew Maloney’s question regarding the proper ratio of treat:food for a healthy chicken flock.

 CHICKEN NEWS:

  • Redfin Real Estate Rates Top 5 Chicken Cities in USA ARTICLE
  • Top 5 Pro Backyard Chicken Cities in USA ARTICLE 
  • Austin, TX Urban Chicken Meet-up LINK
  • Madison, WI – Mad City Chickens Group LINK
  • Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh Pro-Poultry People (“P4”) LINK
  • Denver, CO – Urban Homesteading Group LINK

MAIN SEGMENT:

  • Fresh Eggs Daily – Heat, Acidosis & Homemade Electrolyte Recipe ARTICLE 
  • Southern States – Alleviating Heat Stress in Chickens ARTICLE
  • Mother Nature Network – Heat Tolerant Chicken Breeds ARTICLE
  • My Pet Chicken – Heat Tolerant Chicken Breeds ARTICLE
  • My Pet Chicken – Especially Heat Tolerant Breeds LISTING
  • McMurray Hatchery – Suggestions on Heat Tolerant Chicken Breeds ARTICLE
  • TheBackyardChickenFarmer – Heat Stress & Keeping Chickens Cool ARTICLE
  • Mannapro – 8 Tips to Keeping Chickens Cool in Summertime ARTICLE 
  • TNB Ranch – Chickens & Extreme Heat 110+ ARTICLE
  • TNB Ranch – How to Keep Chickens Cool ARTICLE
  • Ferndale Chickens – 17 ways to Keep Your Flock Cool in Hot Weather ARTICLE
  • Poultry One – Heat Health Problems & Keeping Your Chickens Cool ARTICLE
  • Examiner.com – How to Keep Your Chickens Cool in Summer ARTICLE
  • Parsimonious Princess – How Not To Bake Your Hens ARTICLE
  • Win Win Farms – Keeping AZ Hens Cool in the Heat ARTICLE
  • Tips on Keeping Chickens Cool in Hot Weather VIDEO

SALLY’S SIDENOTES:

  • Matt Maloney’s Youtube Channel (OldtimeFreedom) – Video Series “The Chicken Project” — Question about Chicken Treats:Feed proper ratio in week 10 episode VIDEO 

 

 

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