Keeping chooks cool in hot weather.

Rubbies · **Joined:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:39 pm **Posts:** 1

I just wet down a section of the coop ground I never wet the chooks as I was told it can make them sick with the sudden temp drop

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Rubbies wrote:

I just wet down a section of the coop ground I never wet the chooks as I was told it can make them sick with the sudden temp drop

That's the same advice I was given, never to wet the chooks, I used to spray their faces with a mister, not anymore, now lots of cool water stations.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Brownie wrote:

There seem to be some differences of opinion on whether or not to wet or spray a chook in hot weather. Does anyone know the reasons for that?

Ok =
Now = every person has their own opinions and I have NEVER been backwards coming forward in giving mine =
Resident caffeine deprived grumpy old woman answer of the day =

I don’t recommend wetting down either the birds OR the ground – I believe in cooling the birds with preparation for the hot weather * and adequate shade and ice cold water on the days in question

# Remember the VIC heat waves and fires of 2009 = 35 degrees at night over 4 nights and 45+ degrees each day over 5 days in the NON fire areas hotter the closer you got to the fire affected areas
We were lucky we only got ember attack which we were able to control but (I think in desperation, never experiencing such heat) we stupidly wet our birds and the ground in the pens = they suffered for some time after as we were unaware there was Coccidiosis in the ground before we moved to that place – the heat and wet ‘activated’ the Cocci and abt 50% of our birds contracted it costing them condition and us quite a bit for meds to control it. Luckily there have been no outbreaks in our flock since (fingers crossed as = jinx jinx jinx)
Also = it only takes 3 nights and 4 days of intense heat for all fat deposits in/on your birds to liquefy – this liquefaction causes them to cook internally = they die a slow death of organ failure over a period of days or weeks as a result = search the forum = it is documented, I made SURE of that as I had birds internally cook to death = each one was Postmortemed and the results posted here to help others understand the process of death by liquefaction

* I recommend that birds are fed less grains/pellets and more greens from the beginning of Spring to get the fat off them ready for the heat so the risk of liquefaction is greatly reduced

External methods of cooling birds = use giant iceblocks in their water and ensure adequate shade = the best shade is either shadecloth over the roof of the pen WITH a gap of abt 6inches to allow airflow between OR a 2nd roof with that 6inch gap and shade cloth over that 2nd roof also with a 6inch gap

So from this grumpy old woman = start preparing your birds NOW for the Summer heat

hope this helps someone this Summer

end of rant

Brownie · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:40 pm

Thanks for that soozorps. Grumpy, eh? I didn't notice it :-D

.

1. Liquefaction of chicken fat in in the chooks in extra hot weather makes perfect sense. Chicken fat from cooking has a very low melting temperature and liquifies at room temperature inside in Summer. That explains a lot about the need to keep the girls cool outside. And reducing their body fat by increasing their summer greens makes sense too. Better plant a few extra silverbeet plants in the vegie patch.

2. Wetting the ground activated coccidiosis? I wonder if that's less of a danger for those of us with tractors being moved to fresh ground all the time or is it more of a problem in a fixed pen?

3. Leaving 6" gaps between shadecloth to allow more air movement. That's a good one. I moved the chooks the other warm day from a fenced off spot in the yard with no air movement to the back where there are no fences and a breeze, they stopped panting straight away and came to life so a bit of air movement sure makes a difference. Must remember that even with shadecloth.

Thanks for those good ideas based on your personal experience soozorps. than657

Golden Egg · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 2:22 pm **Posts:** 1

Very very good info here and perfect timing we have had 10 34+ days out of the last 14 so its hot already so looking closely at this topic

[smilie=thanks.gif]

for sharing

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hi, Sue

,

I know this is [smilie=offtopic.gif]

but I don't think you are every grumpy, just full of wonderful advice

I remember Black Saturday and the subsequent bushfires in Victoria 2009 all too well; I don't think that I will ever forget them as long I shall shall live, they have been burnt into my memory

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

PP – you know full well I get grumpy without my caffeine

But = yes we have had many a conversation re keeping birds cool and safe since those damnable fires :evil:

Back on topic =
Brownie – (AND EVERYONE ELSE) too late now to plant and grow out anything in time to reduce fat deposits in anyone’s birds = they need the greens now not in 12 weeks = go to your Green Grocer and buy stuff for them. DO NOT ask for the half rotten throw aways – buy fresh greens – notice the words I used = ‘half rotten throw aways’ think abt that
Re the ground and Cocci – that place was riddled with Cocci = half my pens had dirt floors and the previous owner let their birds run loose so they pooped it out everywhere = it only takes one Oocyst to be ingested for a bird to be infected – I work on the theory that all ground is contaminated now = all my birds are in new pens on deep litter that is on cement flooring – I control their environment as best I can now – obviously all birds were treated BEFORE going into the new pens and closely monitored regardless
Re the 6inch gap = the air in that gap is cooler than the air above the gap making the air below the gap cooler again – simple physics

And – Golden Egg = you are getting that heat so early!!!!!!!!! Blimey!!!!

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:49 am

soozorps wrote:

DO NOT ask for the half rotten throw aways – buy fresh greens – notice the words I used = ‘half rotten throw aways’ think abt that

You know I said the same thing to a young couple that picked up a few pullets last weekend the very same words :shock:

and I am not caffeine deprived [smilie=a_chuckle.gif]

it is SO important to spend a little more to give the chooks quality food and they in return will give you quality eggs and live well.

I love this topic and the contributions are super

LooLoo

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:51 am

P.s I will ask admin to put a copy of the topics highlights in the health knowledge base section I think its important for everyone

LooLoo

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

LooLoo wrote:

soozorps wrote:

DO NOT ask for the half rotten throw aways – buy fresh greens – notice the words I used = ‘half rotten throw aways’ think abt that

You know I said the same thing to a young couple that picked up a few pullets last weekend the very same words :shock:

and I am not caffeine deprived [smilie=a_chuckle.gif]

it is SO important to spend a little more to give the chooks quality food and they in return will give you quality eggs and live well.LooLoo

Wouldn't "the half rotten throw aways" be detrimental for the chookie's health, with all that mould and and bacteria?

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