The mercury is set to rise so the gurls want to explain why the heat is a real danger to them!

Heat stress in chickens is a potential killer and knowing the signs and precautions to take will be a life-saver.

We may not be at Summer temps just yet but it's hot and a good time to check your runs to ensure there is a good provision of cool shade throughout the day somewhere, damp soil and lots of drinkers!!

A chicken's normal body temperature is between 40ºC and 41ºC (104ºF and 107ºF)(1, 3). They don't have sweat glands, so there are limits to a chicken's ability to regulate its body temperature. They rely largely on us humans to provide necessary environmental protection and plenty of FRESH cool water.

In areas of high humidity (above 50%), temperatures above just 20ºC (68ºF) will cause some mild heat stress.

Above 25ºC (77ºF), heat exhaustion will increase rapidly.

At 30ºC (86ºF) the bird will not be able to lose heat fast enough and is likely to suffer a stroke brought on by the heat.

In areas where humidity is not an issue chickens can survive (but not necessarily be comfortable) until the temperature reaches 40ºC (104ºF).

At that point, problems can become severe and quickly lead to heat stroke. And heat stroke in chickens generally proves fatal, if not managed properly. 

It's in those circumstances you should be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and know how to deal with it.

These ten symptoms are given in order of seriousness, 10 being the worst. The further along your flock is, the worse the outcome is likely to be.

1.  Panting

The first and most obvious sign of heat stress.

When the environment is hot the chicken needs to lose heat or its body just keeps heating up. The feathers, which are so efficient at keeping warmth in the body in the winter, also prevent heat escaping in the summer. 

The chicken needs to cool off by evaporation.

Because a chicken has no sweat glands, it loses the water from its respiratory system - in other words it pants to keep cool.

A panting bird will be very obvious - there is no noise coming from its beak, only moist air.

2.  Rapid breathing.

This is related to panting and happens particularly when humidity levels are high.

Because the air the hen is breathing out is full of moisture, it becomes harder to expel it if humidity levels are high. To compensate, the hen's breathing increases from about 20 to as much as 240 breaths per minute.

This then becomes a kind of vicious circle. As breathing becomes quicker, the bird is using up more energy and that itself produces more heat.

So the problem can escalate very, very quickly. You need to cool your hen off and I suggest taking her indoors to a cool room, and stand her in some cool water (not mega cold you don't want to shock her!)

3.  Loss of electrolytes.

This one is the silent killer - it's not something which can be seen, but loss of moisture from the body results in a loss of electrolytes which the chicken needs to remain healthy.

Depletion of electrolytes can cause the kidneys to malfunction, the immune system to weaken and diseases to take hold - in particular respiratory disease.

It also depletes calcium stores, and can create related problems - including soft-shelled eggs (see no. 8 below).

4.  Wings are outstretched and feathers more erect.

This happens as the bird tries to expose more skin to cooler air, rather than have feathers trap the heat.

You'll often see this in hens who are dust-bathing. In lower temperatures birds will just hold the wings out from the body. As temperatures rise it can look as though they're dragging one or both wings on the ground.

5.  The bird stops eating, and drinks large amounts of water. 

A panting bird can't eat as much as it should - it's as simple as that. Chickens (like most animals) tend to eat less in hot weather anyway. But watch out for your feed not being used in anything like the same quantities as usual. And keep an eye on individual birds to make sure they're getting some food.

In terms of drinking

But if your waterers are the more usual type then you will see them empty very rapidly. Chickens who are over-heated will drink somewhere between four and five times their usual amount.

6.  Diarrhoea.

This is directly related to drinking more - the birds' output is likely to be much more liquidy than usual.

Why does this matter? More liquid loss equals yet more electrolyte loss, weakening of the immune system and consequently more susceptibility to disease.

7. The chicken becomes listless, droopy and disinterested.

It's hardly surprising really, is it? Think about how you feel when the weather is very hot.

Your hens are losing electrolytes, not eating much - if anything - and expelling a lot of waste products which are dehydrating them even more.

At this point chickens are certainly showing fairly severe symptoms of heat exhaustion.

8.  Egg production is reduced or stops, and the shells are thinner than usual. By now, the body's balance is disturbed. Food consumption is down, the chicken is working harder to breathe and expelling more waste products than usual. The body needs to use its own stores of protein, fats and carbohydrates to get by. The hen no longer has enough calcium supplies to lay - or if she does, you'll see the number of thin- or soft-shelled eggs increase.

And that, of course, carries its own dangers.

9.  Staggering, disorientation and seizures.

By this stage, a chicken will be very severely dehydrated. Immediate action is required if there is to be any hope of saving her.

The bird's system is collapsing and death will not be far away.

10. Collapse of system and death.

By this stage there is no helping a chicken suffering from heat exhaustion. The loss of water and electrolytes disturbs the chemical balance so badly that the heart and lungs cannot cope and stop functioning.

Clearly, your aim is to look for and treat symptoms long before this point is reached.

So those are the signs, how can you prevent this happening??

Most importantly fresh water daily!! Nice and cold and if you live in an area where it is highly chlorinated, draw it the night before and let it stand to release the chlorine!

Watch your run to see if there are any times when the shade lessens and create a solution from posts and materials to keep an area shaded all day.

Chill blocks in waterers keep the temp down, hens like fresh cold water, make sure nothing can block the flow though.

Apple cider vinegar should be avoided in the very hot weather as it can increase the risk of acidosis, this occurs as hens pant to release heat. The panting causes more CO2 to be produced which upsets the pH in the hens system! ACV can exasperate this condition which can be very dangerous!!

One sign is a purpling of the comb tips! If your hens show this sign you can add bicarb of soda at a 2% ratio to their water. 

If your hens are panting and have their wings out to cool you can also hang a waterer with an electrolyte mix in it. NB don’t give hens the electrolyte if they aren’t showing signs of heat stress!!

Recipe - To 4.5 litres (one gallon) of water, add :

1 tablespoon sugar (I use granulated white sugar, but any will work).

1 teaspoon bicarb of soda

1 teaspoon salt

Have plenty of waterers and make sure they are in the shade!!

Avoid mixed cracked corn as this heats hens up as they try to process it! It is great in the cold weather but unnecessary in the warm!!

Warm weather also brings more flies. Pooh picking a go go and an application of either a natural cleansing spray or a product like Avisafe to keep odours down. Cleanliness is next to Henliness!!

Nobody wants Flystrike!!

Checks your girl’s bottoms and make sure any with dirty ones are monitored!!! Keep them clean and if

you do dampen to clean make sure the feathers are properly dried before letting them out!!

What else.... oh yes warm weather is ideal red mite breeding weather!! Be vigilant and go out at night with a torch to go a hunting for wee blighters!!!

Ongoing monitoring and treatment is necessary to keep these pests away!!!

Cooling, moisture rich treats in the afternoon include lettuce, cucumber, grapes, watermelon, frozen peas and sweetcorn in water etc!!

Take care and feel free to message me if you have any worries xx