Save Chickens from Overheating

Heat stress can be a real problem on farm. It's mid-July as I publish this video and the temperatures are set to be in the mid to high 90s all week. Our humidity is really high as well. All that makes for stressed out broiler chickens.
If the birds are stressed they're not eating and they're more likely to develop health issues and/or die. I made this video because I heard this advice somewhere and I don't think it's something everyone might think of right away. This is one of the ways I keep my mortality down on hot days. It makes your birds happy, it saves lives, and it's kind of fun to do.
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p.s. Hi Heather! Hope this helps with you broilers.

[@wifemamateacher]

You may have just save our first batch of broilers from perishing as a whole! We have been checking them each day mid afternoon and refilling their watering buckets, but today when we went out after dinner time, three were dead, and the other 40+ looked and sounded horrible. In an almost frantic effort to find help, I googled "chickens overheating", and your video came up! Having watched many of your videos before and finding them helpful, I clicked to watch. We then immediately followed your advice, and all but one perked right back up and have managed to pull through! Our butcher date was three days from today, but we moved it to tomorrow to beat the heat and humidity this week is forecasted to have, and butchered the poor little guy who was barely hanging on tonight, so all is well! THANK YOU!!!

[@rcelkins75]

John, I really enjoy watching your videos. I started raising chickens about five years ago am currently on my forth set of 40 Cornish X. We keep around 30-40 laying hens of various breeds. In Louisiana, your 92 degrees has come and gone. We hit 92 by 9 AM on average this time of year. Just two weeks ago I built a misting system with 12 size #3 misting nozzles and 1/2" sch 40 pipe/fittings. With your setup, giving that you have running water already available at the site, it wouldn't be hard to set up a simple, cheap system that you could move daily with your tractors. For my laying hens, I have found that they will now chill out in the corner that I have set up during the hot hours of the day. We only run the system from noon till about 6 PM. I didn't buy the expensive "pre-made" fittings you can find online. I just drilled 1/2" couplings and screwed the nozzles in them. It works really well. I haven't actually checked it yet, but the site I bought the nozzles from says the output is 1/2 gallon/hour per nozzle.Sorry for the long post, but I thought you would enjoy. Have a great day. Again, great videos.Casey

[@tkomla]

great idea! thanks for posting :-)

[@rcelkins75]

You're very welcome.

[@waltlars3687]

I set My misters up on a sprinkler timer I am working on putting a temperature controler in the system to automate it

[@mariemin946]

Hey Thanks for the extra info ! I live in Louisiana as well and was concerned about the extreme summer heat. We are trying to get set up with a few new baby chicks.

[@texartisanstudios]

Thanks! We are about to go into several weeks of 100 degree weather here in Texas. My first little 10 chickens were introduced to their coop yesterday. And this afternoon they all were really heat stressed. Every little lady was panting. I put out a bowl of ice water with some frozen water melon and put my water hose on the mist setting. They cooled off a bit and started to act like chickens. This totally works. I go out about once an hour from 2-5 and mist them. Gosh it is so hot here, I am going to have to keep an eye on them for the rest of the heat wave. This is an easy and great solution! Thanks for posting!

[@tomfernjerrypita9876]

I live in Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean... today I lost 12 birds to heat stroke...I didnt know what to do... glad I saw your video but I also think I got to invest in radiant barrier

[@sacadosify]

I've been doing this with my Wyandottes during our current heatwave. Spraying the ground where they like to hang out us very helpful, too. I have also been told to feed them some watermelon and rolled oats. The oats are supposed to help lower their body temperature. The watermelon is of course cool and a good source of liquid.

[@cheriettejackson4248]

Great idea...I had always assumed that birds did not like to get wet, but if it's a gentle spray, looks like it works! Cornish X is one type of bird you don't need to get stressed!

[@farmmarketing]

They're not in love with getting wet but they look so much happier afterwards when they've cooled down.

[@nanashikenki]

thanks im not that new at rising chickens its that we are having heatwaves here in Puerto Rico for thr first time in history this idea helped a lot so thanks a bunch my chicks looked really hot they had their wings ans mouths open i have never seen my hens like that before so this helped a bunch thanks!!!!

[@vh2337]

Here in NorCal it averages about 105 in the summer where I am so I installed a mister because my coop and run are close to a hose bib. It's really helped to keep them cool. They pass through it to go from the run to under the coop where they dig holes and chill out. Best $20 investment for them. I also give them frozen blueberries, melons and ice with corn frozen in it.

[@punkyroo]

THIS ACTUALLY WORKS! My Cornish X were suffering in our abnormally hot summer. They are just laying around, panting. SO I gently misted them with the hose and they immediately got back up and started eating! :O

[@punkyroo]

Next summer I may need to hook-up and automatic chicken mister. :)

[@farmmarketing]

Glad to hear this is working. It's definitely helping my birds. Keep in mind with an automatic mister that the water in the lines is going to heat up during the day. You'll need to purge the lines before you mist the birds otherwise you'll be misting with hot water.

[@onlinediggerph6051]

John Suscovich by doing this, does the chicken will not get sick when they are get wet? I was thinking installing mist system but a bit hesitant... Thanks

[@tkomla]

Really appreciate your videos. Always of value, always worthwhile to take the time to view. Thanks so much.

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks Tamar

[@tuubydude]

With this heat wave, my chickens are very red around the eyes and comb, wattles, etc. and panting. I give them refrigerated blueberries and it is amazing how quickly the redness goes away. It all turns a pale pink and no more panting.

[@farmmarketing]

Great job spoiling those birds, haha. I love eating frozen blue berries. Good tip.

[@pamelamayfield7496]

This is great ! I do a mister on my birds and my pigs when it is so hot , I turn on the hose and they love it !

[@farmmarketing]

The pigs especially love it!

[@debrahromeo8961]

Thank You for the advice.I will use it.

[@johnwadsworth7086]

great idea I thought about it but you confirmed it also there are some bushes my chickens and turkeys like to lay under so we spray the bushes cooling the ground so it's nice and cool in there

[@farmmarketing]

That's a good idea!

[@aviewisaview]

I love the rooster at the end.lol. Thumbs up and shared.

[@antoniofernandez9902]

great idea I'm gonna do that for my roosters and hens

[@johnmmcalhany6091]

lol "... don't hose down the birds interrogation style.." bahahaha I love your channel!!

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks John

[@enod9746]

You think 92 degrees Fahrenheit is hot? We had 39 degrees celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) here in my farm in Nigeria. We have to dissolve ice blocks in water and also occasionally spray them an ice cold mist along with two fans to keep the temperatures down and keep them cooled up. We still lost about 1% of the birds.

[@KaleidoscopeJunkie]

I use to drive by a chicken shipping center. During the summer they had 20 foot tall fan/mist machines covering the cages while waiting for a driver. (Maybe waiting until evening to transport?)

[@mail2pradeepbabu]

restrict access to feed during midday in summer.. buttermilk in the morning will give some relief from heat..

[@kyleemowry2662]

I unfortunately lost my chicken from the heat so I put a sprinkle connected to a house on a low level right next to the cage so the chickens will stay cooled down

[@brookiecookie0817]

THANK YOU U SAVED MY BABY

[@tilauncensored6799]

this is cool I tried this with my city chickens and they don't like it lol they run from me and the water haha but what they do like is cold treats... I make a treat for them every day.... such as cooked rice but left in fridge over night some times I freeze It and they peck away... by the time I am home from work it is gone. I also feed them frozen watermelon, melon, mango's scrapes... regardless when u do this I get giant eggs I take that as a thank you =) but I will spray them generally next time and see if they get used to it =)

[@jennapicard6892]

I have 3 different pens of tons of chickens well not a lot but when I go in two of the pens the come and sit on me and the other one they run but most of them are roosters because I bring my dog if the Attack me she will scare them

[@alexanderlapp4163]

Cool treats for chickens. interesting idea.

[@tilauncensored6799]

ANIMAL EXTRA FUN that is awesome... Well I have 12 chickens in my backyard =) living the city life along with my cats and dogs... I wish I could have as many as you and more than anything a rooster but since I am in the city I can't =) also they are finally letting me touch them because they started laying eggs but before it was a nightmare trying to catch one lol chickens can fly for sure haha learned the hard way 😂😀😁😂 n you are lucky your dogs attack them lol my dogs run the opposite way 😢 lol my dogs are supper sweet I have even helped bunnies before and my dogs never attacked the bunny that's how could they are =)

[@tilauncensored6799]

Alexander Lapp thank you Alexander I just needed something that they could play with so why not make their food a game... U get treats when y finish packing this tall piece of ice lol i love freezing canned corn =) they love that during the winter you should try giving them some warm oatmeal they love that I am weird u treat my animals as if they are my kids even the chickens lol

[@jennapicard6892]

+tila uncensored I have like 40 lol

[@CiecieNewson]

Awe, of course, you have a doggie. And a black lab, one of the sweetest varieties. Your lip is healing nicely. Sorry, I just couldn't watch the update in full. I just kept seeing the wood stick/sword whacking you and how much pain that must have been. I totally understand you not wanting to film due to it. | Awe, bird shower. Double benefit too with them eating from the cool down. ~Smile!

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks for your concern Ciecie, my lip is healing nicely. I'll often turn the hose around when I'm misting the birds and mist the farmer! Everyone appreciates some cool water on a hot day.

[@chibuzoezegwu2530]

is this not going to be a problem when the floor and droppings get wet to breed warms?

[@majedal-khulaifi7129]

can broilers live in 115 Fahrenheits with using shad and van and cold water? thx pls help

[@mjf719]

For someone raising chickens in South Florida, would you suggest raising them during the winter? Our highs in the winter are typically in the upper 60s and low 70s and our lows, on average are in the 50s and maybe 40s. We have extremes in either direction at times, but usually those are the temps. Otherwise, the rest of the year, we have highs in the 80s and 90s.

[@farmmarketing]

they'd be a little happier in the less extreme times for sure, broilers really hate the high heat and humidity

[@uncletry4945]

Giving the refrigerated water works?

[@enscribe]

Great tip! My hens like a gentle misty rain here in the PNW, even if it's not hot. I'd like to see what your hops are doing right now, Are they starting to flower yet? There are not many vids on hops mid season.

[@farmmarketing]

I'll make a video. They have started to flower. I have a potato leaf hopper problem but other than that they're not bad this year.

[@juleejames9977]

Cool chicks - great idea!

[@chapplin1236]

I do that for my cocktail with a water bottle during summer

[@farmmarketing]

And just spray it right in your mouth? What's your cocktail of choice?

[@markgiltayag8145]

hello sir,im from philippines..how many times you shower your chicken?

[@s.g8913]

Thank you for the great info!

[@farmmarketing]

No prob Sara

[@breezyleigh4956]

Another trick to help in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/r56QcoqVr9aJicU

[@ladyeclectic]

I see you also have a plastic tub of water in the background, is this another way to cut the heat or did it serve another purpose?

[@boblawson508]

John, when are you going to publish your revised chicken tractor design?

[@farmmarketing]

Comes out on Amazon on August 17th, 2016. It will also be available on FarmMarketingSolutions.com after that. I'm pretty excited!

[@Bryant61786]

So is the concept to just spray them when they are laying down and not eating? Or spray them regardless a certain amount of times a day with how much time in between for a rule of thumb?

[@farmmarketing]

Good question. I'd spray them if they're looking really heat stressed. I typically only do it when it's really hot and if the birds look stressed out. Usually around 1-2pm. After that usually the sun won't be as strong by the time they dry off.

[@onedazinn998]

Great idea John. Do you mist your layers too or just the meat birds that don't have much feathers? I'm wondering if I should mist my layers to keep them cooler. Thanks for the video. ;)

[@farmmarketing]

I have misted the layers before but I typically just do the broilers. The laying hens tend to be a little heartier and can stand the heat a little better. The broilers tend to die a little faster in the heat so they get more attention.

[@onedazinn998]

:) thanks for responding back John :) I made them a little tub with bricks to stand on if they get overheated.

[@scottrossgirvan8009]

Viral tip.

[@SquirrelRun]

I wonder, here in KY with the high humidity and heat indices, would you need to just do this once a day or several times a day?

[@farmmarketing]

On the really really hot days I do it a couple times. At most 3 times, usually just the once.

[@SquirrelRun]

Thanks John!

[@chevy6299]

COOL !!! Pun intended.

[@uncletry4945]

92 😂 OK

[@rumrunner1820]

Is the overheating only a problem with breeds like the Cornish cross?

[@waltlars3687]

it is if you have Temps much over 80°F were are going over 100 here today

[@farmmarketing]

It can happen to any bird. They all get hot. You just have to go out and see how your birds look and make a judgement call.

[@farmmarketing]

yikes!

[@rumrunner1820]

+John Suscovich Thanks man. I appreciate the vids and am pumped to see your new tractor.

[@lepkiromek]

how long do you grow them, how big they are when you kill them

[@waltlars3687]

Cornish cross generally are ready to be processed in 7-8 weeks they bred to grow fast pretty much after 8 weeks they start to have heath problems and death rate goes up

[@farmmarketing]

Like Walt said, I raise them to about 8 weeks. They usually average out to a 4-5lb finished carcass weight.

[@lepkiromek]

thanks you guys

[@entertainmentahead8076]

92°celsius 😱😱😱😱wtf..i thought arabian countries are most hot countryies

[@gasca4906]

shadow fight 2 it’s actually 92° Fahrenheit Fahrenheit is different to Celsius.

[@memoiories]

92 😂 that's a joke

[@alexsandrashipley7507]

Quién me traduce lo q dice? KSKFKWKX

[@Classic.Car.Restorations.]

Dude looks like you landed on your face..... what happened ?

[@ausPPC]

Pluck before roasting.