Over the last few weeks I’ve been meticulous about trying to keep the chicks as cool as possible - on that 40 degree day, they all struggled a little. But I’ve been changing water, putting ice cubes in the water, moving and creating shade throughout the day, freezing some treats for them, but on the hottest of days they have had their wings out and mouths open…but they have been ok.
if I am home, I check on them throughout the day, today I noticed that one had been in the coop for an hour (this one hasn’t laid for months, she’s an ex bat, who has had some health issues). It seems she must have decided she wanted to lay, gone in and she’s been overwhelmed by the heat (wooden coop too). She was breathing heavily and quite noisily. Anyway scooped her out into shade, sat her in a shallow tray of water (not freezing) and dribbled some water over her back and neck). She’s recovered fine, but if I hadn’t have got to her, I think it would have been a different story…so just a warning to keep an eye on them.