[SurreyLass]

Its incredibly hot here today and hot late yesterday and over night.
Yesterday evening I noticed my girls were sort of sticking their wings out from their bodies, and when I went to talk to them, they had their beaks open a bit - are they just hot?

They are behaving normally, and have both laid today, nothing untoward, but today they have also been holding their wings from their bodies and beaks a bit open (not all the time)

Hoping its just them dealing with the heat.

[hillfooter]

Yes this is exactly correct and quite normal.  You can help them with hydration by ensuring they have plenty of clean cool water available in the shade.

If you suspect they need water or the hot spell continues you can always add an electrolyte to their water.

A useful home made one can be made as below.

Dissolve in 3 litres of water

5 ml of Salt substitute, (1 teaspoon of potassium chloride)
7.5 ml (1 and a half teaspoons) of Bicarbarbonate of soda (baking soda)
15 ml (3 teaspoons) salt

Use for 7 - 14 days

If you have a hosepipe or power spray you can spray the roof of their house to cool it down too.

Best wishes
HF

[SurreyLass]

Thanks Hillfooter - just what I needed to read!

Think its cooling down a tad tonight, just great to know for what will hopefully be a nice warm summer (fingers crossed!!!)

[hillfooter]

Aunt Sally has just pointed out a typo in my electrolyte reciepe

1st line should read

"5 ml of Salt substitute, (1 teaspoon of potassium chloride)"

In other words a source of Potassium Chloride is Salt substitute, check the label.

Regards
HF