[Caralou]

Little Treacle-Etta is rather under the weather  I think it is due to the heat as she is a big speckled sussex with a wonderfully full dark coloured feather blanket adding to her overheating! I have checked her over and no mites and she laid a perfect egg yesterday and this morning but her comb has gone very pasty and she is not as energetic or destructive as usual. In fact, she is normally the complainer of the bunch but has been really quiet (Eve is making up for this by screeching instead  ) and is letting me handle her without complaint.

They are all out free ranging as it has been too hot for the run so they have lots of shade, water and shelter already  So, my question is do any of you have some tips for overheating chickens and what to do when they get run down like this?

[AmandaH]

I gave mine a shower!  Put the lawn sprinkler on near the run.  They ran away when it first started but gradually crept back and had a nice cool shower.  Then gave themselves a good shake out and went back to laying in the shade   Think it broke up the monotony of a long hot afternoon though!

[sneezer]

I read on here about someone putting plastic bottles with water in the freezer, then when near frozen put them in the run and their girls laid next to the bottle, lovely and cooling!! I'm going to try this as I have a girl who is behaving like yours and she has a large duvet attatched aswell.

[Silkysmooth]

2 of my chooks have been ill due to the heat but it is much fresher today and they are back to normal.. we're coughing and out of breath before.

[Caralou]

I tried the water sprinkler but the ducks just budged the chooks out of the way and sat under it instead  They do however love frozen bottles of water and I added ice cubes and acv to the drinker to keep it nice and cool and to encourage them and they have been drinking even more from it which is helping. Today is cooler and she seems more her usual self - at least she screeched at me to be fed treats so must be better 

[compostqueen]

I made my hens a paddling pool but they wouldn't use it. Ingrates 

[Celtic Eagle]

I made my hens a paddling pool but they wouldn't use it. Ingrates 

We would never have got Star out of there she loves paddling sure she  thinks she's a duck