Summer Care of Poultry

 Poultry Care in Summer Heat

     When our kids were young, they spent many hours with 4-H club functions. As a poultry, small stock and pet 4-H leader in the rural outskirts of Phoenix, AZ, I soon realized that one of the most challenging requirements for 4-H members was the Record Book.

     Recordkeeping with a record book is a vital part of 4-H. Members learn how to keep track of financial and business matters that coincide with raising, showing, making or creating a 4-H project. 4-H Record Books develop writing and researching skill early in life. The record book is a great tool to improve accounting skills and communication in writing, and recognize life skills and goals learned and developed.

     It takes time to write, record and keep track of project information. It always seems it is just more fun to participate with the “hands on” part of a project, especially if the project involves an animal or pet. In order to get the members writing, we developed a fun , indoor project. Here’s how it works-

Get Them Writing!

1. Leader writes topic sentences (suggestions noted in bold below) and hands out to members. 
2. Members complete the remainder of the paragraph, based on information and knowledge. 
3. Arrange and combined the completed paragraphs to create an article. 
4. The finished project articles can be incorporated into member’s Record Books. NOTE: ours were even used by the local County Extension office and made into a brochure for reference and the local newspaper re-printed it.

     Below is the story created by The Fowl Players, a poultry 4-H group in New River, AZ, originally written in the 1980. The information is still valuable today for anyone raising poultry in areas of high temperatures and summer heat. Note the topic sentences and what the members created. 

     With high temperatures and dry summer months fast approaching, special care should be given to poultry. By following a few simple procedures, you can provide relief for your chickens, turkeys, and other barnyard fowl and help them maintain a regular laying schedule.

Water is the most important and essential nutrient to provide poultry.    
     If the bird does not have water, it will certainly die. In addition to the poultry drinker, it is especially helpful during the summer months, to place a shallow pan filled with cool water in the pen. Your chickens will stand in the water and this will help lower body temperatures as much as ten degrees. Contrary to some beliefs, this will not cause arthritis.
     It is also recommended that pens be sprayed with a fine mist of water during the hottest part of the day. A misting system is ideal. Shallow puddles of water can be created for birds to stand in.  Be sure that the depth of the water does not provide a hazard for bantams or smaller chickens. Also, water dishes and tubs can be a death trap if allowed to become empty. Chickens in search of water may perch on the edge of an empty tub where it can overturn on them, trapping them underneath. Be sure drinking water is changed daily and algae washed from the containers.

Feed should be carefully controlled during the hot summer months. 
     Feeding large amounts of grain is not recommended and can be harmful. Grain causes birds to gain extra weight and makes it hard for them to survive summer heat. Corn is especially high in sugar and can cause excessive weight gain in heavy bodied chickens (Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, etc).  Corn has also been shown to cause chickens with white legs and feathers to take on a yellow hue. This can be a disqualification in the show ring for some varieties of chickens. If you want to feed your birds small amounts of grain, use a hull variety with high protein content like oats, barley or black oil sunflower seeds. Feed these mixed with lay crumble or pellets, rationed one part grain to five parts crumble/pellets. If you prefer, you can feed a mash made with lay feed and water. This aids the bird’s digestion and helps it stay hydrated.  But be careful! Don’t allow the mash to sour or become hot. Feed only what the chickens will eat in about 15-20 minutes, then remove the leftovers.

Proper shade can help save a chicken or turkey’s life.

     One of the best kinds of shade is that of native desert plants. These plants have smaller leaves and help retain cool moisture during the hottest part of the day. You can use take burlap sacks and hang them on pens with lightweight wire or twist ties. Spray the sacks with water and this will help keep fowl cool. Misting systems are ideal in the desert heat. Other forms of shade can be important, even tin or wood can help direct the sun’s rays from directly beaming on the birds.

Metal nest boxes are not recommended.

     Sometimes birds will seek relief from the sun and stay in the box, only to end up dying from heat stroke. Be sure all nest boxes are well ventilated and that the birds leave the box after laying. If a hen goes broody, discourage her by removing her from the nest box, isolating her and keeping her cool – sometimes even immersing her body slowly in water to help cool her. Did you know that when a hen “goes broody” her body temperature can reach 100° or more? This can be excessive during summer months, even causing death when outside temperatures climb.

Egg collection should be done twice a day throughout the summer.

     It is recommended that they collected in the morning and afternoon. If not collected regularly they can spoil quickly, even causing bacteria to grow in the eggs. Remember to always store eggs in the coolest part of the refrigerator (not the door). Be sure to store eggs with the large end up in the carton? This keeps the air cell in place and the yolk centered – helping the eggs retain freshness.  

If all else fails (and you do find a chicken suffering) you may be able to revive it in the following manner:

• Take the bird into the house or other cool spot. 
• Rinse the feet, comb, and face area with cool water. If it wants to drink from your hand, let it.
• Keep the chicken quiet and provide plenty of fresh, cool drinking water and shade. 
• Keep the bird quiet and allow it to rest.
• Watch the bird until signs of relief are seen, but be sure to monitor throughout the rest of the hot, summer months. Signs of heat exhaustion in a chicken or turkey are: panting, wings spread apart and descended from the body, tail drooping and general listlessness.