Helping chickens recover from the heat is vital for their health and overall wellness. Late summer and early autumn is usually when the most heat-related chicken deaths occur, but by following these eight tips, you can give your flock the nutrients they need to survive the final dog days of summer.
#1 Boost Recovery with Life-Saving Electrolytes
Adding electrolytes to their drinking water can go a long way to helping chickens recover from the heat. Serving chickens electrolytes works to replace those lost in their bodies during the course of the summer.
Unlike humans, chickens don’t sweat and lose their electrolytes through panting. When a chicken pants, the pH levels in their body are disrupted. This disruption causes a loss of electrolytes, resulting in possible heat-related illnesses.
While chickens may benefit from electrolytes at other times of the year, helping chickens recover from the heat is the number one reason backyard chicken keepers rely on them for their flock’s health.
Electrolytes can be purchased at a farm supply store, or you can make your own using the recipe below.
Homemade Electrolytes
Ingredients
- gallon water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Bring one cup of water to a boil. Stir in sugar, baking soda, and salt until dissolved. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature. Mix homemade electrolytes into the remaining gallon of water.
Be sure to serve plain water alongside the electrolyte mixture, as some chickens do not enjoy the taste and may refuse to drink. Refresh with clean water after twelve hours.
#2 Strengthen Gut Health with Probiotics
Helping chickens recover from the heat means more than replacing what their bodies have lost; it’s also about keeping their bodies in tiptop condition.
During the hot summer months when temperatures and humidity levels soar, bacteria, fungi, and mold levels are also on the rise. While most times, a chicken’s body can fight off these infections themselves, adding some probiotics to your flock’s diet will help boost their immune system and fight off seasonal health problems.
Heat stress and other heat-related illnesses can also take a toll on a chicken’s gut health, so it’s important to do what we can to help keep our flocks’ guts healthy. Adding probiotics to your flock’s diet will improve overall gut health and also help to combat other common diseases, including coccidiosis.
#3 Keep Chickens Cool with Fresh Water
Providing your chickens with fresh, cool water is the best way to help your chickens recover from the heat. Like all living things, chickens need water to stay hydrated, survive, and lay eggs. Going without access to water for even a few hours can severely impact egg production, so be sure to provide layers with plenty of water to maintain good production.
Chickens do not like the taste of warm water, so be sure to place water founts out of direct sunlight. Adding additional water founts to the coop and run throughout the summer and into the autumn months is another good idea to ensure all flock members are staying hydrated.
#4 Support Flock Health with Quality Feed
Feeding your flock a good, nutrient-rich feed is essential to keeping them healthy year-round, and especially when helping chickens recover from the heat. As temperatures soar, it isn’t uncommon for chickens to consume less feed, so providing a high-quality feed will help replenish their bodies from the stress of heat and egg production.
Choose a feed specific to your flocks’ needs, i.e., layer, broiler, etc. Select a feed that contains prebiotics, probiotics, beneficial yeast, North American grains, and is vegetarian-based (excluding probiotics).
Always purchase chicken feed from a feedstore versus a farm supply store to ensure the freshest, most nutrient-packed feed.
#5 Use Fennel for Heat Relief and Egg Benefits
Fennel is my go-to herb for helping chickens recover from the heat. The neat thing about fennel is that not only does it benefit chickens, but studies suggest that chickens that consume fennel may lay eggs with less cholesterol. Making them healthier for you, too.
Fennel helps combat heat stroke and is also considered anticoccidiosis (a common occurrence in backyard coops during hot, humid summers). The entire plant is edible, including the bulb; however, the seeds are reported to have the most health benefits for chickens.
Another plus to fennel is that chickens seem to enjoy the taste of this fragrant herb and will eat the plant and seeds free choice.
#6 Offer Hydrating Summer Treats
Helping your chickens recover from the heat isn’t just about providing them with feed and water. In fact, feeding your chickens a hydrated treat is another way to help your flock beat the heat by providing some extra nutrients when feed consumption is down.
Watermelon, zucchini, cucumbers, peas, grapes, and berries all contain high water content and are excellent treat choices during the final dog days of summer. While healthy in moderation, keep treat intake to no more than ten percent of your flock’s daily diet.
#7 Cool Chickens Naturally with Peppermint
Adding some fresh peppermint leaves or brewed peppermint tea to your flock’s water can help prevent heat stress and other heat-related illnesses.
Peppermint is excellent at helping chickens recover from the heat, and is safe for chickens of all ages. This sweet-smelling herb has cooling properties to lower your flock’s body temperatures, and also works to strengthen weak eggshells.
#8 Parsley: A Vitamin-Rich Herb for Helping Chickens Recover from the Heat
High in vitamins and minerals, it’s no wonder parsley is one of the best herbs for helping chickens recover from the heat.
Parsley is a poultry super herb, and contains vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K, and minerals calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc.
This watery herb is a favorite among chickens, and some hens will even eat it straight out of your hand.
Helping Chickens Recover From the Heat: Final Thoughts
Helping chickens recover from the heat is critical for your flock’s health and longevity. Providing your flock with good nutrition and plenty of hydration can help lessen the chances of heat stress and other heat-related illnesses during the final days of summer.
This article about helping chickens recover from the heat was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. Click here to subscribe.
