Heat stress is a very serious situation for chickens and can quickly go from serious to deadly. Even when pulling out all the stops to keep our chickens safe in the heat, according to Gail Damerow in The Chicken Encyclopedia, “During long periods of extreme heat, hens stop laying and all chickens suffer stress. When temperatures reach 104° F (40° C) or above, chickens can’t lose excess heat fast enough to maintain a proper body temperature and may die.”

Lucy has her wings spread away from her body in an effort to allow air to circulate closer to her body.Lucy has her wings spread away from her body in an effort to allow air to circulate closer to her body.

Among the many ways to combat heat stress that I covered in my blog post Beat the Heat, is supplementing their drinking water with electrolytes. I recommend keeping vitamins and electrolytes handy in a well stocked chicken first aid kit, but in an emergency, it is possible to make electrolytes with ingredients commonly found in most homes.

In temps over 90°F, keep a bucket of cool water near the chickens at all times for emergency cooling.
The orange bucket is kept full of cool water in case of emergency.

The mister was a bargain at less than ten dollars and keeps the surrounding area cool.

In temperatures over 90° F, keep a bucket or tub full of cool, water (not cold) near the flock at all times. If anyone begins to look overheated, panting, wings away from its sides, droopy, lethargic or pale in the wattles and comb, IMMEDIATELY submerge in the cool water up to its neck to bring its body temperature down. This simple measure can be lifesaving. Even if chickens are not in danger, this can be a welcome relief to chickens that would not voluntarily wade into water.

A dehydrated chicken may exhibit any or all of the following symptoms, which could result in death:

  • panting or labored breathing
  • pale comb and/or wattles
  • spreading wings away from body
  • diarrhea
  • lethargy
  • limpness
  • unresponsive
  • seizures,convulsions

Heat stress and dehydration deplete the body of electrolytes required for a chicken’s normal body functioning, therefore replenishing them is a priority when chickens suffer from heat stress and/or dehydration. The following instructions for making a homemade electrolyte solution can be found in The Chicken Encyclopedia.

While we're on the topic of heat advisories, it bears repeating that while apple cider vinegar is beneficial to to chickens when added to their water most times of the year, BUT ACV should NOT be added to waterers during times of high heat.

HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION

INGREDIENTS

1/2 teaspoon potassium chloride (Morton salt substitute) (If you don’t have it, omit it)
1 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
1 teaspoon sodium chloride (table salt)
1 tablespoon sucrose (sugar)
1 gallon water

Administer this solution to dehydrated chickens in place of drinking water for four to six hours per day for a week, offering fresh water for the remainder of each day.”

ADVISORY: Electrolytes should not be given to healthy chickens who are not suffering from heat stress or dehydration.

Electrolyte ice for heat stress in chickens

Mix up electrolytes in drinker & freeze overnight for a cold way to restore electrolyte balance in birds suffering from heat stress.

While we’re on the topic of heat advisories, it bears repeating that vinegar should NOT be added to drinking water during times of high heat. According to Dr. Mike Petrik, DVM, MSc, a poultry veterinarian,  “Acidified water affects laying hens by making the calcium in her feed a little less digestible (based on chemistry….calcium is a positive ion, and dissociates better in a more alkaline environment). Professional farmers regularly add baking soda to their feed when heat stress is expected….this maintains egg shell quality when hens’ feed consumption drops due to the heat.”

In summary, during high heat conditions, baking soda facilitates calcium absorption while ACV inhibits it. SKIP the ACV in the heat, opting for an electrolyte solution instead.

In summary, during high heat conditions, baking soda facilitates calcium absorption while vinegar inhibits it.  SKIP the vinegar in the heat, opting for an electrolyte solution instead.

Hens standing in water from a sprinkler in hot weather. | The Chicken Chick®

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Heat stress is a very serious situation for chickens and can quickly go from serious to deadly. Even when pulling out all the stops to keep our chickens safe in the heat, according to Gail Damerow in The Chicken Encyclopedia, “During long periods of extreme heat, hens stop laying and all chickens suffer stress. When temperatures reach 104° F (40° C) or above, chickens can’t lose excess heat fast enough to maintain a proper body temperature and may die.”

Lucy has her wings spread away from her body in an effort to allow air to circulate closer to her body.Lucy has her wings spread away from her body in an effort to allow air to circulate closer to her body.

Among the many ways to combat heat stress that I covered in my blog post Beat the Heat, is supplementing their drinking water with electrolytes. I recommend keeping vitamins and electrolytes handy in a well stocked chicken first aid kit, but in an emergency, it is possible to make electrolytes with ingredients commonly found in most homes.

In temps over 90°F, keep a bucket of cool water near the chickens at all times for emergency cooling.
The orange bucket is kept full of cool water in case of emergency.

The mister was a bargain at less than ten dollars and keeps the surrounding area cool.

In temperatures over 90° F, keep a bucket or tub full of cool, water (not cold) near the flock at all times. If anyone begins to look overheated, panting, wings away from its sides, droopy, lethargic or pale in the wattles and comb, IMMEDIATELY submerge in the cool water up to its neck to bring its body temperature down. This simple measure can be lifesaving. Even if chickens are not in danger, this can be a welcome relief to chickens that would not voluntarily wade into water.

A dehydrated chicken may exhibit any or all of the following symptoms, which could result in death:

  • panting or labored breathing
  • pale comb and/or wattles
  • spreading wings away from body
  • diarrhea
  • lethargy
  • limpness
  • unresponsive
  • seizures,convulsions

Heat stress and dehydration deplete the body of electrolytes required for a chicken’s normal body functioning, therefore replenishing them is a priority when chickens suffer from heat stress and/or dehydration. The following instructions for making a homemade electrolyte solution can be found in The Chicken Encyclopedia.

While we're on the topic of heat advisories, it bears repeating that while apple cider vinegar is beneficial to to chickens when added to their water most times of the year, BUT ACV should NOT be added to waterers during times of high heat.

HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION

INGREDIENTS

1/2 teaspoon potassium chloride (Morton salt substitute) (If you don’t have it, omit it)
1 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
1 teaspoon sodium chloride (table salt)
1 tablespoon sucrose (sugar)
1 gallon water

Administer this solution to dehydrated chickens in place of drinking water for four to six hours per day for a week, offering fresh water for the remainder of each day.”

ADVISORY: Electrolytes should not be given to healthy chickens who are not suffering from heat stress or dehydration.

Electrolyte ice for heat stress in chickens

Mix up electrolytes in drinker & freeze overnight for a cold way to restore electrolyte balance in birds suffering from heat stress.

While we’re on the topic of heat advisories, it bears repeating that vinegar should NOT be added to drinking water during times of high heat. According to Dr. Mike Petrik, DVM, MSc, a poultry veterinarian,  “Acidified water affects laying hens by making the calcium in her feed a little less digestible (based on chemistry….calcium is a positive ion, and dissociates better in a more alkaline environment). Professional farmers regularly add baking soda to their feed when heat stress is expected….this maintains egg shell quality when hens’ feed consumption drops due to the heat.”

In summary, during high heat conditions, baking soda facilitates calcium absorption while ACV inhibits it. SKIP the ACV in the heat, opting for an electrolyte solution instead.

In summary, during high heat conditions, baking soda facilitates calcium absorption while vinegar inhibits it.  SKIP the vinegar in the heat, opting for an electrolyte solution instead.

Hens standing in water from a sprinkler in hot weather. | The Chicken Chick®
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Smoeller
Smoeller
6 years ago

Can you make this in recipe bulk and add 5.5 tsp of dry ingredients/gallon of water?

Smoeller
Smoeller
Reply to  Kathy, The Chicken Chick®
6 years ago

How often is it safe to use for heat stress? We’ve already had days near 100* and I’ve given them electrolytes each of the last 3 afternoons. Am I causing them more harm?

Janice Rogan
Janice Rogan
6 years ago

Concerning the 4-6 hour time period for using the electrolytes, is it better to give in the morning as a kind of heat-stress prevention, or to wait until afternoon when they are actually hot and panting?

TheChickenChick
9 years ago

Broody hens MUST be protected from the elements. If you cannot bring them into cooler temps, let them out.

Hannah Giandomenico
Hannah Giandomenico
9 years ago

Hi, I have two broody hens, and it's going to be 40 degrees celcius tomorrow. They r both in a wire cage, Im trying to break their broodiness. Im worried that the metal will heat up quickly, and because they r broody, they will really feel the heat. What can I do to make them more comfortable until they've been broken from their broodiness?

Feeling Bad Chicken Momma
Feeling Bad Chicken Momma
9 years ago

Thanks for the info. They are happy and healthy now. Let's hope they somehow turn around and start laying again. Fingers crossed.