07/15/2026
Urgent Poultry Project Alert
To everyone with chickens at the fair:
This afternoon we lost three birds to the extreme heat. We likely would have lost another if we had not intervened immediately by giving it a cool water bath to bring its core body temperature down.
We also had to cool several birds that were on one of the back tables where there was very little airflow. We shared this information with other clubs and advised them to do the same if they noticed birds showing signs of heat stress.
When we left, all of the birds were doing much better, but the next few days are going to be critical.
For Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, you will need to:
Give your birds cool water baths as needed—possibly up to four times a day during the hottest part of the day.
Make sure they have plenty of fresh, cool water available at all times.
Check that your birds are getting adequate airflow. You should be able to see their feathers moving from the air coming across them. If they are not getting air movement, ask them to be relocate or add small fans to the cages if possible.
This is not optional. With the temperatures we are experiencing, these extra measures are necessary to keep your birds from suffering heat stress, which can quickly become fatal.
Please check your birds frequently throughout the day. A few minutes of attention can save their lives. Please pass this information on to other clubs if your seeing a heat stressed bird.
