Hothouse hens

Summer is coming and it’s time to think about heat-proofing the henhouse. Last January, high temperatures were especially challenging and, if future summers are as hot, we will need to make changes.

Once temperatures exceed 40°C, losses from heat prostration are likely. During one very hot week when henhouse temperatures reached almost 47°C, fowls and turkeys collapsed and died.

Whether you keep six, 16 or 60 birds, there are steps that can be taken to make heatwave care less demanding. Unfortunately, there isn’t a single solution. Apply the measures that are achievable and, hopefully, the outcome will be better for birds and their keepers.

WHICH BREED?

There is great variation in how different breeds handle the heat. If your heart is set on the large, heavily