A hen in danger of heat exhaustion will be panting heavily and holding her wings away from her body. She may have a pale wattles and comb, she may be lethargic, limp, or unconscious. A chicken exhibiting these symptoms is in extreme danger of dying from heat stress and needs to be cooled quickly.
To cool down the chicken quickly fill a five gallon bucket or other similar container with tepid water. Submerge the chicken WITH THE HEAD ABOVE THE WATER LINE , and allow the heat to dissipate into the water. This may take some time so stay with the chicken to assure no accidental drownings. You should notice the comb color fade from dark intense red to a milder color.
Special Note - Make sure the temperature of the water is cooler than the ambient air. Keep in mind water in a hose can frequently heat up to an extremely hot temperature.
Keep a careful eye on your chickens during extreme heat warning days. Once they get to a certain point they can quickly go down hill very rapidly.
Once cooled keep them out of the direct sunlight for a few hours. Make sure they are in a location with adequate air flow. And do not give ANY apple cider vinegar this can make the problem much worse and in some cases contribute to heat related illness.
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