Backyard chickens are dying due to the summer’s extreme heat

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - Record-breaking temperatures in Nevada this summer have proven deadly for pets and humans.

KVVU reports the heat has killed a number of backyard chickens.

Rusty and Dusty and the rest of the chicken clan living in Linzy Stahl’s backyard in Las Vegas are not very fond of the high temperatures.

Stahl said the chickens are not stepping on egg shells to let you know they are hot.

“They will pant very heavily, almost like a gasp. Sometimes they will open their mouths. Sometimes they will hold their wings out to cool themselves,” Stahl said.

Stahl has a range of chickens and turkeys. Three of them have died from the intense heat.

“I have never lost chickens like we did this year,” Stahl said. “We spend a lot of time out here with them to see them in distress, and to lose them, it is heartbreaking.”

Since most of her chickens come from out of state, not all of them can tolerate the heat.

The chickens with the most feathers can’t cool off easily, so after the three chickens died, Stahl had a swamp cooler installed outside their coop.

It did not take long for the chickens to flock to it after it was installed.

Stahl said the chickens also get frozen watermelon treats to cool off along with cold water to drink and stand in.

The chickens also get minerals in their water and sometimes have to be brought inside and put in a dog kennel until they are healthy enough to go back outside.

Stahl stresses it is important for chicken owners to know what to do to prevent heat stress on chickens.

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