How to Care for Chickens During Wildfires by Kaylee Vaughn
If you currently live in the Western United States, you are most likely dealing with the effects of wildfires. I am lucky to live in an area that is not directly threatened by the fires, but we are experiencing very smoky conditions! According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), our air quality dipped into the purple category today, which signals very unhealthy conditions.
It’s important to remember that smoky conditions can be just as miserable for our chickens and livestock. Smoke is largely composed of water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, toxins and particulate matter. The EPA’s Air Quality Index is actually measuring particulate matter in the air, which can be harmful to both people and animals. Smoke inhalation can cause irritation to eyes, throat and nose. You may also notice that the air feels “heavy” or that it’s difficult to take a deep breath. Reduced oxygenation can cause light-headedness, dizziness and even nausea.
As smoky conditions increase, it is important to remember that our animals can also suffer from smoke inhalation. Outdoor animals are particularly at risk since they are in the smoky environment all day and all night. Since wildfire season can range from several weeks to months, it is important to proactively ensure that our chickens are as protected as possible. These tips are geared towards chickens, but the principles can be applied to any livestock.
Five Steps to Keep Chickens Healthy During Smoky Conditions:
Provide fresh water often
One of the most important things you can do to ensure your chickens stay healthy during smoky conditions is to provide as much clean, fresh water as possible. Fresh water will help to moisten airways and wash particulate matter away from the chicken’s beak and nostrils. Change the water often, to ensure that it is clean and free of toxins. We have noticed a large accumulation of film building up on our chicken’s water due to the smoke.
Keep food and environment dust-free
Try to reduce any unnecessary dust that may be lurking in your chicken’s food or environment. Dusty conditions will further decrease air quality. If your feed is grainy or dusty, it may be a good time to ferment it. Fermented feed offers additional moisture, and it increases the bioavailability of nutrients. Providing extra nutrients is very important to combat the stress and fatigue caused by smoky conditions. Try to avoid dusty bedding material. It is also best to avoid changing bedding (unless absolutely needed) due to the amount of dust that is created by raking, shoveling, and replacing the bedding.
Limit activity, if possible
Your chickens will most likely limit their physical activity during smoky conditions, which is perfectly natural and actually beneficial. Allow your chickens to rest and conserve energy. You may need to consider providing free range chickens with extra feed. This will help reduce the amount of physical exertion that is needed when searching and hunting for food.
Watch for signs of respiratory distress
Monitor your chickens closely for respiratory distress and other health problems when conditions are smoky. Signs of respiratory distress can include wheezing, difficulty breathing, pale comb, discharge from nose or eyes and lethargy or fatigue. If you see consistent signs of respiratory distress, it is advisable to separate the effected bird, as infection can spread quickly. If signs continue or worsen, contact your avian veterinarian to develop a treatment plan. It is also important to continue monitoring animals after smoky conditions have improved because it can take several weeks for animals to fully recover.
Monitor conditions on a daily basis and make changes as needed
One of the best things you can do to protect your animals during wildfire season is to trust your intuition! If you feel that conditions are worsening, if ash begins to fall, or if your animals are showing symptoms of distress, move them into a covered or indoor area if possible. A barn, garage or shed could be good options to provide temporary relief from smoky conditions.
4 Comments
Smaller flocks can come in the house! Sadly, I’m down to 3 ladies (almost 10 years old) but I’ve had 6 inside when the smoke got bad. I put them into a puppy pen in my living room. I know others will keep theirs in the bathroom. We went through a lot of paper towels and they weren’t particularly happy about the confinement but it was much safer for my beloved pets. And, they got a lot of lap time which they loved. I also gave them some toys and special treats to play with including live mealworms. My 3 are in the house right now due to smoke from the British Columbia wildfires blowing into Western Washington. Thanks for your post! I was looking for more helpful ideas and these are great!
Is it safe to eat eggs from chickens who’ve been exposed to contaminated air from wild fires?
Any thoughts on draping the coop in wet sheets as a sort of filter? Right now my six birds are free ranging, but I could put them in the coop and cover the outside with old wet sheets.
We don’t think it could hurt as a short term solution. Just check to make sure that the ground isn’t always damp and that your birds have a good dust bath. Dust baths help reduce mites and other bugs that will irritate your birds.