Hi,
I live in the Virgin Islands, and we are now entering hurricane season. I'm not sure what t do with my chickens during a hurricane. I have two hens and four pullets. The pullets are just about 20 weeks and I guess should soon be laying. Should I bring them in and put them in a bathroom, or what? also, my chickens pant during the day, they have access to plenty of shade and fresh, cool water all the time....is there a way to cool them down? Thanks

Daniel,
I live in Brooklin, Ontario (canada) and it has been excessively hot here (40 degrees humidity). I find keeping fans in the coops helps the circulation and they like it alot...they fluff their feathers alot. I alos have sprayed them lightly with a spray water bottle and they seem to enjoy it. I also read that you can freeze 2 Litre pop bottles full of water and put them in their area...they'll sit beside them to cool down.
As you would know, I don't deal with hurricanes here, but the bathroom for protection would be good. Maybe you could make a pen and put some bedding in it so they don't poop everywhere.
By the way, my chickens pant to and supposedly this is normal!

Daniel,I live in North Carolina so I am VERY familiar with excessive heat and,yes,hurricanes(shiver at the word).I have just entered into the world of chicken-raising,haven't had any during hurricanes Floyd and Fran (the last two storms that had an ENORMOUS impact on this area).However,I haven't given any thought as to what I would do with my 3 pullets(14 weeks old now)if a storm was coming.After all,it is now officially hurricane season,and we have already experienced the remnants of T.S.Allison-been raining for 3 days.ME,I would put the chickens in the bathtub,maybe with a little straw or some kind of bedding to make them a little less freaked-out.Close the bathroom door and pray.Now get you and your family out of danger.H/canes are nothing to take lightly-I've had relatives that were totally wiped out-property-wise.BE CAREFUL! On a lighter note,my three pullets pant also whenit gets hot
(we've had 6 days of 90 degree plus heat so far) I've read that chickens all pant when it's hot,like dogs,because they cannot sweat,that is how they cool themselves.Any chicken on a 90 degree day would very much enjoy a light spraying with cool(not cold) water,either from a spray bottle or a hose.I have hung a window fan on the open-side of my coop,hooked-up to an extension cord,to give them a breeze on the hot-hot days. Good luck,Daniel!

Since your birds will probably prefer to roost on the sink, shower curtain rod, or other places rather than staying in the tub, perhaps you could have a couple of carry pens available so you could pop them in to those and keep them contained. Then you could take them wherever you need to take them. The pens could be hung up high in a room, or put in the tub, but at any rate the birds would not get loose or fly around the bathroom when you tried to catch them. The pens could also be put in a car to go to a safer area. Don't forget to have supplies of water for them. Good luck.