I was just wondering, with the early heat this year, how do the chicks in the nesting box cope? Is there any special care that you take?

I have checked on mine three times today as it reached 33C here today and was very warm from quite early this morning, they do seem okay. As they are 4+ weeks old, I really wished they had fledged already, at least they would be bit cooler out in the open air.

It has gotin up to 40 deg c in my aviary and I don't want it to get any higher. I haven't had any problems yet but I don't want to chance it.

If you try and make sure the nestbox is clean from droppings, a deepish bed of wood shavings will help keep things cool. Droppings creates fumes and heat. Also helps to drill some ventilation holes up the top edge of the nesting box too, if need be. I have the ventilation holes there and cover holes with small wooden strips through winter.

when it gets really hot for us, i lift the lid on the next box a bit since the heat rises. i notice mum goes in to feed and thats about it, the rest of the time she's out on a perch!