Chicken owners at the Greene County Fair take birds home after some perish in excessive heat
At least a half-dozen chickens at the Greene County Fair died in Wednesday’s excessive heat and that prompted fair officials to ask “a few owners” of chickens and rabbits to take their animals home.
“Due to the extreme heat conditions in our barns, some animals were affected,” read a social media post from the Greene County Agricultural Society. “A few owners picked up chickens and rabbits to take home.”
>> RELATED: Greene County fairgoers keep cool despite the heat
Fair Director Kala Benton told News Center 7 that “less than a half-dozen” chickens died and no rabbits perished.
Benton said there were hundreds of chickens housed at the fair and most were taken home by their owners. A veterinarian who is associated with the fair recommended that the owners be given the opportunity to take their animals home, Benton said.
“Temps should be a little better on Thursday, so plenty of animals to come and enjoy. This was a precautionary measure. Apologies for any inconvenience,” read the social media post.
The heat problems occurred amidst a Heat Advisory, issued for much of the Miami Valley region by National Weather Service forecasters in Wilmington. Greene County was included in the advisory, which forecast heat index values up to 100 degrees in portions of central, south central, southwest and west central Ohio.
>> RELATED: Heat Advisory issue for Miami Valley region
The advisory was scheduled to expire Wednesday night at 8.
Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Robert Gauthreaux III said he suspects the humidity is at fault for what happened with the animals.
“The high humidity here (dew points in the 70s) doesn’t allow the air to cool enough at night, and the lack of ventilation in a “county fair” setting I’m sure does not help,” he said.
Highs in the Miami Valley region Wednesday reached the low 90s, dew points were in the 70s and that means heat indices were near 100 degrees.
“And chickens don’t sweat,” Gauthreaux said.
The fair, which began Sunday, continues through Saturday, Aug. 6.
