NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Water mists evaporated as huge fans circulated the acrid ammonia-laden air inside the heavily-populated chicken houses. Chickens pushed through the flocks to get water and vainly searched the feeders for food.

The feeders were empty in an attempt to reduce the heat in the chickens until cooler temperatures displaced the daytime heat.

That morning, more than 300 dead chickens were removed from the chicken houses owned by Danny Looney and operated by Brian McCool. Looney has four houses, each holding 23,000 chickens.

“Brian and I have been doing this since 1987,” Looney said, recalling a similar loss in the early 1990s when the temperatures were in the 100s.

Monday’s temperature reached 100 degrees, as Benton County was under heat advisory until Thursday evening.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Arkansas was in 1936 in Ozark, 120 degrees.

According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures and humidities will result in continued high afternoon heat indices for the next few days.

Heat indices were expected to climb to between 105 and 115 Monday afternoon over much of northwest Arkansas.

Area farmers are seeing effects from the three-digit temperatures.

“This group is the best flock we’ve had in three years,” Looney said, adding they haven’t had significant loss until this week.

Chelle Tillman has three laying houses, 24,000 hens.

“(The heat) doesn’t affect us because we have cool cells,” she said. “It does make the electric bill higher in the hotter months.”

The Tillmans switched to cool cells five years ago. Water goes through cells like an air conditioner. Tillman said they have to keep them clean and use chemicals to keep algae from forming.

Other animals are also affected by the high temperatures.

“I have not seen any heat related injuries at this time,” said Dr. Karen Sherman of Oak View Animal Clinic. “There is more concern for dogs than cats. Cats will try to find their own cool place. Dogs have a more difficult time regulating their temperature. If they are in a pen or chained up without a cool spot, they are more susceptible to the heat.”

The National Weather Service says precautionary and preparedness actions include drinking plenty of fluids and staying in an air-conditioned room and out of the sun. The NWS also advises people to check up on relatives and neighbors.

Community, Pages 8 on 08/04/2010