Heat wave

Mine are getting by, but hot, panting, and down right miserable looking. I'm keeping tupperware containers with blocks of ice at all times in the freezer, and LOTS of watermelon.

You said you are building your coop, make sure there is plenty of ventilation!! Mine needs more, gonna get the DH on it. ( I'd install air if I could)
 

mine are free rangers during the day, and come in at night.  I have been leaving the window open at night (it faces a protected run) and the fans on all the time. Also I am filling a wading pool with water so the chickens can cool thier feet.  

The birds have spent most of thier time lahying around in the shade and panting.  Poor things!  I hope for thier sake and all my farmer neighbors it rains soon! 

Misters are miracle workers for chickens in the summer.  I have a line sold by my local hardware store for 25 bucks, and it is a good 20 feet.  It sends a fine mist into the air that lowers the surrounding temp by 20 degrees or more.

Best purchase I've ever made, my chickens don't even have to pant in 100+ heat.  Spoiled girls.

I have a few methods in play in this photo...  The Wyandottes are monopolizing them, clearly.

The SLW in the back there, is sitting on a landscaping brick, fresh out of the freezer.  I'll roll it over after a couple of hours and expose the cold side, as well as the dirt it chilled.

The SLW in the tub, is sitting on a straw layer over ice cubes.  The straw prevents direct contact with the ice, and as the cubes melt, the straw will keep the hen dry.  It also insulates the ice and makes it last longer.  That bucket still had a lot of ice in it... 3 hours after I put it out for them.

The SLW in the front there, is lording over a half gallon milk jug that was filled halfway with water, and frozen.  Nestled in the dirt, and surrounded by straw, it lasts a good 4-5 hours in 100+ degree temps.  7 hours in 90 degree temps... yes, really.

I have spaced these such that a chicken can fit between them and benefit on both sides if they aren't sitting on top.

They also were provided with a gallon of Electrolytes and Vitamins that was chilled with Ice.


Don't they look comfortable?  It was 107 in the shade today... in Kansas City.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gifa 

I have a few methods in play in this photo...  The Wyandottes are monopolizing them, clearly.

 

The SLW in the back there, is sitting on a landscaping brick, fresh out of the freezer.  I'll roll it over after a couple of hours and expose the cold side, as well as the dirt it chilled.

The SLW in the tub, is sitting on a straw layer over ice cubes.  The straw prevents direct contact with the ice, and as the cubes melt, the straw will keep the hen dry.

 

The SLW in the front there, is lording over a half gallon milk jug that was filled halfway with water, and frozen.  Nestled in the dirt, and surrounded by straw, it lasts a good 4-5 hours in 100+ degree temps.  7 hours in 90 degree temps... yes, really.

 

I have spaced these such that a chicken can fit between them and benefit on both sides if they aren't sitting on top.

They also were provided with a gallon of Electrolytes and Vitamins that was chilled with Ice.


Don't they look comfortable?  It was 107 in the shade today... in Kansas City.

I'm gonna steal your ideas! Love the ingenuity.

An article I read on here also suggested putting electrolytes in their water on really hot days.  We have been doing that along with some ice.  There are many great suggestions on here that we have used - freezing bottles of water and hanging them in front of a fan or putting them on the ground for them to lean against; lots of watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon; etc.  We have been free-ranging them a bit less due to predation, but on hot days we make sure to let them out so they can hang out in their favorite dirt piles under the apple tree. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinniemac 

A lot of great ideas I'll have keep them in mind I'll keep you posted on my coop. I don't expect to buy chickens until next spring.I was thinking of getting Wyandottes.

Vinnie

I have a couple Wyandottes, and they are sweet, but one thing I would change if I could. Buy them from a quality breeder of Wyandottes, not a hatchery. Quality Wyandottes will have gorgeous perfect lacing. Hatchery is hit or miss, (mostly miss). Mine still don't have the lacing and I don't know if they ever will. The are full of black and white splotches, nothing to look at, but I still love them.

One more thing to consider that I would probably change if I could, is sticking to one breed. If you read my signature, you'll see what I mean. I wanted everything all at once,and got it. Then realized I couldn't house everyone all together (I have all different ages and sizes). So I have 2 coops, and working on 3. I love the mix that I have but...I saw pictures of a certain farm of someone I had met. She had researched and found that Salmon Faverolles were what she wanted exclusively. So her pictures are all of a big flock of Faverolles around her glorious farm. Made me think "There really is beauty in simplicity". At least if you stayed with Wyandottes there is a big variety of colors. Just a thought.