chickens in the hot weather! help!

[JasonVideo]

hii! im in oregon and they are in the shade almost all the time until the sun hits (isny really often and they still have shade in the run) i dont know the breeds of all the chickens rn. how do you suggest i ventilate their coop?

Hi Anne,

I'm in Camas, WA (just across from Portland). Forecast high is 116 today. I don't get too worried when they're not in the coop. They have a lot of shade and water. I do add an extra water bowl when it gets real hot and I add ice to the bowl a few times a day. I also give them frozen treats like fruit from time to time. As for the coop I have a few ideas (and I have videos if you want them). My coop is shaded in the morning by a tree, so that helps. When I moved to this house, the coop was included. It had a dark blue metal roof. Pretty much the worst roof I could have in bad heat. I made a couple of upgrades to help with heat (and moisture in the wintertime). First, I painted the roof with a white coating made to reflect the heat. That alone helped a ton. Second, I installed a 10" greenhouse fan which is plugged into a smart plug and controlled with a remote app. The coop isn't wired for power. Just an extension cord for power.

Chickens have 4 layers of feathers. That's a lot of insulation. Insulation works both ways, just like your house. Ever see someone from hot Arab nations? They are wearing a LOT of breathable clothing because it keeps them COOLER. It sounds counterintuitive, but it's true. Chickens are amazing. Make sure they have shade and water and they'll do well.

Jason