summer tips?

[marahipasc]

i live in a very humid state, i’m in suffolk virginia, so we get very hot humid summers. this is our first summer with chickens(orpingtons, ameraucanas) any tips, tricks, anything specific i need to know to help these chickens tackle this va summer heat.
thanks in advance !!

 

[DobieLover]

Dense shade.
Damp soil under dense shade for them to wallow in.
Wide open windows with a sealed fan blowing across them and out the other side of the coop when roosted for the night.
A shallow pan/pool of water they can walk in. You can add a block of ice to this. I like to freeze a 1/2 gallon tall container and pop that out into the tub of water to slowly melt throughout the day.
Freeze grapes, watermelon balls or other fruit or buy frozen blueberries or similar and toss out for them at the peak heat of the day and dampen their spot in dense shade for them to lay in.

 

[Mrs. K]

Another point about shade - is that it changes through out the day. In my own pen, I have good shade in the morning, and early afternoon, but late in the afternoon, when it tends to be the hottest - my shade has disappeared unless I design for that.

So check your coop through out the day, so that you really understand how it works. And a LOT OF WATER to drink.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I use blocks of ice rather than pans of water.
Electrolytes every few days.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[Brooks_]

I've found deep shade to be most useful.

Plenty of fresh water
A mister in one area for damp soil
Ice dumped in the run. They can walk on/peck at

 

[Acre4Me]

Shade. We plant birdhouse gourds on the fence that creates the south side of the run. We use birdhouse (or bottle) gourds (seeds readily available at most garden stores), bc grow quickly, with large leaves and create a nice cool and shady space. You can use other things, but peas (as an example) won’t grow as lush or tall as the gourds. Some other gourds have smaller leaves or are not as lush.

Water. Our run gets fully shaded between 2-3 pm. At that point, I’ll bring out wet feed. Feed, with water added, let sit for 5-10 min and add more water if needed. Sprinkle seeds or fruit lightly, and add large ice cubes. They love their wet feed!! This makes them drink at same time, and they continue to lay.


Keep their regular water cool, so in the shade.

Some find electrolytes once a week can be helpful. But, always offer plain water in addition to electrolytes so they can choose. Remove at end of the day and dump excess electrolyte solution-perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth.

Several waterers available. This prevents bullying away from the. Water by a higher ranking chicken. Keep the water cool.

 

[Brooks_]

Would it be advisable to invest in a couple of those shade sails to use over the coop and run in the summer? I live in Chesapeake, VA, about 30 minutes away from Suffolk, so I've got mostly the same weather.

It won't hurt.

 

[Midnight Maran Momma]

Would it be advisable to invest in a couple of those shade sails to use over the coop and run in the summer? I live in Chesapeake, VA, about 30 minutes away from Suffolk, so I've got mostly the same weather.