In the summer, chickens can get very hot. So, in this article, I will tell you a few things that chickens do when they are hot, and a few ways to cool them down. Lets get started!
First, here are some signs that a chicken is hot:
1. Panting. Chickens can pant, just like dogs do. It might seem weird, but that in one thing they do to try and keep cool.
2. Wings drooping. Chickens will hang their wings down instead of holding them against their sides as they usually do, this will help let heat out.
3. Standing tall and flapping. Chickens do this to get a bit of air circulating around their bodies. It probably feels like when your friend (or somebody other than you) flaps a book or a piece of cardboard at you. The nice wind feeling on a hot day.
4. Taking dust/dirt bathes. Chicken will take a dirt bath (or dust bath) on a hot day to get the cool feeling of dirt up against their bodies.
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Now we will talk about ways to cool you chickens down.
1. Mist them with a hose. Misting them with a hose or sprinkler may help to cool them down. But, some chickens, including mine, don't really like to be cooled down that way. It seems they know its 'fake' rain.
2. Using a fan. You can hook up a fan right outside your run pointing at them. They might enjoy the cool blasts of wind they will get from it.
3. Use water and ice. You can use a old snow sled and fill it with water and big chunks of ice. This will help because they can walk in it and drink nice cold water.
4. Keep their waterers fresh and cold. Then they can have a fresh drink of water when ever the want.
5. Frozen treats. Consider making some frozen treats for your flock! (Frozen yogurt is great!)
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I hope you learned a lot from this article and please keep your chickens cool!
BONUS: Chicken summer pictures:
First, here are some signs that a chicken is hot:
1. Panting. Chickens can pant, just like dogs do. It might seem weird, but that in one thing they do to try and keep cool.
2. Wings drooping. Chickens will hang their wings down instead of holding them against their sides as they usually do, this will help let heat out.
3. Standing tall and flapping. Chickens do this to get a bit of air circulating around their bodies. It probably feels like when your friend (or somebody other than you) flaps a book or a piece of cardboard at you. The nice wind feeling on a hot day.
4. Taking dust/dirt bathes. Chicken will take a dirt bath (or dust bath) on a hot day to get the cool feeling of dirt up against their bodies.
________________________________________________________________________________
Now we will talk about ways to cool you chickens down.
1. Mist them with a hose. Misting them with a hose or sprinkler may help to cool them down. But, some chickens, including mine, don't really like to be cooled down that way. It seems they know its 'fake' rain.
2. Using a fan. You can hook up a fan right outside your run pointing at them. They might enjoy the cool blasts of wind they will get from it.
3. Use water and ice. You can use a old snow sled and fill it with water and big chunks of ice. This will help because they can walk in it and drink nice cold water.
4. Keep their waterers fresh and cold. Then they can have a fresh drink of water when ever the want.
5. Frozen treats. Consider making some frozen treats for your flock! (Frozen yogurt is great!)
________________________________________________________________________________
I hope you learned a lot from this article and please keep your chickens cool!
BONUS: Chicken summer pictures:
