For many people, keeping chickens cool during those ridiculously hot summer days is a challenge. When using this method, you might not even need shade. It requires no electricity, no management, and is completely safe for chickens. By now, you are probably wondering what this method is, so here you go, its misters.
Misters are relatively easy to set up; you can line them around the coop by using string or clips, or string them across trees or bushes. You don't need to go out and hose the ground when you have misters, because after being on for a little bit, the ground will start to get damp and stay that way throughout the day. If the misters are set up around the coop, the area will stay cooler, and (surprise!) so will the inside of the coop. You can set them up really close to the ground for those days when everything evaporates before it hits the ground.
Its a good idea to keep your water for the chickens in the same area as the misters so that they can replenish any water that has evaporated and reduce the amount of evaporation by keeping the air around it cooler. Food on the other hand, you will want to keep in an area where it won't get directly misted so that it doesn't get soggy or moldy.
This is a brilliant idea for people who own winter birds like Brahmas, but it is also good for the entire flock. A bird who was better built for summer than all of my other birds, died from heat stroke when a heat wave came in. Now I haven't had to worry about the heat anymore because I set up my misters. Sometimes I stand out in the misters with my flock. It stays around 7 to 20*F cooler in the misted area than out in the rest of the yard, which can make all the difference for our feathered friends.
As you can see, my misters are along the tree and the coop and is in the shade.
I hope this gives you guys ideas for your misters/cooling system, while keeping it simple. Please give me feedback so that my future articles (this is my first) come out even better as this one. Please do not be afraid to give me constructive criticism.
Thanks for reading. Have fun!
Misters are relatively easy to set up; you can line them around the coop by using string or clips, or string them across trees or bushes. You don't need to go out and hose the ground when you have misters, because after being on for a little bit, the ground will start to get damp and stay that way throughout the day. If the misters are set up around the coop, the area will stay cooler, and (surprise!) so will the inside of the coop. You can set them up really close to the ground for those days when everything evaporates before it hits the ground.
Its a good idea to keep your water for the chickens in the same area as the misters so that they can replenish any water that has evaporated and reduce the amount of evaporation by keeping the air around it cooler. Food on the other hand, you will want to keep in an area where it won't get directly misted so that it doesn't get soggy or moldy.
This is a brilliant idea for people who own winter birds like Brahmas, but it is also good for the entire flock. A bird who was better built for summer than all of my other birds, died from heat stroke when a heat wave came in. Now I haven't had to worry about the heat anymore because I set up my misters. Sometimes I stand out in the misters with my flock. It stays around 7 to 20*F cooler in the misted area than out in the rest of the yard, which can make all the difference for our feathered friends.
As you can see, my misters are along the tree and the coop and is in the shade.
I hope this gives you guys ideas for your misters/cooling system, while keeping it simple. Please give me feedback so that my future articles (this is my first) come out even better as this one. Please do not be afraid to give me constructive criticism.
Thanks for reading. Have fun!
