Ac Added To The Hen House

[DonnaBelle]

Yesterday my chickens were so hot, it was 95 degrees here.
My chicken house is in the sun, and a fan in the window was useless for lowering the temp at all. The temp inside the house was 102. I just KNEW MY CHICKENS WERE GOING TO DIE. Today the temp is supposed to be 100. In August it could get to 110, it has before.

I have about 30 RIR hens and about 20 Roosters. I also have 4 banty hens and 3 roos. I have been raising these chickens since March 12, and I have a lot of time invested in them, all of this I told DH yesterday. He agreed for me to run to Sears and get a 6,000 BTU AC window unit.

We installed it this am and set it on 80 degrees, it is keeping it about 90 in the henhouse, so far.

I know this sounds ridiculous, and my Grandmother would have laughed out loud, but she had lots of shade.

I guess there is nothing we wouldn't do for these chickens huh?

DonnaBelle

 

[PeeperKeeper]

I'm proud of you. Grandma probably didn't have to keep all her chickens in a coop either. We live in the country, there are shade trees all around the coop and we still worry about the heat. We are seriously thinking of installing some fans for the night when they have to be locked in the coop.
Three cheers for A/C!

 

[mamaKate]

Awesome! Keep a close check on the filter, though.

 

[backpack09]

Um... Spend a couple $$ and plant some shade trees. You will earn it back in electricity quickly.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I do agree with planting some shade trees but I also support the use of A/C if you can do it. Trees will take years to grow in right, and it's not like she's keeping it on 60, it's set to 80, which is just enough to take the edge off the heat.

Great job!


Now, you wanna come install one for me in my dining room for when the heat actually arrives here?

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

I'm glad you found a solution with the AC -- I wish we could do that. THe poor girls are so hot, we have had a heat advisory for 2 days so far...

 

[Joyryder]

I think I need to put in an exhaust fan for the hot nights when the coop's locked up. This is my first year with chicks. We did put the coop where it will get summer shade from trees and more sun in the winter. It has a screen window and a screen door, but I didn't think about the nights. There are vents, but a fan would be a good addition. Thanks
Jo

 

[spook]

Not to sound stupid, but isn't this when people out your directions "mist" their coops/birds with water? I believe I read that.

Also another stupid question, do the birds in the hot areas carry less feathers then up North, not that we don't have our share of 100* days.

The feather thing would make me worry about AC in the coop, they are going to become slaves to AC cooled enviroment and succumb if it or power gets shut off.
Kinda like birds in the North that have heated coops and the power goes out for a week in an ice storm, they are not prepared for the reality and can die, chilling due to lack of feathers because they didn't need them. Not critisizing!!!! because I'd be sitting in chicken coop with them

Also, instead of just waiting for the trees to grow, or while they grow, if you could get a pole attached to the top of hen house, secure a tarp that has holes in it for wind to pass through, place poles (like tent poles) and secure the tarp to pole and use rest of rope to tie tarp on to place a stake in the ground for added security. It may shade it enough to atleast take the major strain off the AC.
Your in my thoughts and prayers for our weather to come find you!!! It seems to have rained, cool humid/clammy weather. I think all of us in the North East could use some sun!