Arizona Heat Problems

[ChickenPerson1234789]

We are at around 90 degrees already outside and will slowly reach upwards to 110 possibly in mid summer. How can I keep my chicken cool without having to keep them inside the house? At what temperature will be absolutely necessary to keep them inside?

Here is what I am doing now (and even with all of this, they still have their arms up and beaks wide open):
1. Ice cold box to sit near
2. Ice cold water always available
3. Watering the grounds where we have a shade
4. Occasionally splashing water on them when they seem to be very hot (when I'm outside).

I am thinking of either getting a mister or a fan. Any specific recommendations? Also what signs should I look for other than panting and open arms to prevent sudden heat stress/death? Also, any general advice from chicken owners in hot climates would be very helpful.

 

[nuthatched]

I don't think a mister or a fan will help since chickens don't really sweat.
Can you make little adobe or in ground areas for them?

 

[ChickenPerson1234789]

I don't think a mister or a fan will help since chickens don't really sweat.
Can you make little adobe or in ground areas for them?

What is an adobe? Like an adobe house for them?

 

[ChickenPerson1234789]

I don't think a mister or a fan will help since chickens don't really sweat.
Can you make little adobe or in ground areas for them?

Also i just set up a mister and the chicken arent panting anymore so hopefully its all good

 

[GC-Raptor]

I am thinking of either getting a mister or a fan.

I've used both.
The mister, actually a hose nozzle cooled the air 10 to 15 F under a tree.

Once they got over the fear, they enjoyed being under the mist.

I also started to wet their pen and they enjoyed bathing in the damp soil.

I used a fan on the floor of coop near a lower vent and aimed the fan to blow under the roosts when overnight temps stay in the 70s F.

I also filled a container with cold water under the tree. They would drink and stand in the water.

GC

 

[springvalley123]

I've used a mister in a couple ways: 1) buy a cheap 1/4 inch misting line complete with 6 nozzles and 12 feet of mist, but replace all but 2 nozzles with plugs to control the moisture. 2) aim a simple hose mister stand at the wall of the coop to keep the inside of the coop cool (aim it where it will cool the area but not soak the birds). 3) a bucket top misting fan with high/low settings for fan speed and misting amount, aimed at the area in front of the nesting box area.

I also use 2-liter soda bottles half-filled with water and frozen overnight. I put them in the shade and the birds sit next to them.

I also got two, 3-inch deep trays and put 4 regular clay bricks in each. Filled them half full of water so the bricks got cool from the evaporation but the tops of the bricks stayed dry. Took the birds a while to figure it out but they eventuallyl sat on the bricks and cooled off.

 

[budkingston]

Now you’re making me feel bad. I’ve never did anything except spray down the floor in the run so they could dig down to the moist soil and evaporative cool themselves. I also provide shade. And there is a wall of trees to cool them from the afternoon sun. I live in probably the hottest place in AZ and they do alright. But then again, I don’t buy Buff Orpington, Black Austrolorps, Cochins, or any other feather factories that are better suited for places that snow.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Now you’re making me feel bad. I’ve never did anything except spray down the floor in the run so they could dig down to the moist soil and evaporative cool themselves. I also provide shade. And there is a wall of trees to cool them from the afternoon sun. I live in probably the hottest place in AZ and they do alright. But then again, I don’t buy Buff Orpington, Black Austrolorps, Cochins, or any other feather factories that are better suited for places that snow.

Eh, Orps, Australorps, and Cochins do ok in the heat, as long as they get plenty of shade and water. I have all of those breeds, and though our summers don't get quite as hot, the humidity makes it damn near impossible to do anything about it.

 

[budkingston]

Eh, Orps, Australorps, and Cochins do ok in the heat, as long as they get plenty of shade and water. I have all of those breeds, and though our summers don't get quite as hot, the humidity makes it damn near impossible to do anything about it.

I’ve had these in the past but they died out, didn’t live as long as my less feathered friends. They made it in the 4-6 year range. I’ve had some pretty geriatric chickens over the years, mostly over 8 years that have died of old age. But I’ve watched the feathered ones hyperventilate and I knew they were miserable. I put out small pools but they turned into mud puddles and fly factories. Breed selection seems to make everyone happy

 

[BlueBaby]

I’ve had these in the past but they died out, didn’t live as long as my less feathered friends. They made it in the 4-6 year range. I’ve had some pretty geriatric chickens over the years, mostly over 8 years that have died of old age. But I’ve watched the feathered ones hyperventilate and I knew they were miserable. I put out small pools but they turned into mud puddles and fly factories. Breed selection seems to make everyone happy

I agree. The one's that have the tighter feather's have the worst time of our summer's out here in the desert.