Battling Extreme Desert Heat

[perchie.girl]

We had a week of 111 . I made shade with some old boards we had lying around and ran a box fan out to the run making sure it was blowing into the shady part. I froze water in plastic food containers which works like frozen water bottles and gives your chickens something cool to drink when it melts. I put ice cubes in their water and at night I put frozen water bottles in their nesting boxes.

HEY.... Welcome to BYC

from San Diego High Desert.... VBG

you put frozen water bottles in their nesting boxes? You arent letting them sleep in them are you?

deb

 

[Clannad]

HEY....  Welcome to BYC     from San Diego High Desert....  VBG

you put frozen water bottles in their nesting boxes?  You arent letting them sleep in them are you?

deb

Tried to keep them out but all they did was try to get back in. I figured I'd rather let them rest on something cool than having them try to figure out how to get back in with the heat.

 

[Mutt Farm]

We had a week of 111 . I made shade with some old boards we had lying around and ran a box fan out to the run making sure it was blowing into the shady part. I froze water in plastic food containers which works like frozen water bottles and gives your chickens something cool to drink when it melts. I put ice cubes in their water and at night I put frozen water bottles in their nesting boxes.

Hi Clannad, what is the overnight temp where you are? I'm wondering if I need to put bottles in the nest boxes too. We almost always drop to at least 70 or below at night.

 

[Clannad]

Hi Clannad, what is the overnight temp where you are? I'm wondering if I need to put bottles in the nest boxes too. We almost always drop to at least 70 or below at night.

It's generally mid to upper 90's. So at night you should be fine.

 

[perchie.girl]

If your chickens are sleeping in the nest boxes either your nest boxes are too high or your perches are too low.

Sorry... If You have addressed this already... they still insist on sleeping in the nest boxes the boxes need to be blocked off at bed time. they will be cooler on the perches believe me. The reason is. Chickens poop all night long... Pooping in the nest boxes will give you soiled eggs...

You know that perch some people put in front of the nest boxes for hen access... Many old time farmers used to make that perch bar on a hinges and after egg laying is done for the day they will flip that up to block the nest box opening.

I always kept a perch about a foot above the nest boxes.... then one a foot higher then one a foot higher than that.

deb

 

[pinkmartin73]

If your chickens are sleeping in the nest boxes either your nest boxes are too high or your perches are too low.

Sorry...  If You have addressed this already... they still insist on sleeping in the nest boxes the boxes need to be blocked off at bed time.   they will be cooler on the perches believe me.   The reason is.  Chickens poop all night long...   Pooping in the nest boxes will give you soiled eggs...

You know that perch some people put in front of the nest boxes for hen access...  Many old time farmers used to make that perch bar on a hinges and after egg laying is done for the day they will flip that up to block the nest box opening.

I always kept a perch about a foot above the nest boxes....  then one a foot higher then one a foot higher than that. 

deb

X2... Exellent advice!

 

[stevethack]

Had this posted on my FB page by a friend. I don't know if it's already been posted here or not....don't feel like looking through all 16 pages of this thread..lol

 

[FridayYet]

I saw that pic - Love it!

 

[perchie.girl]

Had this posted on my FB page by a friend. I don't know if it's already been posted here or not....don't feel like looking through all 16 pages of this thread..lol

 

[stevethack]

Mine don't kick back like that pic. lol
They will stick their head into water and wet their combs/wattles. Especially the younger but more mature Black Australorps with their bright red and bigger combs and wattles..The Cinnamon Queens DO NOT LIKE their head wet much, they shake their head hard after dipping their face into the water and have a look like my cat when she gets wet....the Barred Rocks it doesn't faze much at all.. They stand for several minutes in the water.
I wet an area they "sometimes" dust bathe in as I fill the "waterer"/wading pool pan for them. About all of them will walk into the water pan, and then some stick their head into the water and shake it off and then climb out and sit down..or some even lay sideways in the damp ground. Must be instinct, cuz I never showed them any of that.