Beat the heat

[Redbirdacres]

What do you do for your chickies to beat the heat. Our BAs and SGs (layers) are still in the garage while we get the coop built this week. They have almost 100% shade. However yesterday and today we had a sudden 90°+ heat wave and they we're panting so badly. I added some ice to their water and gave them a little pan of ice to use the cold water as it melted. Much better this morning but it's heating up fast. Some storms will come through and break the heat over the weekend but it looks to be a hot summer and in WI where there's heat, there's humidity and a lot of it.

 

[Brooks_]

Pans of shallow water to cool feet. Plenty of fresh clean water for drinking. A separate electrolyte water (once a week during the hottest or coldest time). In the garage, a fan for more air flow. A few berries frozen in a cup of water, pop out of cup...they'll peck at the ice to get to the berries. That's all I got right now.

 

[Redbirdacres]

Pans of shallow water to cool feet. Plenty of fresh clean water for drinking. A separate electrolyte water (once a week during the hottest or coldest time). In the garage, a fan for more air flow. A few berries frozen in a cup of water, pop out of cup...they'll peck at the ice to get to the berries. That's all I got right now.

Thank you! They're still younger (under 3 months)...are berries OK at this age?

 

[3KillerBs]

AIRFLOW!

Do whatever you need to do to get the temperature down in their area or find a way to move them outside into the shade.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Have plenty of shade, airflow, water and sand or dirt to duat bath it was near 100 for us yesterday

 

[Auntiejessi3]

All of the above are great! In addition to the above, I will make a wet mash out of their food and put it in the freezer for a little while, they love it!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

All of the above are great! In addition to the above, I will make a wet mash out of their food and put it in the freezer for a little while, they love it!

I usally give mine frozen watermelon or just plain watermelon they love it. But mine are still to young to have it yet i think. They will peck at the rine all day.

 

[Redbirdacres]

All of the above are great! In addition to the above, I will make a wet mash out of their food and put it in the freezer for a little while, they love it!

I was wondering how the frozen food thing worked. Thanks!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I was wondering how the frozen food thing worked. Thanks!

I don't freeze it completely, just get it super cold, but you'd never never know it was just chicken feed by watching them eat it

 

[aart]

IMO deep shade is the best thing for them, but.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/