Since we love to recycle and after reading about BYC members using dog kennels with ice packs for coolers - we came up with our version. It seems to be working and the girls like it. If not getting cooled off they jump in and out like they are playing. We keep checking for eggs since it looks like a nice nesting box too. Anyway, just something funky and fun. We use the "weekender large re-usable ice blocks from Walmart $2.00 bucks each as the cooling agent. Temps are over 100+ here in Northern California.
Here is what we started with
Cut the hole
Bent the bands over so no sharp edges - do not anyone getting cuts. Added some bedding - there are two plastic shoe boxes under bedding that we can put ice packs in but haven't tried that yet. Maybe this weekend - have pictures if anyone wants to see.
We have had up to four hens in there at a time (if you look close at the picture below you can see some more fuzzy butts in the back ground) and you can feel cooler air inside than outside. Oh yeh! the bung hole (yes! that is what it is called) on top helps to add a vent to keep hot air out.
Just one more of Shadow (the roo) looking over things
Hope you enjoyed seeing our "chickens on ice" show.
Here is what we started with

Cut the hole

Bent the bands over so no sharp edges - do not anyone getting cuts. Added some bedding - there are two plastic shoe boxes under bedding that we can put ice packs in but haven't tried that yet. Maybe this weekend - have pictures if anyone wants to see.

We have had up to four hens in there at a time (if you look close at the picture below you can see some more fuzzy butts in the back ground) and you can feel cooler air inside than outside. Oh yeh! the bung hole (yes! that is what it is called) on top helps to add a vent to keep hot air out.

Just one more of Shadow (the roo) looking over things

Hope you enjoyed seeing our "chickens on ice" show.
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