Chickens and extreme heat

[lazy gardener]

As long as they have a choice between lytes and no lytes, I see no reason to not offer the lytes. Kind of like the rationale with offering extra oyster shell. They will know when they need it. Kind of like when your body just craves orange juice, or steak... or what ever. IMO, that craving is based on a NEED. And once the need gets met, the craving goes away.

I may have to resort to the "forcing" of the cold water foot bath. I have one plastic sled that has not been trashed by the hard use they get through the winter. Wish I'd brought the last one I saw at the dump home with me. I use them year round. They also make a great tray to set plant pots in so you can water a bunch of them at a time.

 

[tjo804]

I don't put ice in the foot water I just replace the water a couple times a day. Drastic temp changes are hard too.

 

[tjo804]

We bought a snow shovel on a trip to Michigan, should have picked up a couple sleds too. I use the snow shovel to pick up raked leaves.

The temps here are triple digits, the feels like temps almost compare to satans home at times. I don't think the electrolytes are harming them and they are only in one waterer in the summers hottest times like now.

 

[aart]

We bought a snow shovel on a trip to Michigan,

That just really hit my funny bone!!
They are good for many things other than snow.

 

[tjo804]

Any snow stuff is a bit difficult to find in Texas. But I grew up in Michigan so I know how handi they are

 

[Mrs. K]

Soaking your feed to about the consistency of oatmeal is good too, dry feed is quite dehydrating.

 

[Nksg75]

I love all the ideas!! I am also in very, very hot climate! Today it's supposed to be yet another hot, very hot, and extremely hot day.
I have noticed that my hens from hatchery stock seem to not fair well. I lost 2 so far this summer despite all I do to keep them cool. I have not had a problem with the hens I hatched myself from different sources.
I have 4 fans in the coop, ice in the waterer, mini pool filled with cool water(they don't really use it as far as I see) they free range and have lots of shade, I give frozen treats, I do not have a mister system due to the already high humidity here in south Texas. I can't really bring them in the house considering I have 32 hens and 1 lucky rooster!

 

[sumi]

Any suggestions on roofing designs? Thank you.

When I lived in South Africa our daytime summer temperatures averaged 110- 120F and on a really bad day, went up to 130F. A farmer I knew down there told me he painted his barn's roof white and it really helped reduce the temperature in there, dropping it by several degrees actually. The white didn't absorb and hold the heat as much as the naked roofing sheets did. That may be a simpler and cheaper way for you to cool down the hen house, depending on the roofing materials you have in place at the moment.

 

[kwhites634]

When I lived in South Africa our daytime summer temperatures averaged 110- 120F and on a really bad day, went up to 130F. A farmer I knew down there told me he painted his barn's roof white and it really helped reduce the temperature in there, dropping it by several degrees actually. The white didn't absorb and hold the heat as much as the naked roofing sheets did. That may be a simpler and cheaper way for you to cool down the hen house, depending on the roofing materials you have in place at the moment.

I use silver-sided tarps over my runs; makes a big difference.

 

[tjo804]

I use silver-sided tarps over my runs; makes a big difference.

I have used those before, now I use them for emergency shading like they are disposable. The Texas sun eats tarps each season.