Cooling chicken coop in HOT weather?

[1birdlady]

We're in North Houston too (Spring), and here's a pic of the chicken house (aka coop). It won't win any "House Beautiful" awards, but it keeps our 4 girls cools enough, and does the job.

They're out in the morning for a few hours, then back in to nap during the "hot" of the day; then out again in the evening to dust bathe and get a broccoli stalk or 2 to toss around. They pant a bit, but not often or in excess. They have access to fresh water at all times, to which we add electrolytes. We have read that it helps in the heat...seems to be too!

 

[maf2008]

The heat is un-bearable in Texas......

Here is my latest ideas and I can't wait to try it! I will stretch a "soaker hose" out to the run and tack or drape it between two stakes/poles/cinder blocks

then put a "water timer" go turn its self on and off every 30 minutes for about 5 minutes for a quick shower!

Under the shower I am placing "extra unwanted tiles" on the dirt in the run under the shower so the chickens can cool themselves on the tile between the showers.

The drainage/dripping water will collect in a "gutter" at the bottom for an automatic water system. (This shower part can be turned off in winter time)

Let me know if anyone else will try this and post pictures or any improvements on this idea. (I can't upload photos.... )

If anyone else does this let me know!!!!

 

[freelancer79d]

here is something that will help
http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-air-conditioner/?ALLSTEPS

 

[Gypsi]

Mine aren't panting too badly - I'm in Fort Worth - but I practiced the layered shade concept. I have a tin roof over part of my run, the temp immediately under it is very hot. Coop roof and the body of the coop are halfway under it, half way in the sun. The corner of the run under the tin and coop stays pretty cool, and if I moisten the ground they seem to do ok. I let them loose in the yard morning and evening, keep the water bucket full, and don't feed scratch. And I let them roost in the run at night. Roost is positioned far enough away from run walls that a predator can't grab them, and it gets a lot more breeze than the coop. (although with half the front off of the coop, it stays cooler than it would). Pics are on my page.

I have tried teaching my birds to play in the sprinkler, but to no avail. They did like the moist ground after I turned the sprinkler off.

 

[freelancer79d]

i made a new topic with links to two DIY air conditioners

 

[chuckzoo]

I would attach some reflective insulation that you can buy at Loews to the tin roof to refelect the heat.

Create more shade by layering shade cloth and creating a lean-to from the coop.

I have a personal mister attached in front of my box fan, the fan blows the mist and cools the air.

 

[barbarachick]

haven't tried this yet, but how about taking a picnic cooler, would be good to use one with a handle and wheels.... fill it with ice, then open the drain plug and put a water dish under the plug area so that the cold water can drip into the dish as the ice melts?????

 

[MyCooper]

Gosh I'm glad I don't have to deal with that kind of heat!

When my car broke down in Needles, California in summer (>110 degrees), my ferrets were in danger of dying (they don't pant OR sweat). My mom was with me and she said in the old days, they would soak a towel in water. They would then rig up a stand with the bottom of the towel in a pan of water (wicking effect), kinda like if it were hanging from a clothes line. She then aimed the fan in the garage at the towel and put the ferrets behind the towel. It was a make-shift a/c unit and worked great! Just keep the pan filled with water and the "a/c" keeps going!

Also, my brother has the passive geothermal device in his house. It is a 2 foot pipe and it effectively cools in the summer and warms in the winter. The far end comes up in the pump house. Sorry, I don't have more details than that.

 

[sbetzen]

My Chickens range a forested 1 acre (with underbrush)... they always find a sandy patch to bath and cool down. I can control what patch they go to by watering it, they always go to the one I watered (in the shade) and sit in it to cool down.

Learning from the chickens here, I believe that those who can't range their chickens can put in a sand box and keep it damp and in the shade for the summer. I would bet money that they would dig a small hole and sit there in the heat of the day.

When it is dry they will still appreciate a good dust bath.

I am in Dallas Texas.

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
My grandparents never had a/c and what my grandma did was place a bowl of ice in front of a fan and sit by it. She mainly did this when she was in the kitchen.
Ya know I don't remember their house being all that unbearable. It was warm of course but it was a home with very high ceilings and an attic fan. They had lots of mature trees all around the home and was in the country and generally by 10 in the evening or so with the attic fan on it was comfortable enough to sleep. That being said I don't want to live with my a/c