cooling off your chickens

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I find that chicks from an incubator, without the help of a mother hen to teach them life skills are much farther behind than chicks raised by a broody hen. As far as learning to eat new things, broody hens will teach a chick on day one two how delicious a treat is by making their special clucking noises and picking a piece of the teat for the chicks to take from the ground or off of her beak. Incubator hatched chicks need more time, and possibly the help of an adult bird who likes treats, to teach them how good they are.
As far as the heat, I would start with a fan as soon as possible. After that, the best thing I use over my tarped area is a sun shade cloth. It reduces the heat underneath by several degrees. I also go out a couple or three times a day and spray a heavy stream of water over the shade cloth and tarp. This cool the temperature underneath as well.
 
I think my chicks are still too young to appreciate real food. they do not touch anything I try to offer them. They don't have a clue what to do with it all. I mean what chicken doesn't like lettuce, peas, berries, corn?
I have 4 chickens and none of them like lettuce or peas and corn should only be given in fall and winter because it is hard to digest and makes them hotter.
 
I find that chicks from an incubator, without the help of a mother hen to teach them life skills are much farther behind than chicks raised by a broody hen. As far as learning to eat new things, broody hens will teach a chick on day one two how delicious a treat is by making their special clucking noises and picking a piece of the teat for the chicks to take from the ground or off of her beak. Incubator hatched chicks need more time, and possibly the help of an adult bird who likes treats, to teach them how good they are.
As far as the heat, I would start with a fan as soon as possible. After that, the best thing I use over my tarped area is a sun shade cloth. It reduces the heat underneath by several degrees. I also go out a couple or three times a day and spray a heavy stream of water over the shade cloth and tarp. This cool the temperature underneath as well.
I have to go out every hour for the leghorn, the others don't seem bothered yet. I do spray down the tarp, and her too and mist the ground as well, it helps and then the frozen treats, they mostly don't eat. I don't have an older chick, and every time I try to get them to let me pet them, they scooch away like I have a contagious disease. And I cuddled them all the time when they were baby chicks.
 
I have 4 chickens and none of them like lettuce or peas and corn should only be given in fall and winter because it is hard to digest and makes them hotter.
I have heard that about corn, then I have also heard it's not true, so I really don't knw what to believe, It doesn't matter now, they are staying away from it anyway! lol
 
It's very hot in GA today, the only one that seems to mind it is my brown leghorn. They have a tarp cover pvc tractor wit the ends open in the direction of the wind. every hour i add ice to their water, I put a pan of shallow water with in it for her, I even made a berry smoothie. the leghorn just walked through the smoothie and no one is really taking advantage of anything but the water. I do not have shade and I think I need to get a fan. what fan setups do you all have? Is there a fan you really like and works well? I was maybe wanting one with a light too, and a clip for their coop. What set ups and what do you all do to get them to enjoy their treats> So far, I think my chickens are from another planet, they don't even like lettuce!
I put a frozen jug of water in front of the fan and they get nice cool air.
 
It's very hot in GA today, the only one that seems to mind it is my brown leghorn. They have a tarp cover pvc tractor wit the ends open in the direction of the wind. every hour i add ice to their water, I put a pan of shallow water with in it for her, I even made a berry smoothie. the leghorn just walked through the smoothie and no one is really taking advantage of anything but the water. I do not have shade and I think I need to get a fan. what fan setups do you all have? Is there a fan you really like and works well? I was maybe wanting one with a light too, and a clip for their coop. What set ups and what do you all do to get them to enjoy their treats> So far, I think my chickens are from another planet, they don't even like lettuce!
I put a frozen jug of water in front of the fan and they get nice cool air.
 
If you happen to be adding Apple cider vinegar in their water, consider skipping it on extra hot days. I agree with making shade, do you have any unused materials on hand? Literally anything that creates shade and doesn’t add any safety risks will do.
 

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