cooling off your chickens

[sayccrn]

We are near Augusta GA and we certainly have hot summers. Fortunately we have trees around where I have my coop and run for shade in the summer and when they shed their leaves in the fall, they let some sunlight in. I think you're doing the right thing by providing them with plenty of fresh drinking water and using a tarp to create shade. Leghorns sound like a good choice for our area because they are Mediterranean and heat-tolerate. But I have New Hampshire Reds and Delawares because my wife prefers brown-shelled eggs LOL!

I don't know, it's the leghorn that can't handle the heat. she's the one that starts to pant, the others seem fine. black sex link, silver Wyandotte, Golden comet, and a Rhode Island Blue (that just may be a HE!)

 

[sayccrn]

I live in middle Georgia and the heat is brutal. Then when you add in the humidity it's almost unbearable . I just make sure that my chickens have plenty of water and I leave their coops open so that anytime the want to get out of the heat they have the shelter of the coops. I noticed that when it was over 100 in the direct heat that inside the coops it was only in the 80's so it makes a big difference. if you have older chickens the younger ones will learn from them what to do in different situations. It's like follow the leader.

Nope, I am just starting the oldest are about 6 weeks old, the youngest 3.

 

[Karalyn]

Of course. I love the Hill Country. Especially

here are a few pics of the set up. The first is basically their whole run. The posts are 10 foot 4x4’s set 2’ in the ground, 8 feet apart. The fencing is only 5’, but my daughter got me a HUGE net that covers the whole run down past the fencing, which keeps the chickens in and flying predators out. Hubbyput in some 2x6’s and a few 2x4’s for support, a couple sheets of corrugated metal for shade, then the misting system along the top. He also added some roosting posts for them.
I went through a few of the expensive, cheaply made coops (one of which is still in there. They congregate under it for shade and to get out of the rain) before I came up with the idea of purchasing an 8 x 8 shed in a box from Lowes. Hubby spent a week putting it together, building some roosting bars and adding a pop door. He ran electrical out there, so we have an exhaust fan and lights available inside and on the outside we have a dusk-dawn spotlight. I also have their nesting boxes and feeding station in there. The run is not in the least predator proof, but I haven’t lost a chicken since this coop was built, despite accidentally forgetting to close the pop door a couple of times. I think the light keeps the coons, possums and skunks away.

 

[sayccrn]

We live in central FL. I had a good fan from Northern Tool for a two years running 24/7 most of the year. When it died, I installed a 12” exhaust fan in one of the windows. My pen is 8x12” with 5 chickens. I have a roof with air flow under it. They hunker down in the sand (Which stays cool) when it gets really hot. Egg production slows. I keep thermometers in coop and pen. I got a mister from Rural King but haven’t used it yet. They run to cold treats like yogurt and unsweetened applesauce and apples. I think you have to have shade.

Well, I don't have shade, short of digging up a 50 foot shade tree, they will have to wait til my baby trees get bigger.

 

[sayccrn]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-1-2-in-x-12-ft-Professional-PVC-Misting-Kit-PMC1217K/311952837
I hope this link works. This is the system I have. It’s only 12’ long so I bought 3 of them. Hubby mounted it up around the top of the shaded section and we just have a garden hose running along the ground from the tap to the pipe.

cool thank you, doubt I could do it with what i have now. Will probably eventually pen off their coop, and let them free range while I am out working.

 

[Laurahowemt]

Now that's an idea, thanks so much. I will try that today.

Misting is what I was going to recommend. Evaporative cooling is powerful.

 

[sayccrn]

Sometimes the hens like to go into theyre 8'x4'x7' closed in coop to, I guess get out of the heat, though I thought it would warmer in there. However, I do have a two 15"x15" windows and a 10" fan in one of them. I had the fan facing outward to draw the heat out of coop but I just turned it around, since it faces the nest boxes, to see if that'll help with the laying. I'm gonna get another fan to put in the other window, to draw the heat out. We'll see how it goes.

Yup, waiitng on my fan

 

[sayccrn]

I don't remember for sure if I purchased the camouflage netting from Amazon or Academy...I'm thinking Amazon though.

I will Look, Thanks so much!

 

[Laurahowemt]

Well, I don't have shade, short of digging up a 50 foot shade tree, they will have to wait til my baby trees get bigger.

How about a temporary shade cloth strung over the top? Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075J93DTJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fijaFbH7ET7ZQ

 

[sayccrn]

How about a temporary shade cloth strung over the top? Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075J93DTJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fijaFbH7ET7ZQ

It's now in my cart! Thank you!