Extreme heat issues

[Beckys Birds]

Im struggling keeping there water cool at 85 degrees. Any tips on how to keep it cool?

I do a science thing that really does work! Take any bottle that will fit in the water container: Gatorade/Powerade bottles, vinegar bottles, milk jugs, 2 liter soda bottles, regular water bottles, whatever works, and fill them with cotton balls. Not tightly packed, but do stuff them full. Fill with water and freeze. That easy! The cotton makes the water stay frozen WAY longer. We are in south central KY, and hour outside of Nashville, TN, and it gets HOT here. We only have to rotate the bottles 2x a day. We also add a touch of salt, a pinch of baking soda, a splash of ACV, and a dolop of molasses to the 5 gallons of water to add electrolytes. It also encourages tthem to drink. I haven't lost a bird to the heat since.

 

[PsTodd]

Hey all.

Down here in North Jersy, the temps are getting up to 100 degrees F soon. Im struggling keeping there water cool at 85 degrees. Any tips on how to keep it cool? I put ice and frozen ice bottles in it while keeping it in the shade, but that does not seem to help. On top of that, how do I make sure my hens will be okay at 101 degrees F. If I keep them inside for a bit, wont that heat shock them? Where there coop and run is located its straight in the heat, some trees surround it but that doesn't do much.

Thanks guys!

Texas here- freeze big bottles, bundt cake pans, etc and put those where your chickens lay & hang out. Also a shallow pan of water for them to cool their feet. That has definitely helped here in 110+ degrees. If they are panting put their feet in cool water and try to get their combs wet. I almost lost a hen but pulled her out of impending heat stroke but doing that. Good luck up north it is predicted to be unbearable hot.

 

[RockyMtnMama]

Here's the article that @BoundlessLove was trying to link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

Most importantly is shade, ventilation, and lots of water. Not sure what type of waterer you have but I have several different types and noticed the chickens enjoy dunking their wattles in water when it's super hot out.

I fill several Gatorade bottles (leaving some space at the top) with water and freeze it. Then alternate dropping one into their water to cool it down.

 

[RockyMtnMama]

I did this for a while and it helped. Then I bought a 2 pack of rectangular silicone ice molds (I think people use them for human “ice baths”. When full they weigh 8 lbs which I believe is one gallon. I drop one in their water each morning. Having the two pack lets me have a fresh one every morning.

 

[was 3 now 2]

Hi, Same question, lost 1 chicken today.

oh no! from the heat?

 

[purplevicki]

Hey all.

Down here in North Jersy, the temps are getting up to 100 degrees F soon. Im struggling keeping there water cool at 85 degrees. Any tips on how to keep it cool? I put ice and frozen ice bottles in it while keeping it in the shade, but that does not seem to help. On top of that, how do I make sure my hens will be okay at 101 degrees F. If I keep them inside for a bit, wont that heat shock them? Where there coop and run is located its straight in the heat, some trees surround it but that doesn't do much.

Thanks guys!

Hose down areas around the coop hourly, cooling the area brings temp down a lot. Our LA heat of 100 or more, is at least 30 days a year.
]For cooling water, Take Pint sized (or whatever size fits) containers and freeze water in them, plop large ice "cube" directly into water dispenser.

 

[sbillmyer]

Hey all.

Down here in North Jersy, the temps are getting up to 100 degrees F soon. Im struggling keeping there water cool at 85 degrees. Any tips on how to keep it cool? I put ice and frozen ice bottles in it while keeping it in the shade, but that does not seem to help. On top of that, how do I make sure my hens will be okay at 101 degrees F. If I keep them inside for a bit, wont that heat shock them? Where there coop and run is located its straight in the heat, some trees surround it but that doesn't do much.

Thanks guys!

I live in northern California where we have many days of 100 degree weather in the summer months. We have had backyard chickens for over 10 years and learned a lot the first couple of years after losing a few of our girls from the heat. Fortunately there is a small window in their coop and we put a small window air conditioner which was a little over $200 dollars to leave on in the hot evenings when the girls are panting from the heat. We also have a couple of misters set up in the yard when they can freely wander through the mist during the daytime. We haven't lost a hen from the heat since.

 

[Carter4671]

I live in NV where it is always hot. I add ice cubes to their water 2 times a day and they are fine. Maybe mine got used to the heat, i see them pant but they are surviving

 

[Stephh13]

Hey all.

Down here in North Jersy, the temps are getting up to 100 degrees F soon. Im struggling keeping there water cool at 85 degrees. Any tips on how to keep it cool? I put ice and frozen ice bottles in it while keeping it in the shade, but that does not seem to help. On top of that, how do I make sure my hens will be okay at 101 degrees F. If I keep them inside for a bit, wont that heat shock them? Where there coop and run is located its straight in the heat, some trees surround it but that doesn't do much.

Thanks guys!

Hey all.

Down here in North Jersy, the temps are getting up to 100 degrees F soon. Im struggling keeping there water cool at 85 degrees. Any tips on how to keep it cool? I put ice and frozen ice bottles in it while keeping it in the shade, but that does not seem to help. On top of that, how do I make sure my hens will be okay at 101 degrees F. If I keep them inside for a bit, wont that heat shock them? Where there coop and run is located its straight in the heat, some trees surround it but that doesn't do much.

Thanks guys!

We put a fan in their coop and another in their run. I also chopped up some fruit and put it in a plastic bowl with water and the froze it. It gave them a nice cool treat.

 

[Themellowyellows]

I do a science thing that really does work! Take any bottle that will fit in the water container: Gatorade/Powerade bottles, vinegar bottles, milk jugs, 2 liter soda bottles, regular water bottles, whatever works, and fill them with cotton balls. Not tightly packed, but do stuff them full. Fill with water and freeze. That easy! The cotton makes the water stay frozen WAY longer. We are in south central KY, and hour outside of Nashville, TN, and it gets HOT here. We only have to rotate the bottles 2x a day. We also add a touch of salt, a pinch of baking soda, a splash of ACV, and a dolop of molasses to the 5 gallons of water to add electrolytes. It also encourages tthem to drink. I haven't lost a bird to the heat since.

Thanks! Ill try that next time it gets real hot out. It went from 100° F, to 65° F so thats odd. Thanks for the tip, ill keep you updated on how it works for my flock.