Good tips that you use to keep chickens cool in the summer when it is 100°

[DatCampG]

It is 1:12 a.m. 81° feels like 89° as I take stylus in hand to write this.
I'm dreading the 100° temperature Sunday 6/12/22.
"I have to create and work with what I have on hand laying around the farm."
In Texas where I live, it is supposed to be 3° hotter than it was Saturday. I'm expecting the temperature humidity index to be more intense (115-119°) possibly. I will be checking on my birds every hour. Spread the chicken love. Add your experience (or ask questions) Thank you for tuning in.

 

[Chicks in VA]

feed watermelon
apples without core
cucumber
put ice in there water make sure they have shade

 

[Silexian]

My coops and runs get shade from close by trees. When the temperatures soar I let the chickens out to free range earlier in the day. They usually gather in the shade of a large bush in the yard and spend a lot of time dust bathing. I keep their water fresh and in the shade, in an attempt to keep it cooler. I also offer vegetables with a lot of water content.

 

[mccmeadows]

we feed electrolyte soaked frozen fruit and vegetables on really hellish days. we worked on the venting and air circulation in our barn as well so hopefully it’s better than last year. looks like you have plenty of shade for them too which is good

 

[aldarita]

I also live in Texas, we're under heat advisory right now. It will go up to 103F today. My chickens keep under the bushes, their run is shaded and I lightly water the sand inside so they can bathe in cool damp sand. I give them water with electrolytes. Their waterers are also placed in the shade. In the heat of the day, I spray cool water outside on the grass so they can walk on wet grass to cool their feet. If only I could convince them to get in the pans with water to cool their feet which helps a lot but only few do that.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

75 now. Feels almost 90, humidity at almost 100%. Dewpoint is 74+, which was the overnight low. Today's high should be 91, humidity is expected to drop to 76%, with a "feels like" of 104. Depending on when the TStorms roll in, Wednesday could have feels likes in the 110-118 range (just a tiny change in humidity makes a huge difference at 95F), they are currently forecasting "feels like 108" for the afternoon.

Plenty of shade. Natural is superior to artificial, but they have plenty of both. Dust bathing in the world's largest heat sink (the ear, a few inches down, is cooler than the surface by a good margin). Lots of fresh cool water to drink, very limited activity. Pray for a breeze - passive ventilation in both coops.

We can't add moisture, for obvious reasons.

 

[sdm111]

We should be at 108 heat index today 91at daylight. I believe families from the area acclimate and take it better nut it's still rough. As said and I would add nothing or as close to nothing with corn as possible. Corn raises body temperature

 

[sdm111]

Also I feed soaked oates in the dead of summer for more water intake and they love it.

 

[Jaime918]

I've been storing jugs of water in the fridge to give in the hottest parts of the day,

mine love frozen blueberries and frozen watermelon (I got a deal at the grocery store for several personal size for $1 each so I froze them in halves) They like to stand on them too.

I run misters and fans which misters obviously isn't ideal in already humid areas.

I also plan to purchase a kiddie pool sometime this week and see if they are willing to dip their feet, probably not but worth a shot.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Also I feed soaked oates in the dead of summer for more water intake and they love it.

That reminds me, forgot to add - my feed is crumble from the local mill - I make it for them in the evenings as a wet mash with 63-65 degree well water, once the sun hits the tree line.