high heat and humidity in Georgia

[Kelleysclucks]

Here in mid western GA we are having a nasty humid heat wave. I have been trying to keep my chickens cool by placing a fan to blow in under the coop where it is coolest. It is not safe due to a local hawk, for them to just free range. They have an 8' x4' run in front of the coop. They have water and shade. I give them cold vegetables and fruit once or twice a day. I usually let them out to free range for 20 or 30 minutes in the am and before bedtime.
Am I missing anything else to help them tolerate the heat and humidity?

 

[swamphiker]

I'm in N Florida, so I understand your struggle. The thing that has helped the most here is to put out a tray with a few inches of water so they can cool off by dipping their feet. Big chunks of ice or frozen watermelons are nice treats as well.

 

[TARDIS37379]

My girls love the big fan. I have a 1200 cfm fan that blows in the run and they just stand before it and let the breeze cool them

 

[LJ33]

In Wisconsin, we always have high humidity, but it has been exponentially worse the last few days. 95 degrees w/ 83 % humidity and 77% Dew point yesterday, it was horrible, we received a stay inside high heat warning.

I do the same with frozen fruits, I also put a bunch of ice cubes in the water bucket in the morning and keep that in the shade. My coop is raised and they have a 4x4 chunk of lumber to sit on, plus I put a couple bottles of frozen water under in the morning, helps give off cool air.

They also have several dirt areas. I have taken chunks of cool dirt from the spare garden space and toss it on the chickens dirt bath area. They love the cool ground.

I have a 5ft x2 foot plastic bin lid that holds about 1-2 inches of water. I fill that up, throw in a bunch of ice and they can walk in it or stand. Took them a few weeks to really use it.

Lots of fresh cold water and shade really. I wish I could bring them in the cool air conditioned house tho.

 

[aart]

I have been trying to keep my chickens cool by placing a fan to blow in under the coop where it is coolest

Not sure it's good to blow warmer air under the coop where it's cooler.


To help cool down the coop I have a box fan in the east window of coop, where it's shady most the day, and turn it on late afternoon...blows cooler air into coop and pushes hot air out.

To determine heat stress levels I go by activity level, if panting and wing holding seems extreme, I throw out a few treats to see if everyone is moving well.

Deep all day shade is best but....I don't have much of that.
This has worked very well to keep heat stress/stroke at bay:

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

I am in NE FL and 2nd the Save-A-Chick or another brand of electrolytes! Also if you can spray/hose down the ground & surrounding bushes where they lay in the shade is helpful & mine really enjoy the damp dirt! I also keep frozen water bottles in their waterers. I put 2 frozen 20oz bottles in a 1 gallon waterer. I reuse them & keep them wrapped in a grocery bag in the freezer.