Hot in the coop?

[murgiyan]

My 14 week old chicks slept in their coop for the first time last night. I was nervous. I was afraid of that bobcat or that raccoon breaking in. The night went well. They seem to like it in there. They were free ranging in my backyard all day until yesterday and would sleep in my garage at night.

I saw someone here say that They left their chicks in the coop for 3-4 days to get them used to sleeping and living in there. I am thinking of doing the same.

However, i’s been really hot these last few days. Yesterday was close to 110 degrees so I brought them inside the house from 1-6pm. Today is again supposed to be 100 plus temperature. There are no trees in that area and direct sun on the coop from about 12noon to 4pm.

Will they be ok in the coop? There is plenty of ventilation at the top on 2 sides across from each other.

thanks!

 

[sourland]

If you leave them in the coop, observe closely to make sure they do not overheat.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

My 14 week old chicks slept in their coop for the first time last night. I was nervous. I was afraid of that bobcat or that raccoon breaking in. The night went well. They seem to like it in there. They were free ranging in my backyard all day until yesterday and would sleep in my garage at night.

I saw someone here say that They left their chicks in the coop for 3-4 days to get them used to sleeping and living in there. I am thinking of doing the same.

However, i’s been really hot these last few days. Yesterday was close to 110 degrees so I brought them inside the house from 1-6pm. Today is again supposed to be 100 plus temperature. There are no trees in that area and direct sun on the coop from about 12noon to 4pm.

Will they be ok in the coop? There is plenty of ventilation at the top on 2 sides across from each other.

thanks!View attachment 2323632

I live in Mississippi and have dealt with heat and humidity like this since June. My girls are 17 weeks old and they still like to sleep close snuggled together. It’s hard to believe but they do. I got all nine at the same time and they are three each of three different breed so the three of each are sisters but they all think they are sisters anyway. Our coop is very large for just nine hens and well ventilated. They even go inside there during the day because I leave the door open for them just Incase it storms or something. We also have monthly tornado test warnings at noon on the first Saturday of the month and we live very close to the town alarm system. So it is loud at our house and even our dogs hate it and shake. They have gotten used to it some but like to retreat to the coop when it goes off. We haven’t installed the automatic coop door yet I bought so I am going to see how they do with it. But anyway as to the heat they don’t seem to mind ever being close to each other in sleep and the coop seems to actually be cooler to them at night. I think if you lock them up at 8:00 you will be okay. I have never had a problem.

 

[centralcaligirl]

Personally I would keep bringing them in until the afternoon until the heat wave is over. They aren’t fully feathered out yet so they don’t have the ability to withstand the heat like an adult chicken would. Why take an unnecessary risk? Especially locked inside like that. The temp outside might be 110 but the temp inside the coop at that time of day with no shade could be closer to 115.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Personally I would keep bringing them in until the afternoon until the heat wave is over. They aren’t fully feathered out yet so they don’t have the ability to withstand the heat like an adult chicken would. Why take an unnecessary risk? Especially locked inside like that. The temp outside might be 110 but the temp inside the coop at that time of day with no shade could be closer to 115.

Oh if you don’t have any shade that is another story. I didn’t catch that part. Definitely bring them in. It’s not worth the risk is right. You can always have plenty of time for learning the ropes of the coop and roosting later after all this crappy heat and hot weather has become a thing that of the past. Good luck to you and your flock in managing all this heat.

 

[murgiyan]

Thank you guys you’re awesome!

 

[centralcaligirl]

We are projected to be 111 today. My littles come inside in the afternoon during the hottest part of the day, the bigs stay outside in the run with their feet planted in the mud with ice blocks draining over their feet to keep the mud cool. Nobody is in the coop.

And I have even had to put the bigs in the laundry room for an hour or so to take a break from the heat twice this year. Even fully feathered, with shade and mud and ice, they were struggling.

 

[centralcaligirl]

Thank you guys you’re awesome!

Next week is probably better!

 

[murgiyan]

This is where I keep them in the house.

 

[murgiyan]

Are you in Central Valley?