HOT Weather!!! I need some help!!!

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

OK. Lately we have been having some VERY HOT weather (for our area). It's been in the 80's and i am worried about the chicks. They are about 10 or 11 weeks old. We don't have the run built YET (ugh!!). So they are in the coop. There are two sliding windows that are wide open also i can open the main doors & they wont get out but it still gets pretty hot in there. They have plenty of fresh water. Is there anything i can do to make it cooler and less stressing for them???!!!


Thanks!

~Trista~

 

[Mrs.Puff]

You need to post this in the "managing your flock" area.

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

i dont know how???

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

PLEASE!!!!!!!!! I just went down there and it was 90 degrees F. with the windows open!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

 

[trilyn]

If you have electric or can run an extension cord, put a fan in there. A box fan would work just fine, make sure they have plenty of water and also you could put frozen bottles of water out there. I've heard that if they're very hot, they will lie next to them. Just watch them, if they're panting and lying flat, then they're hot. If they're still moving around and fairly active, they're okay. I hope someone more knowledgeable comes soon! Good luck and

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

THANKS!!!!! That helps a ton!!!!!!!

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

I still need more ideas!! Freezing water bottles takes a while!

 

[BigSkyChickens]

If you don't have time to freeze bottles, try bottles of ice water. Mine loved them. Chickens were even resting their feet on them to get cool. Don't worry, they'll be OK!
On the REALLY hot day last week, I went to the liquor store, bought a block of ice, put in a plant saucer and put the oscillating fan behind it.

 

[TXmom]

I don't know where you are, but it's definitely getting hot down here in TX. It's been in the 90's already. My chickens are doing pretty good so far, they're 17 weeks old.

I put ice in their waterer a few times...it's fun to watch them peck at the ice cubes. I also set up the sprinkler (on a "mist" type setting) next to their run to see if they liked it....just for a few minutes to cool down the sand in the run, and hopefully the air temps too. Next I'm going to try the frozen bottles idea. I have a feeling it's going to be a looooong hot summer!

 

[pipermark]

Keep in mind the chickens internal temp is around 100, give them plenty of water and shade and they will be fine.