hot weather management

[paintlady]

Our temperatures are running 95 to 105. Has anyone experimented with running a mister so the hens don't look so warm? It seems that they are panting even tho they have shade cloth and two full waterers.

 

[kipper]

Are you in the Northwest? We are in Western Washington and have had all time record temps, and we have been challenged by the heat, too. It was 104 on Wednesday! We are usually in the 70s or 80s, maybe low 90s, so this is all new to us.

We set up a fan in our rafters to foster air flow. Also put out pans of water for them to stand in and drink from. Wet down the run so they have cool earth. I've heard of misters being used, some people even using the head old an adjustable spayer set on mist mounted above the pen. Chickens seem to not like getting wet (rain) so I'm not sure how that would work. Also, water melon, grapes, lettuce for a treat in the hot part of the day.

Don't laugh, but DH and I took turns with a spray bottle of warm water and misted them down on the 100 plus days. It DID help, we didn't lose a single bird. They were panting, wing spreading, lathargic, - it was pitiful! But they seemed more comforatable after the mist.

I know hot climate people think we are weenies (I used to live in Phoenix, I Know), but it's hard for man or beast to tollerate heat if they are not accustomed to it!

 

[Debo's Chickens]

kipper, aren't you glad those triple digit days are over! For now at least. I'm wondering what August will bring. On the one hand, August is usually very hot here. But on the other hand, our weather's not exactly been normal this year! I learned a lot about coping w/ extreme heat through this last one.

paintlady, I definitely 2nd the recommendation to wet down the ground, or put down ice which will melt & wet the ground. My chickens didn't want to get wet, but wanted to dig down into the moist ground in the shade & lay there. I don't have a mister though; that might work better.

I froze water in a plastic container (use a kind that you will be able to get the ice out of) & put that in their water. The big block of ice takes a lot longer to melt than ice cubes.

I also gave mine frozen corn kernels for a treat. Corn was all I had on hand, but next time I'm going to try frozen peas. I thought partially frozen watermelon chunks or grapes would be good too.