How can I keep my flock happy and cool in the summer heat?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I live in North Idaho, so we get all four seasons here, and with it being summer, we are getting up into the 90's and even 100's. Most of my run is shaded by a tree, and they can also go under the coop for more shade, but it still gets pretty warm in there! On top of the heat, I have all different breeds, including a Brahma, Wyandotte, Australorp (black), Orpingtons, Olive Egger, ISA Brown, and a Marans. I am especially worried about my Brahma, with all her beautiful (but warm) feathers. I of course refill their water every morning, and, starting tomorrow, I will put ice in it, but it still doesn't feel like enough. None of my hens are acting off, so I think they are ok as of now, but I want to prevent any sickness (or even death). What do you guys do to keep your flock cool in the summer? Any tips and tricks is appreciated!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Deep cool shade is the best thing-somewhere they can dig down into the dirt and spread out in the cool dirt. They will dig themselves little pits. It sounds like you have more shade than I did in Utah and my birds did fine. I lost one hen to heat stroke (i think) in ten years and that was one of my first. I didn’t know what I was doing and kept their waterer in the coop and didn’t have any shade for most of the day. After that I extended their run to go under a tree and never lost another one from it. She was a Salmon Faverolle so also feather footed

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Hi! There are definitely a ton of advice and posts just for this if you figure out search words to use.

We are in central IN and have Brahmas and keep them cool with fans(closed drum), deep shade, a low sled full of water, as well as at times watering the ground(can't think of better verbage lol)

our older girls handle it better than our newer ones, so they do adapt.

Older photos, the box fan was a have to situation that a didn't stay long but we had it on hand and we're home all day. So use caution with fans.

Good luck

 

[Thereschs]

Heat is so hard on our flock. We almost lost 1 to heat stroke in Florida a year ago.

We moved back to TN, and it gets hot here as well.

I freeze water in a bowl and bring it to them every afternoon.

I also give cucumbers cut up in water, this really promotes good hydration.

I tried a kiddy pool, but mine refused to go play in it.

We also had misters while in Florida. We are ver fortunate that our flock has lots of shade here in TN from trees, so it's not quite as hard on them.

We keep their dust bathing stations shaded as well, they do spend a lot of time in the cooler dirt