How Can you keep chickens cool in summer heat?

[Criticalicious]

I also put a brick in a tub with ice water.
The brick soaks up the water and as it evaporates it keeps them cold as they stand on it

I love this idea. Mine are scared to get their feet wet but maybe if the ground was solid they'd use the pool

 

[Kazedwards]

I have put large ice chunks in their water a few times. I also took some small lettuce crowns and watermelon chucks and put them in a metal bowl to freeze over night. Put it in their run the next day. Our coop and run is all sun the run get shade in the evening bc of the coop though. They tend to just hang out in the coop all day because of it. It does have a large window that is always open on the south side along with smaller one on the north. Also additional ventilation gap about 4” high at the top. They are struggling mid day but making it.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

I have put large ice chunks in their water a few times. I also took some small lettuce crowns and watermelon chucks and put them in a metal bowl to freeze over night. Put it in their run the next day. Our coop and run is all sun the run get shade in the evening bc of the coop though. They tend to just hang out in the coop all day because of it. It does have a large window that is always open on the south side along with smaller one on the north. Also additional ventilation gap about 4” high at the top. They are struggling mid day but making it.

It would probably help if you got a tarp or tin to put over the majority of the run. That seems to be a lot of time to spend in a coop. Other disorders come grom too much time confined its a cheap and easy fix to add a 10x12 tarp to a run. For my broilers I just get the silver backed uv ones and it’s like $20 and drops temps to around 10°. Add a mister with a timer for another $35 and drop the temp 10° more. That will increase egg production and if they are broilers it will increase meat production. Broilers won’t eat when they are hot. No eating is no weight gain.

 

[Kazedwards]

I’m planning on some sort of a cover in the run. I am wanting to plant taller flowers and such around it like zinnias and sunflowers to provide some summer shade. It’s just been so hot and dry I don’t they will take. Eventually I will landscape around it with taller perennials.

 

[Criticalicious]

OK maybe mine are a bit spoiled, but I put a cheap rollup sun shade from Lowe's on one end of the run that gets too much sun in the afternoon and on an adjacent side, I hung a 70% UV shade to block sunlight. Then on the extra sunny hot days, they have more shade. Seems to help and everything is relatively adjustable or removable, as needed.

 

[InDirt]

kiddie pools work (or smaller ground-birdbaths) - put some sand in the bottom to keep their feet from slipping. Put some bugs to float in the water and that will get them in there (at least it does for my chickens). Once they are in there, they will come back. Not all of my chickens like it, but if one chicken likes it, others will give it a try to see what the deal is.
My chickens like shade and lots of water to drink. Texas gets hot. The more densely meat-ed chickens do not take heat well - Jersey Giants are ones I have had trouble with, though they have the larger combs to help keep cool. They are also slow at escaping predators. I imagine the shorter legged chickens would be similar/same for both heat and predators.
I have also frozen a juice bottle's worth of water and stuck it in their bucket that dispenses through chicken nipples.
I have also had other chicken raisers laugh at my pampering my chickens in these ways. Don't care. Can't help it.

 

[Jami F]

I have a box fan in their coop window blowing out for ventilation. Should I have it blow in when it’s so hot? They are free range all day so it’s only at night I’m worried.

 

[Bodhisan]

I just read that mint naturally lowers body temperature - I haven’t researched it and have no idea how much, but if they’ll eat it, that might help, as well.

 

[Jami F]

I have several saucers of cold water around the yard and constantly replenish. The darn chickens drink the water that spills over in puddles and not the saucer!