How do I keep my chickens cool in the heat?

[vharris458]

Hi guys! I have two black australorp chickens, two buff orphintons and two ameraucana chickens. I have been noticing that it seems as if they have been panting more than normal. As you know it is summer and where I live it gets up around the 90s. I was wondering if any of you guys had tips on how to keep my babies cool? I have been keeping their water fresh and cool, but would love to try some new ideas!

 

[wmgatorfan08]

I've been giving mine cold Gatorade in a separate waterer. I mix it about 1/3 to 1/4 as strong as I would drink.

 

[diana507]

I give mine cold watermelon and cold cucumbers from the fridge. I also just froze some kernel corn in muffin tins to give them the next hot day. Also when I do their water twice a day on hot days I put 2 trays of ice cubes in it to keep it cold longer. We had a really hot humid day this past weekend and I put a box fan and a window fan in their coop up high to circulate the air.

 

[beckycrouch5115]

We are Louisiana and it's hot hot hot! I also put can corn in a muffin tin and freeze them then pop them out for the girls, give cold cucumbers and cold watermelon to the girls. my kids give them popsicles! lol! not sure if thats good for them but they attack them! lol! they'll chase my 2 year old around the yard when hes trying to eat his popsicle! lol

 

[Percheron chick]

Throw all your kitchen scraps in a Ziploc bag and freeze them.

 

[ramsey590]

Box fan and ice in their water, I also have put a small shallow pan with water in it(no ice) so they can stand and waddle in it. When they come out of the water pan it makes the floor a little muddy and they lay in that also.

 

[rides2far]

We put up some misters purchased from Lowe's. They have really helped. We live in dry dry California, so I don't know if they would work where it's humid. We also have a large box fan going in the run with the misters & small window fans in the coop.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi guys! I have two black australorp chickens, two buff orphintons and two ameraucana chickens. I have been noticing that it seems as if they have been panting more than normal. As you know it is summer and where I live it gets up around the 90s. I was wondering if any of you guys had tips on how to keep my babies cool? I have been keeping their water fresh and cool, but would love to try some new ideas!

Lots of good info on BYC under managing your flock. 99 here today. 108 2 weeks ago. I got expert really fast! My avitar is a BO sitting on a block of ice! I need a life beyond chicken during the day, so here's my system. Deep shade ( a place that never gets sun). Fan and ventilation. Move the air. Chickens body temp is about 103, so move the air. I put frozen H20 bottles in the waterers to keep them cold all day. I freeze 1 gal H20 bottles to lay in the pen. The girls snuggle right up to them, on them (if you can find square bottles, they will lay on them!. That creates a cooling station. Frozen veggies or fruits of any kind. you can freeze them in a block way in advance. Watermelon is great! Careful with wet dirt/bedding due to bacteria bloom. a bag of sand box sand with a brick of ice makes a good cool resting spot. Some folks use misters. Wish I could but we're in a drought emergency. Not sure how they would work if you have humidity. Best of Luck!