How Do You Cool Off Your Chickens? (112 degrees in Southern NM!)

[Patchesnposies]

My girls are H-O-T and it is making me sad to see them suffering.

I keep wetting the ground on their favorite dust bathing spots and feeding them frozen vegetables. I am allowing them to lay on the concrete floor of the patio.....I would love some other ideas for keeping them cooled off.

I found one of my favorite hens laying on the floor of the coop, almost passed out, panting heavily. I brought her in and ran cool water all over her and she is resting in our dogs bed.

I am so worried that I will start to lose birds.

Any suggestions anyone?

Deb

 

[quail newbie]

I have a sprinkler that makes mist that I put in front of the run between our birds and the sun, they don't get wet and it really seems to cool the air. it gets to be about 40 degrees C here (somewhere over 100 F) so I do that on the hot days

 

[H2OKarensa]

check the arizona chickens thread. We have some good suggestions for keeping our flocks cool.

 

[gritsar]

We have what they call (in the commercial chicken trade) foggers leftover from the commercial houses. My DH just decided we are going to install them next week to cover the chicken's most popular resting spot. It will create a heavy "fog" of cool water. We don't want to use them in the coop and deal with the wet litter from them.

 

[TexasVet]

Hot as heck in Texas too. The weatherman said it's the worst summer since the early 1900s. 40% chance of rain tomorrow, followed by 4 more days of 50-60% chance. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I went through the threads and collected more than a dozen ideas for keeping your chickens cool(er). You can find them here: http://www.countrychickens.com/country_chickens_4_007.htm

Kathy, Bellville TX

 

[Danceswithchicks]

Keep your chickens in the shade, turn on the sprinker, and set a fan up in the coop. Make sure the chickens have access to cold water all day.

 

[#1California Chick]

Quote:
Thanks for all the GREAT tips!!!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

THIS

 

[Patchesnposies]

First of all, thanks to everyone for the tips.

Especially the link sent by Kathy in Belleville, TX. Awesome info! Thanks so much for posting it!

So many wonderful ideas, everyone. I and my chickens thank you all.

Deb-in the scorching White Sands of Southern New Mexico

 

[mdbokc]

I start the misters in their run every day when the temperature hits 90 degrees. They seem enjoy staying slightly wet. They have a couple of tubs of water that they occassionally stand in. And I place ice in their drinking water midafternoon, at which time they gather around and drink heavily. And this doesn't even include their refrigerated treats. I just want them to survive the heat wave. And so far so good with minimal stess.