HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR CHICKENS COOL!!!!!!!!!

[KatieKanDo]

Great idea! I will do that this July. When it gets above 90 degrees they start panting. Now I've got some great ideas to help them out.

Thanks!

 

[Carpenter Coop]

I put a mister system in and at first they would run, pretty sure they're hens, lol.
Now they walk through it.
It's only a foot and a half off the ground, so the ground gets a little moist.
In 100+ deg in Vegas it does dry up Fairly quick. I also rake it with dry dirt.

Btw half of the run is a compost mix for lawns and gardens. Supplier said it was green, all organic. Seems to drain well and they like to dust in it.

I'm new to this and my chicks are just over a month. They seem to be happy.

 

[Fletch83]

I'm feeling the heat right about now too - July in Texas. Chickens have plenty of natural shade and are living the good life with a combination of a box fan which is set on a timer to run during the hottest part of the day, and a misting system. It's like a chicken spa in there right now. They also get loads of ice water, dirt for dust bathing which seems to help, and they really seem to love frozen cherry tomatoes! Don't underestimate the cooling power of a chicken dunk - I don't hesitate to dunk my chicken's feet and bellies in a bucket of cool water and it stops their panting almost immediately. I get a lot of indignant looks when the water messes up their carefully-preened feathers, but it's better than being too hot.

This is the mister I use: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Orbit-Cobra-Mistand-10057W/100373188. Inexpensive and durable. Combined with the box fan they get a nice cool breeze which really seems to help.