How is everyone managing heat stress?

[HeatherLynn]

I just added my younger group into the coop and run and they are panting a bit. There is shade. The older ones are fine but the younger seem to be a bit stressed out by heat.

I've been misting the run a bit and probably need to put up more shade cloth. What else can be done? Will the misting cause any health issues. They have been running around under the mister which is the only time they are really active today.

Curious what others do to combat the heat.

 

[Toby96]

I free-range mine during the day, they wonder round and often find shade and just sit there for an hour or 2, would only make sure they always have enough clean water and sufficent shade

 

[rancher hicks]

Well here in Syracuse,NY we don't have a problem with heat. In fact it's too darn cold. I turned the furnace on twice yesterday just to warm up the house. Global warming can't get here soon enough for me.
The chiks stay in the coop when the sun does shine. I'm just starting so there is no shade on their run. Yet.

 

[HeatherLynn]

I would love to free range but my doggies are really wanting to eat my gals. They have shade a couple shade shrubs in with them and then a couple trees that overhang the run.

I'm just hoping I am not going to make the little buggers sick by misting them. I do it with our parrots but... well just hope its ok to do.

 

[citrusdreams]

Mine free range all day, and take shelter under anything, like under the deck, under the car, under out buildings.

You can add ice to their water.

 

[CoopCrazy]

My girls are doing the same thing .... I keep fresh coldwater in their coop , shade with sheets , make them a sprinkler with the hose, and hope for the best... The sprinkler seems to cool them down the best I juts hose em down a few times a day and they instantly cool down ... Also I have been spraying the roof of there coop with the hose ... I can definitly feel a difference in there afterwords...

 

[espressola]

We had a hot spell for a few days a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't ready for that one (the girls were panting a bit in the coop with wings spread out) but now I have prepared ice blocks made from yogurt and cottage cheese containers (large ones) to put in my galvanized waterers on hot days. I also filled gallon milk containers with water and have frozen them to put around the coop for the girls to sit on when it's hot.

Outside we have shadecloth or they like to go under the coop and dig around in the cool dirt. I will also rig up a mister once I figure out the best spot for it. When it gets hot I also bring on the chilled watermelon and frozen grapes... that seems to help too.

Patty N. ;-)

 

[clucky2]

Hi there River Pines, I know the heat wave your talking about! It was a first for my new chickens and got my attention about what to do for the next heat wave. Love your ideas.....thanks.
Question: Do your chickens sit directly on the ice blocks, or do you cover them with say a plastic crate or anything. ( Ooo, I like that idea )

~cathy

 

[sparkles2307]

We live in MN, thats how we combat the heat. No one told me when I moved here that it takes till June to hit 70 degrees...this blows!

 

[espressola]

Where do you live, Clucky? Are we neighbors? I haven't actually placed the blocks in the coop yet since of course it hasn't been hot again since then (we're expecting thunderstorms, go figure, are we in Kansas?) naturally. But I've used the jugs before for rabbits in hot weather and they snuggle next to them, I've read on here that hens will either nestle next to them or sit on top... I may put a low pan of water in the coop too for them to stand in when it's hot. I've read that's good too, or cold yogurt... margaritas by the pool with a pool boy fanning- oh wait, that's me, LOL! Anyway, the poor kids looked miserable, what's a mother to do?

Patty N. ;-)