How to handle big temp drops in summer

[Tortoise]

still in preparation for owning Orpington chickens next year.
How should I handle our crazy temps? Last 3 days or so very hot, 90's and high humidity. Today mid to upper 70's high humidity. Then early evening, drastic drop into the low 70's going into low to mid 60's over night.
This has been the norm for this summer. When the temps drop, they drop a lot. Only for a day or two though, then back up to high 80's-90's and usually with a high humidity. Can chickens handle that kind of quick change in temps or should I set up a heating system on a thermostat to hold the sleeping quarters into the 70's?.
Thank you for any help.

 

[Mrs. K]

You really need good shade, plenty of fresh water and air movement for very hot temperatures. Heat tends to bother them more than cold. Changing temperatures never seem to bother my girls at all. In western SD, it is not uncommon this time of year to have temperature swings 40+ degrees.

In the winter, you need dry with good ventilation. New people tend to think "keep them warm" but don't, keep them dry, and they will be warm.

If you are building - build a structure that blocks the prevailing wind, with a lot of ventilation on the other side. Do not add heat.

Good luck,

Mrs K

 

[Tortoise]

You really need good shade, plenty of fresh water and air movement for very hot temperatures. Heat tends to bother them more than cold. Changing temperatures never seem to bother my girls at all. In western SD, it is not uncommon this time of year to have temperature swings 40+ degrees.

In the winter, you need dry with good ventilation. New people tend to think "keep them warm" but don't, keep them dry, and they will be warm.

If you are building - build a structure that blocks the prevailing wind, with a lot of ventilation on the other side. Do not add heat.

Good luck,

Mrs K

I haven't built yet, doing all my research first. I don't plan on heating for winter. Didn't know if the crazy temps listed would call for anything different as far as heating.
I will be adding shade with shade cloths. My yard pretty much has very little to no shade for my tortoises which need lots of sun and heat. We purposely bought our house for the yard, as it was perfect for my tortoises. The chickens will be on the side that does get the shade first, around 5:00, but sun all day until then.
Will the shade cloths work good enough?
Thanks

 

[Mrs. K]

Well I think Chicago might have quite a bit of wind? Shade cloths could take a beating. Just some ideas, Pallets up on cement blocks will make a nice shady place underneath. In high heat times, I pour water on that spot, and they dig in the cooler sand. Pallets leaned against a saw horse or wall will give shade in the morning and in the afternoon. Shade is very important. It does not have to be all shady, but the option needs to be there.

Generally speaking the hottest temperatures are about 4:00 for us in the summer. One needs to look at the run, several times a day, and then add different shade spots during the day.

I find a cluttered run, with lots of places to get out of sight, to get behind or on top of makes for happier chickens. A wind shelter in the run, will be a favorite place.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

ps.. if you are in the planning stages. Plan for the number of birds that you think you need, but do not fill it completely unless you are getting less than 3 birds. It is better to be able to add a few birds in year two, cull and add in year three.

 

[Tortoise]

I will do that, several different options of shade. I will make sure they have shade for all times of the day. I was also planning on some sort of water source for them to get into.
Thanks for the help and ideas.

 

[Tortoise]

ps.. if you are in the planning stages. Plan for the number of birds that you think you need, but do not fill it completely unless you are getting less than 3 birds. It is better to be able to add a few birds in year two, cull and add in year three.

I am planning on 2 if possible otherwise 3. No culling here. I can't do that. These are strictly for pets. Don't even care if they don't produce eggs. Just want them as pets only.

 

[RWise]

To bad you are not closer to me, I need to downsize a bit soon (let go of some older girls that no longer lay much). So far I have been able to find them a pasture..

In the winter I do not add heat, just hang a curtain/blanket over the north end of the coop to block the north wind. The north wall is completely open to air (covered with hardware cloth). My roosts are up to 8 feet,,,
The temps here have been not so high this year

 

[flyin-lowe]

I am in central Indiana so my overall temps are pretty close to yours, maybe not quite as much wind but not sure on that. I learned early on that most hardy breeds of chickens can handle most temps as long as they have plenty of ventilation. IMO ventilation is more important then temps. The ridge cap on my coop is open (hardware cloth to keep predators out), under all of my eaves is open, and my coop has 4 windows. They have all been open since I built the coop 3 years ago. As you know the midwest has had some brutal winters the last few years and I haven't seen any ill affects on the hens. As long as there is no snow on the ground they will venture out unless it gets brutally cold. We had plenty of nights last two winters with wind chill temps -20 to -30 degrees. Good ventilation keeps the moisture out to help with frostbite. There are plenty of people a lot further north then us that keep chickens in coops that are not temperature controlled.
I do keep a tarp over half of my run to provide shade in the summer. I buy one at the local hardware store for $10.00 and they last a year, sometimes two.

 

[Tortoise]

I am in central Indiana so my overall temps are pretty close to yours, maybe not quite as much wind but not sure on that. I learned early on that most hardy breeds of chickens can handle most temps as long as they have plenty of ventilation. IMO ventilation is more important then temps. The ridge cap on my coop is open (hardware cloth to keep predators out), under all of my eaves is open, and my coop has 4 windows. They have all been open since I built the coop 3 years ago. As you know the midwest has had some brutal winters the last few years and I haven't seen any ill affects on the hens. As long as there is no snow on the ground they will venture out unless it gets brutally cold. We had plenty of nights last two winters with wind chill temps -20 to -30 degrees. Good ventilation keeps the moisture out to help with frostbite. There are plenty of people a lot further north then us that keep chickens in coops that are not temperature controlled.
I do keep a tarp over half of my run to provide shade in the summer. I buy one at the local hardware store for $10.00 and they last a year, sometimes two.

At what temps should I not allow them to even go outside? I will have the whole run along with the coop, blocked from wind and hopefully snow.