How to keep chickens cool on hot days?

[humblehillsfarm]

It got so hot last year that I had to go buy a canopy to put over my coop and buy fans to put in their windows to keep the air flowing. I made sure to give them plenty of water rich snacks like watermelon and iceberg lettuce. The most important thing though is to try to avoid breeds that are heavily feathered, like cochins. Unfortunately I have cochins, but I didn't know the effects heat would have on them in those early days. The heat is hard on them and my hen stops egg laying for most of the summer.

 

[aart]

So what is the average temperature when we need to worry about our chickens? Like if it's 95 degrees all day?

You have to watch them and their behaviors....
....panting, wings held out, lethargy(won't come for treats is my 'test').
See my post above on how to help keep the cool.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So what is the average temperature when we need to worry about our chickens? Like if it's 95 degrees all day?

Chickens can start panting lightly as low as 85. By mid 90s I'd definitely consider additional water sources (I give them plant saucers of water to stand in) or shade sources to help them cool off. Up past 100+ I'd think you'd start seeing incidents of heatstroke.

 

[AnotherKim]

Mine free range so they come up on the shady porch to get out of the sun. I freeze water in 20 oz soda bottles and put those in the waterier. I've also put the flat, plastic, Blue Ice bottles under a turned over terra-cotta saucer. They sit on it to keep cool. I froze strawberries and corn with water in ice trays. The chickens love those, but they scarf them down so fast that I don't know if it actually helps.

 

[lnsoaps]

Chickens can start panting lightly as low as 85. By mid 90s I'd definitely consider additional water sources (I give them plant saucers of water to stand in) or shade sources to help them cool off. Up past 100+ I'd think you'd start seeing incidents of heatstroke.

Thank you. This is good to know.As North Carolina sometimes gets up into the high 90s.

 

[BabasCoop]

We have several days every summer where it gets over 100. But my chicks have LOTS of shade. I may do the small pool thing with an ice block though.