How to keep chickens cool

[TwoCrows]

Oh...you should do the sand bath too!!! I use sand in my run and I hose it down on hot days. And when I go sit with the chickens and the sand is really cool, I will dig my hands down deep into the sand and it feels so good!!

 

[chicken-herder]

I was actually reading about the benefits of sand earlier and I think I might just give it a try- sounds preferable to my current hay fiasco!- and now with the added benefits of cooling and exfoliation!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh...you have GOT to try sand. I worship the stuff now.

It is very easy to clean, there is NO poop smells, it repels flies, it stays dry even when wet, (if that makes sense, LOL) soft on the feet, the chickens love to scratch in it and it comes with natural gizzard stones! I dig mine out of nearby washes and arroyo's for free. Here is a link to a great thread that will give you some ideas about the hows and whys of sand......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh and I use it in the coop and nest boxes too!!!!!!

 

[chicken-herder]

Thanks so much for the thread! Have a great weekend

 

[gander007]

Can someone please give me ideas on how to keep chickens cool. It is over 110 degrees in Arizona and I am becoming worried about my hens in this heat wave.

Alright

great to have you here with us

Well that is a good question as I live in Death Valley California and it get's up in the 120's* F so let me tell you
what I do when it is hot and I have never had a heat loss with my birds but you will have a nice water bill as
I tend to water the ground in the shaded areas and I have out plenty of water buckets also .........





Can you see the straw on the ground it helps to keep their
feet a little cooler and off the sand .........





And I never use cracked corn after it get's to 100* F but cooked
rice seems to satisfy them and I only feed a little in the morning
and then a good amount in the evening's .......


So some shade and water are the most important items for a
healthy flock in the desert ........








gander007

 

[Marthab1953]

Welcome to BYC from Riverside California!

 

[chicken-herder]

Well despite all my efforts, my one baby roo was not feeling well from the heat yesterday- I thought he had developed a sudden neurological disorder with hanging wings, a sloapy gait and was just plopping down all the time! I was so worried! Thankfully he was fine this morning and they all get to hang in the lounge today- the coolest part of the house I read that they should not be getting ACV when it is so hot and some electrolytes in their water should pep them up further Lisa from the fresh eggs daily blog has a nice simple electrolyte mix: '" Here is a simple Homemade Electrolyte Recipe that is easy to mix up in a pinch:

1 Cup Water
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda

Use full strength on severely ailing chickens, otherwise mix into their drinking water as needed, a cup per gallon of water.

Replacing the electrolytes lost during times of oppressive heat could mean the difference between life and death to your chickens.

You can also add this electrolyte mix to water for your dogs, cats, horses and other animals. Even mix into a little fruit juice for yourself or your kids."

 

[TwoCrows]

Sorry to hear about your roo! But I am glad he is better. Heat stroke is brutal. And sometimes no matter what you do, you can lose them if it gets hot enough. And yes, electrolytes really help them out!

 

[chickie farmer]

I live in Michigan and our temps reach from below 0 to above 90's so our chickens have to get used to both. but what I do when it gets hot is keep 2 or 3 water bottles filled with water in the big freezer. then I have a tub of water I got from the hospital for washing and set it in the run (or out of the run). I lay one frozen bottle in the bottom. Then when the bottle is thawed out, I put another one in it and put it back in the freezer. Of course, I use a gallon zip-lock bag to put the bottles in so I don't have to worry about putting dirty bottles in the freezer. Works great for me and my hens.