Living in southern Arizona I know it can be hard to keep your chickens cool in the summer time. I've found some good methods that I thought I would share.
Note(by aart) : Remember, every area has differing humidity that should be taken into account
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1) Homemade missters
Store bought missting systems can be expensive, but it's not to hard to make your own! Find some old pipes (preferably ones that can screw to your hose, if you can't, department stores have easy enactments for as low as a couple bucks) Once you have your pipe get a strong needle, not too thick though, and poke a small section of about 5-10 holes every 10 or so inches (I find it easier if you heat up the needle first) Make sure you close up one end of the pipe well so the water doesn't just come out. Now find some wire and hang that can bad boy up in or near your coop or run (remember, you'll be hooking your hose up to it so don't put it somewhere it's going to be a bother to get around) Now that you was it nice and secure, screw your hose up to it! Vending on the kind of hose you have you may have to run it up high, you need some pressure going through there. And if all goes well you should have your very own missting system!
2) What's that? Your chickens are afraid of your missting systems? No worries! I've had the same problem. There's an easy fix, make a mud dusting hole! It's very easy, dig a gold about a foot deep and however wide you want it, put a water resistant trap in the hole (thks is so the water don't just seep into the ground) fill it back up with dirt and poor some water in there! Your chickens should dust bath in it just like chickens do. Now I had the problem of the water evaporating too quick, but there a fix for that too! Go to your local reptile shop, they'll have substrate that's delighted to hold moisture!
3) Want to give your chickens a nice cool treat? Got some fruit that's going bad? Cut the fruit in half, put it in the freezer, when ts frozen take it out and put in in your coop! Your chickens will be munching on it all day! (Note, if you use watermelon your white chickens will look like they just came out of a bloody battle)
4) If you wanna go a little expensive you could they this option. Get/build a wooden box that big enough to fit your chickens, with an opening just big enough for your chickens to get in. You know those little air conditioners you get to cool just one room? Get ove of those, they can be as cheap as $30. Set it up so that the air conditioner is cooling the box. Make sure there are no wires showing for your chickens to peak at. Teach your chickens to go into the box, they should learn quick that that's were to go when it's hot. I would only use this if you have a large amount if chickens, because it's not really worth it to spend that on just a couple chickens. (Note(by tadaen sylverma ): Swamp coolersprobably better choice than an air conditioner. Uses tons less electricity and is designed for constant air changing. )
5) Strawbales (idea from Sarevan)
"I also have straw bales I put around the outside of run lean plywood up against the A frame with bale under it. I then soak the bales down and you can feel the cool coming off of them in the shade from evaporation. I tried one in the run but they just tore it apart. I also put out frozen water in gallon jugs, they cuddle up to them to cool off. Wet down the area around the run when really hot, make sure none gets in the run don't want soaking wet hens" (Note: Use STRAW not HAY )
If anyone has any other good ideas please share!
Note(by aart) : Remember, every area has differing humidity that should be taken into account
)1) Homemade missters
Store bought missting systems can be expensive, but it's not to hard to make your own! Find some old pipes (preferably ones that can screw to your hose, if you can't, department stores have easy enactments for as low as a couple bucks) Once you have your pipe get a strong needle, not too thick though, and poke a small section of about 5-10 holes every 10 or so inches (I find it easier if you heat up the needle first) Make sure you close up one end of the pipe well so the water doesn't just come out. Now find some wire and hang that can bad boy up in or near your coop or run (remember, you'll be hooking your hose up to it so don't put it somewhere it's going to be a bother to get around) Now that you was it nice and secure, screw your hose up to it! Vending on the kind of hose you have you may have to run it up high, you need some pressure going through there. And if all goes well you should have your very own missting system!
2) What's that? Your chickens are afraid of your missting systems? No worries! I've had the same problem. There's an easy fix, make a mud dusting hole! It's very easy, dig a gold about a foot deep and however wide you want it, put a water resistant trap in the hole (thks is so the water don't just seep into the ground) fill it back up with dirt and poor some water in there! Your chickens should dust bath in it just like chickens do. Now I had the problem of the water evaporating too quick, but there a fix for that too! Go to your local reptile shop, they'll have substrate that's delighted to hold moisture!
3) Want to give your chickens a nice cool treat? Got some fruit that's going bad? Cut the fruit in half, put it in the freezer, when ts frozen take it out and put in in your coop! Your chickens will be munching on it all day! (Note, if you use watermelon your white chickens will look like they just came out of a bloody battle)
4) If you wanna go a little expensive you could they this option. Get/build a wooden box that big enough to fit your chickens, with an opening just big enough for your chickens to get in. You know those little air conditioners you get to cool just one room? Get ove of those, they can be as cheap as $30. Set it up so that the air conditioner is cooling the box. Make sure there are no wires showing for your chickens to peak at. Teach your chickens to go into the box, they should learn quick that that's were to go when it's hot. I would only use this if you have a large amount if chickens, because it's not really worth it to spend that on just a couple chickens. (Note(by tadaen sylverma ): Swamp coolersprobably better choice than an air conditioner. Uses tons less electricity and is designed for constant air changing.
)5) Strawbales (idea from Sarevan)
"I also have straw bales I put around the outside of run lean plywood up against the A frame with bale under it. I then soak the bales down and you can feel the cool coming off of them in the shade from evaporation. I tried one in the run but they just tore it apart. I also put out frozen water in gallon jugs, they cuddle up to them to cool off. Wet down the area around the run when really hot, make sure none gets in the run don't want soaking wet hens" (Note: Use STRAW not HAY
)If anyone has any other good ideas please share!
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