How To Keep Your Chickens Cool In The Summer: On A Budget

[Sarevan]

DesertChickens1 - you can edit in the strawbale idea. Hay bales rot or break down faster and can really smell. Straw absorps the water and evaporates at a nice rate.

I had idea to use them as garden plot this year because of water they can hold.

 

[alabamariver]

Here in Alabama last summer was over 100 several times I was wondering what to do thanks for the ideas .

 

[DesertChickens1]

Keep in mind that evaporative methods only really work where the humidity is low.
When it gets in the 90's here, the humidity is usually in the 90's too.

That's true. I've never lived where there was high humidity. Here the hotter it gets she less humidity we have

 

[aart]

Quote: Experienced a misting system when in AZ once, I was amazed at how well it worked to cool us off....and really disappointed to know it wouldn't work in Michigan.

You might want to add the humidity factor to your first post....a lot of folks don't read the whole thread.

 

[DesertChickens1]

Experienced a misting system when in AZ once, I was amazed at how well it worked to cool us off....and really disappointed to know it wouldn't work in Michigan.

You might want to add the humidity factor to your first post....a lot of folks don't read the whole thread.

Put a note in there . Yeah the misting systems out here are great! They have them in almost every outside restaurant.

 

[moms3cuties]

I have put a fan out in my backyard blowing in the area that they are laying at in the shade, but I like that one persons idea of getting wet some straw to help to them cool down!

... Perhaps the best of both worlds would be to wet some straw down and then have a fan blowing on the Wet straw bale,,,, thus blowing the air in the direction of the chickens &/or a coup!

 

[tadaen sylverma]

Swamp coolers probably better choice than an air conditioner. Uses tons less electricity and is designed for constant air changing. AC works but just very inefficient and expensive to run.

I have 4 ladies just south of Tucson and havn't done anything special except shade and they are doing great so far. 3 eggs a day most days, 4 on occasion and they seem very happy even in middle of summer. But I have been considering doing more just cause they are pets now and I care about them

.

 

[Dimitri Arendse]

Thanks for all the info guyz as this is my very 1st tym starting the byc business.

 

[DesertChickens1]

Swamp coolers probably better choice than an air conditioner. Uses tons less electricity and is designed for constant air changing. AC works but just very inefficient and expensive to run.

I have 4 ladies just south of Tucson and havn't done anything special except shade and they are doing great so far. 3 eggs a day most days, 4 on occasion and they seem very happy even in middle of summer. But I have been considering doing more just cause they are pets now and I care about them  .

Oh my gosh you're right! I didn't even think of a swamp cooler!!

 

[Sill]

I can't say enough about having large terracotta pot saucers (the ones you put under potted plants to catch any water that leaks, but just the saucer not the pot). Unglazed terracotta soaks up water and as it evaporates it keeps the water relatively cool here where we have single digit humidity and super high summer temps. I use them for my chickens and quail. The quail roll around in the water like dogs so I have to fill them a couple of times a day when it gets hot. They also will lay in them and if they've had a dust bath they just get muddy but hey, it's cool mud! The chickens stand in them to stay cool, they don't get as crazy as the quail.

Two details on using these. First they must be located where they will be in shade or the evaporation will not be able to keep them cool. Second be prepared to clean them! These birds will get them very dirty! They need to be cleaned daily or twice daily but it's worth it to keep them cool.

I've tried using different pans and saucers made of glazed ceramic, plastic, glass, and metal but nothing beats unglazed terracotta for coolness.



The saucers of water always have a crowd on hot day