How to Keep your flock cool in the 90 degree heat??

[Hollywood Chickens]

Last summer it reached 120 here, and all of my chickens were laying eggs and none showed any signs of stress.
The coop has plenty of ventilation, they have plenty of cool water, tons of shade, half of the run has a constant breeze, they like to stand in the duck pond to cool off and on really hot days I hose them down.

I did have a fan but they ran away and started laying eggs in the run instead of the coop. I might get another one this year, but I don't know.

 

[pontoosuc]

It's gone from winter to summer here (oh wait, there were 8 weeks of cold rain in between!). I'm in western MA.

I fill plastic water jugs and put them in the freezer. Rotate them out to the coop/run each day for a bit of relief.

I'm lucky to have power in my coop and run a small fan to help circulate the air. Right now we have 4 waterers
for our 15 chickens and 10 babies that are integrated.

BOSS and garden weeds in the AM along with any fruits and veggies. No cracked corn this time of year.

 

[flowergirl60]

Quote:
I tried hosing mine down and they ran off like well "chickens with their heads cut off".

 

[featherz]

All of my chickens except my older ones that made it through last summer's heat (made it to 100 in my part of upstate ny) are panting. They are free ranged and have dug into cool foresty spots and have pans of shaded water with frozen bottles, plus I put out frozen watermelon and there's a fan in the coop for the broodies. Doesn't seem to help much. I think it was the abrupt change - beginning of the month we were below freezing and now we have 90. Oddly enough, neither of my broodies is panting. Maybe they are a little thinner than my spoiled non broody chickens.

I have to work tomorrow, so just putting out new electrolyte water for all, letting them all out to range and hoping for the best.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

I have thought about installing misters outside the coop since that's where my guys spend a good deal of time. Just not sure how well it would work here because it's so humid. Anyone else who lives in an area with average 80-90% humidity try it? Did it work? Did it rot out your coop?

Last summer when my chickens were chicks I froze milk jugs,2 liter coke bottles, etc. filled with water and put them in the coop. They loved laying next to them and on them, but I'd have to have a ton of jugs to keep my adult flock cool! I do keep a small black water pan in the coop, and the girls like wading in it - even when it's not that hot.

I do have a small a/c unit I could run in the coop if need be, but that seems a bit extreme - even for me...

 

[featherz]

I tried a mister yesterday and no one would go anywhere near it. Not sure how much it helps with 100% humidity.

 

[wekiva bird]

Where can I get the Misters?

 

[tuckertori]

We are still waiting for 65 degree days in Western Washington but I am hoping for some warm summer days. I know my Dad used frozen water bottles with his chickens and rabbits. I will try that this summer. I also like the frozen spinach idea. I am prepared! Let the sun shine in.

 

[xera13]

im not sure on the types that people are using but i found a patio one at target while looking online. Im sure fleet menards and varous other places have them

 

[cfdf]

Here's what I just finished doing today to try to beat the heat here in Central Tx. I bought a used swamp cooler and installed it in the coop. It lowered the coop temps 20 degrees. I also bought a mister sytem at Tractor Supply $25 and installed it down the middle of the run. That help lower the temps about 15 degrees +. I also freeze milk jugs of water and set them out in the coop and run. The chickens and ducks love to huddle around them to stay cool. I put tubs of cool water around for them to wade in...not too deep...don't want one to drown. I put fans around to blow in the run. I also have the tops of the run and the side of the run covered in shade cloth. For treats, in the heat of the day, I give them frozen vegetables and crushed ice. I am going into this summer as prepared as I can. Last year our temps reached 107 for 2 weeks in a row. We are already breaking records. It's gonna be a hot summer!