How to raise chicken in hot weather?

[3KillerBs]

They have access to the ground but not during the day while im at work. When I get back home I move them into another run that is set up on the grass. In terms of being able to dig into the earth- can I just have a deep layer of pine shaving in the run that is set up on the patio? I noticed even now the chicks would dig through the pines in their brooder and almost like want to go underneath and use the pine shaving as a blanket.

Midday in the worst of the heat is when this is the most beneficial.

If you can alter your setup to make the extended run more secure when you're not home it would benefit them over the long term.

 

[bkjerabek1]

I found an interesting fact out about water and chickens: they will not drink the water if it is the same temperature as their body or warmer. I Do the dumping of ice into their water and it lasts quite awhile. I used to let the hose just drip into a shady part of the coop to make mud that they walked in to cool off but then the fly population went nuts and I stopped doing that!

 

[Ebony Rose]

A kiddie pool filled with sand or dirt will do the trick, get the hard shell type pool and not the blow up sort. Affordable and easy to manage.