i hate to do this to yall BUT:

[drdoolittle]

I kind of wish it was 90 here! It was rainy, windy and 50-60 here yesterday-----really nasty! Anyway, what I did on the hottest days this summer was to run a sprinkler in the free-range pen during the daytime. Some of the chickens actually liked it. Of course, my free-range pen is about 10,000 sq feet, so they had plenty of room to move away from the sprinkler.

 

[swampcat]

Yeah, I've been wearing a sweatshirt for 3 days now! It's been 60 and rainy. What I did on the hottest days of the year was I made a frozen block of food for them. I mixed birdseed, mealworms, raisins, grapes, etc in a tupperware and added water. Popped it in the freezer the night before and gave it to them at the hottest point of the day. They liked pecking at it, standing on it, and laying next to it.

 

[chicmom]

They should be Ok since they have shade and fresh, cool water. 90 isn't so bad.......Here in Ohio, it was in the 90s with a heat index of 112 just last week! Now, it's in the lower 70s, overcast and rainy. Crazy weather!

 

[Alethea]

It could still be the heat. Our Ruthie pants when it's 75. Just make sure there is shade, ventillation, water. Cool watery snacks might be appeciated.

 

[gerryhouser]

Quote:
This is a great idea. I've seen it done at the local zoo, but, never thought to use it with our flock. Wounder if this could work with my wife's pet rabbit? Its worth a try at least, I'll report back.

 

[mickeymousears]

For my buns I freeze plastic waterbottles and they lay against them - and chew them. Idk if they would deal with straight rice but it wouldn't hurt to try. I pictures carrots and apples sticking out of an ice block-so cute!

 

[Ksane]

Oklahoma here. It was 110-117 most of July. Ice cold corn on the cob, peaches and strawberries were a big hit. Also giving them super cold water 3 or 4 times a day and putting frozen 2 liter bottles of water in their run. It doesn't matter if it's 115 or 90, if they're hot they're hot & we can help. We also had fans running on the birds. Laugh all you want but other folks in Oklahoma had birds dropping like flies from the heat.

 

[syl]

It has been 100+ here for days and the chickens will spend most of it in shady / wet spots about the yard. However at 5 they all hover around the back door panting , the spoiled little monsters are waiting for their mash and yorgurt treat. Afther that they all are happier and seeming cooler.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

swampcat, we would kill for your rain here in Texas, all the storms that are in the Gulf of Mexico, never seem to make it up to the middle of Texas. They just have been passing us by.
I like the others in TX/OK, misters, pans of ice water or freeze gallon bottles of water and put them in a shallow pan.

My hubby had to mow a lawn today, that actually had green growing grass (it smelled so good when he cut it, I forgot how good fresh cut grass smells) Gathered all I could & brought it home to my chickens (it was not treated with anything, so I know it was safe for my chickens). They had a grand time eating all that fresh grass. Our grass, what little we still have, crunches when you walk on it.