In the heat would it be a good idea or not

[Momagain1]

to put a kiddie pool in the run w/a couple inches of water??

they have shade; but it does get hot and will get hotter in the summer..it was already 90-92 here and thats ABnormal for this time of yr
in central il!!

but we have NO problems hitting the 90+ mark everyday in summer with EXTREME humidity...

soo..I'm not sure if its a dumb question or not lol but I asked it

 

[Mom2sixpeeps]

Good question, I'm in Ga and we're already in the 90's!!

 

[centrarchid]

From what I have seen, chickens will not voluntarily stand in water to cool off. They are very good at finding cool patches of ground and standing or laying on it. Even when humidity very high, such patches are cooler than surrounding landscape and serve a heat sinks where birds can dump heat. Key thing to consider is that such locations are able to release heat to environment when temperatures are lower (night and early morning). If soil has moisture in for evaporation, the heat loss is speeded. With respect to humidity, 90% is less than 100% so some benefits of evaporative cooling can be realized.

A gentle breeze in shaded location also very helpfull. When it gets hot my free-range birds go to considerable lengths to find locations with shade, breeze and soil with some moisture in it.

 

[Momagain1]

mine arent free range; but they are in a large run; sand flooring/material on the ground...

have a nice tree to shade it for the most part...

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have one of those mist makers that I hook up to the hose (it is a brass attachment to a hose) and hang the hose onto something. The mist cools down the run.

They don't like it when it blows directly on them though.

 

[centrarchid]

You may be OK as is. Watch for signs of heat stress. If evident, then further efforts may be needed to keep birds from over heating.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I agree- mine start panting like a dog when they get too hot, and hold their wings out.

 

[iamsara]

Hi,
Ive thought the same thing and put one inthe run - to use for them to drink out of!
because the water evaportes so fast in smaller conainers, it makes me ffel better that they have somehting alays to drink.
ALSO, I use a ceramic type dish for under planter pots, for their water in someplaces and they DO stand in it in hot afternoons! I was amazed. thats why i thought of the pool..
might as well be creative and see how they react.