Is there something else I should be doing?

[texaschick84]

I have 8 hens all a year old. They have a well ventilated coop with a run that gets quite a bit of shade. In the past, we had a fan for them that we set outside the run. Being in south Texas, it’s hot. So this summer, we are letting them free range our backyard during the day. Our backyard is very shaded and I’ve got multiple waterers both in the yard and the coop. I put a small fan in a window of the coop for the hens when they lay. There’s quite a few dirt patches they like to dust in and I give them frozen watermelon rind in the afternoon. Is there anything else I should be doing to keep them cool? My husband wants to put an additional fan in the coop and keep the hens inside the coop during the day. However, I’m not convinced that’s the best route.

 

[chickengirl778]

No, they will enjoy the outside shade more! If there's a patch of grass in the shade, put a sprinkler on it during the morning so it feels cool on their feet!
You're doing a great job!

 

[aart]

put an additional fan in the coop and keep the hens inside the coop during the day. However, I’m not convinced that’s the best route.

Me neither.
Maybe put thermometers inside the coop and outside in the shade to convince him it's hotter in the coop.

In addition to what you are already doing...
Yes, wetting the ground in deep(all day) shade can help.
Or toss some ice cubes on the ground in the shade.
Misters can help if it's not already humid where you live.

I give a dose of Sav-A-Chick electrolytes to the whole flock every 3-4 days during heat waves here.

 

[sirrobyn0]

I would not keep them in during the day, the hens will hate that. As you know chickens turn into a pumpkin at night, so if you start keeping them in during the day you will effectively eliminate, or severely reduce their free range time. I think they'd rather peck around in the shade of the back yard. Plus they will likely dig around in the shade to uncover some cool ground to lay on if they get to warm.

Also keep in mind, even if you have a couple fans going in the coop it's likely to be hotter in there than outside. I don't know what you're roof is made out of but, coops being insulated the roof is going to radiate heat in, even worse if it's black roofing like tar paper ect.

My vote is let them out.

 

[Pork Pie]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/788391/keeping-chickens-cool-in-summer-heat

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-keeping-chickens-cool-in-summer.1181934/