it's hot!!!!! help!

[ksct]

i looked around the web site but didn't really find anything regarding the topic very easily....
we are currently 'enjoying' our humid summer weather finally in the middle of August. (we've not had much of a summer around here) and again today it's supposed to be in the upper 90's..... is there something we can do for the birds to cool them down??!?! i'm very concerned. Yesterday was miserable for them, they were 'panting' at the hotter points of the day. They were laying in the cool dirt under their covered portion of the run. We changed their water throughout the day and i had gotten a spray bottle and sprayed they area they were laying in with cold water to help cool them down but it didn't stay wet long. I also attemped to mist them with the water from above and let it fall on them, but naturally they hated it.

Does anyone have suggestions? i don't know if the chickens can/will get heat stroke etc. THANKS!!!!!

 

[cristy17]

I've heard people freezing milk jugs, then placing them in the runs. Also setting up a spray hose/sprinkler in the run. I just make sure that they have fresh cool water and plenty of shade. We live next to Lake Michigan and we get cool breezes all the time.

 

[sweet tweets]

Try getting an area of the dirt wet, my girls dig in it and eventually lay right down on the wet dirt. (Remember, a little dirt don't hurt) You can also freeze containers of water and place them in the run, they will lay right down next to them.
A blowing fan is also a possibility, give them a choice though, they should be able to get to whatever feels best to them.
Good luck staying cool as you work for your girls!

 

[DiVon80]

Just be sure they have plenty of cool water to drink, shade to get in, feed them some cool things(head of romaine,watermelon ect...). They should be fine. Good luck.

 

[TXmom]

Mine have been panting and digging holes to lay in for MONTHS...it's been an extremely hot and dry summer this year. I did lose one pullet to the heat.

I put a tarp over the run for shade, set up a mister (they learn to like it), hose down the coop and run in the severe heat of the day (over 100), and put ice in their waterer. I also have a very open style coop, so plenty of ventilation, but it's still H O T. The girls like to scratch and dig in the wet sand in the run after I hose it down with cold water

 

[ksct]

Thank You And I Will Be Sending Dh To The Store To Get Some Jugs Of Water And Freeze Them On His Day Off Today! And Our Watermelon Didnt' Grow In The Garden This Year So I Will Be Getting One Of Them As Well! I Appreciate The Ideas! Wet Dirt Water Jugs And Water Melon, They'll Be In Heaven With All That! Thanks Again!!!!!

 

[TrixiePA]

In throw away recycled plastic containers I put a thin layer of cracked corn, quick oats and then fill to top with feed. Add water to make slushy and pop it in the freezer. Once frozen I dump them out of the plastic into the run and they love them. Plus I'm not filling them up with treats. As it melts it makes the ground wet etc. Working for us.

Tracy

 

[chickon baby]

The h20 frozen milk jugs,fans and watermelon is great!!! We live in Mo and have very high humididty as well as high temps.We have had cooler temps until these last few weeks.My girls had started panting as well and I froze several milk jugs filled w/h20..I try to keep 4 in the freezer n alternate them..I also keep little water bottles frozen.Hubby put a corner shelf up and I have the fan there,I put the frozen water bottles in front of the fan.(The fan is out of reach from the girls) I then sit 1 milk jug on the floor under theyre shelf and one by the h20 feeder..I slice up the watermelon and put it in a big bowl outside in the "play-yard" Mine did not like the watermelon cold...room temp..After I had,I heard that it is bad to give chicks real cold things?? Not sure if it is true?? These ideas have helped mine stay cool n happy.They also have a alot of shade in the play yard,plus a sand box to help...My kids laughed when they saw dad had made the girls their own sand box..Now they need buckets n shovels..lol Hope this helps your girls stay cool..PS remember if you get your watermelon from a store to wash off the wax..Mine are use to organic and if I buy anything from the store,I have to remind myself to wash the stuff. Not sure where you are in Ny but we moved here from west seneca.

 

[LaSombra]

we got up to 110' here a few weeks ago and mine all survived the heat. I gave them the frozen milk jugs of water but turned them on their side into a pan where they could cool their feet off in it. I also put a canopy over their run for more shade and gave them plenty of watermelon.

 

[scooter147]

1. lots of fresh water
2. lots of shade
3. spray their run down.
4. Put the garden hose on the "sprinkle or rain" setting and get them good and wet. This is my favorite trick to cool them down. They don't like it, run from me but I can tell you they will stop panting and stop holding their wings out to try and cool off.