keeping chickens cool in hot weather

[SunChick]

Shade, Box fan, oscillating fan and ice 2 liter bottles. Lots of water changed 2x daily.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Shade, airflow, and plenty of water that isn't sitting in the sun getting hot. The airflow is important. All of my tractors are open wire all the way around the bottom two feet and large vents at the top so that heat can rise up and out. We've hit 100 these last two days and looks like more of the same tomorrow. I normally only have to fill the drinkers twice a week this time of year but not today. Had to refill half of them today and will have to do all of them again tomorrow. Shade, plenty of airflow, and don't ever let the water run out.

 

[fratermus]

Quote:
I've been surprised at how warm the chooks' feet are when they get hot. I bet the pans of water really do wick off some of the heat. WIll try that, the 2L, and a box fan.

 

[max101]

frozen watermelon
frozen corn
and frozen grapes are good to make sure they have plenty of fluid

 

[hossfeathers]

Mamichi, you're not the only one. Just lost my big Marans, who had just started laying.

The tractor is all wire all around, but the coop part might get a little too warm - looks like she went up to lay and didn't make it out.

Tomorrow I will move the coop into the shade of the tree, and shift it around in the shaded area.

Also paint the tarpaper roof, which I have been meaning to do for days.

I could kick myself, letting your chickens cook themselves is not part of the deal.

 

[beachchickie]

I live in Alabama. It is 98 today. I have noticed decrease in laying over the last few weeks. Where do you live? I can not imagine one not making it out of the nest box. Mine free range but sometimes stay in the nest for up to 2hrs. I feed them cold yogurt in the middle of the day if I am home. I hope this 98's go away. I can take 90-94 but this is unbelievable for June.

 

[chics in the sun]

Every night I fill up the smaller brooder waterer and put it in the freezer (upside-down). Then in the morning I place it in the coop, and the water stays cold as it melts.

 

[noodleroo]

chicks in the sun; if you freezer is like mine, you might want to consider doing this: before putting your waterer in the freezer, put the whole thing in a plastic bag. That way, any 'chicken germs' stay with the water-er. Thats what I do with the 2 liter bottles- I just use the same big ziploc bag over and over...

 

[hossfeathers]

Beachchickie -

I'm in North Carolina - it was 98 with a heat index of 106. They've got shade under the coop and water and plenty of ventilation - like I said, the tractor is wire all around and I've actually been looking at the coop, trying to decide if I'll need to block up the sides more in the winter.

The Marans was definately the most miserable of the lot - she's been digging holes for days. I haven't taken the carcass apart yet, but there's the possibility of egg binding complicating the heat. (Trying to find something to make myself feel better.) I don't have a thermometer in the coop, but sticking my hand & head it in, it *seemed* cooler than the outside. *sigh*

Not happy - I'm remembering the big 'factory farm' (term used with irony, I'm actually not against commercial ag at all) chicken houses that I've visited, and how cool & breezy they felt. Sunshine & green grass didn't do this girl (the Marans) any good.

 

[chics in the sun]

Good idea! I didn't really think of doing that. It doesn't really touch anything in there - I have a little spot I put it in every time - but that would make it safer. Wonder why my boyfriend who works for the health deparetment never pointed this out to me.......