This is my fifth year keeping chickens and every year my major concern is keeping my flock cool during our very hot summers. I am constantly searching the internet and this forum for ideas of how to make my flock comfortable in the best way I can provide for them.
This year I found this small round sprinkler at the hardware store for 8 dollars and turn it on in their yard. I let it run for a while, later in the afternoon when there is shade in the area I got wet, my flock lays on it to cool off. They really like it!
I also moved the nesting boxes to the top of the "nesting box coop" and placed a fan directly in front, the fan stays on all day long because my hens have different laying times.
Since they pant a lot during the hottest hours of the day, I am giving them electrolytes twice a week to try to keep them balanced. My egg production is very good which is amazing because I thought that with all this heat it would probably come to a stop.
Of course they also have fans in the coop which has windows in all sides.
Hopefully we will go through the summer in good shape after all these improvements.
This year I found this small round sprinkler at the hardware store for 8 dollars and turn it on in their yard. I let it run for a while, later in the afternoon when there is shade in the area I got wet, my flock lays on it to cool off. They really like it!
I also moved the nesting boxes to the top of the "nesting box coop" and placed a fan directly in front, the fan stays on all day long because my hens have different laying times.
Since they pant a lot during the hottest hours of the day, I am giving them electrolytes twice a week to try to keep them balanced. My egg production is very good which is amazing because I thought that with all this heat it would probably come to a stop.
Of course they also have fans in the coop which has windows in all sides.
Hopefully we will go through the summer in good shape after all these improvements.
