Keeping chickens cool in the summer

[Zobot0110]

What would be the best for providing a cool run in the summer months. Should I put a dark colored tarp to provide shade or should I put a frosted tarp that allows light but you can’t really see through it or should I leave it more open for ventilation. I have heard something about a shade sail. Does anyone have experience with that or know if it would be better.

Also, does anyone have a good recommendation for a solar fan for inside the Coop. Thank you.

 

[KyCoop]

Tarp over the run? You want a solid color or you will make heat worse with the greenhouse effect.
As far as the coop goes ventilation, ventilation, ventilation. You can't have too much in the summer months. Just be sure that ventilation is covered with hardware cloth.
I have 3 "screen" (hardware cloth) doors I keep open. This with 8 inch top ventation that runs the lenth of every wall. I also have a fan that I set up outside one of the coop doors and it blows through. I run a heavy duty cord out to the coop.

 

[Zobot0110]

Thank you

 

[NatJ]

Should I put a dark colored tarp to provide shade or should I put a frosted tarp that allows light but you can’t really see through it or should I leave it more open for ventilation. I have heard something about a shade sail. Does anyone have experience with that or know if it would be better.

Dark tarp to provide shade could be good, but you also want airflow.

For example, if you are trying to shade a run, you might put one tarp across the top to provide shade during most of the day. Then you might put a tarp on part of the east side to provide some shade in the morning or part of the west side to provide shade in the afternoon. But for the tarps on the sides, leave some space above them and below them so air can move, and leave part of each side untarped, plus plenty of other sides untarped.

Any side where the sun does not shine directly, definitely leave it uncovered for air to circulate. This includes the north side (sun doesn't shine from that direction where you live) and any side that is shaded by a house, garage, tree, etc.

If you leave enough sides uncovered, the chickens will have plenty of light, so no need to worry about getting a tarp that allows light through.

If the chicken coop is getting too hot, something like a shade sail above the top could be a great idea. That way the coop is in the shade and air can move between the sail (or tarp) and the coop.

 

[Zobot0110]

Thank you

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Another possibility, if your late afternoons get really hot: a wood lattice panel on the west- or southwest-facing side, upper half.

Lightweight, casts shade, but allows plenty of air flow. If you grow vines up the outside of the coop, the lattice gives the vines support, and the vines add more shade.

 

[tlcmurphy]

@Elspeth Dinsmore did research on this last summer!

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

@Elspeth Dinsmore did research on this last summer!

That's sweet of you to tag me, @tlcmurphy!
Yes, I made a thread last summer about trying to cut down on the heat in our aviary!
We ended up using privacy screen fencing over our chicken aviary.
Ms. WyorpRock suggested it to us, and it was a massive help! We had just hit a really hot week that year, and she helped us exactly when we needed it! I am so thankful!
We had quickly put up a blue and brown tarp for a couple days to try and protect the chickens from the suddenly hot week we experienced. It cut down on the heat, but was such a dark color that it got so hot it warped our PVC pipe frame for the netting over our aviary!
The privacy screen fencing was a beige colored screen that deflected a lot of the heat and sun, but allowed some wind and light through.
It lowered the ground temperature by about 45°-55° in the aviary -- going from 145°F - 90°F and 99°F.
It actually became quite pleasant to sit out there under the privacy screen with the chickens.
I also liked that the privacy screen fencing allowed wind through it, whereas the tarp did not. It put less strain on the structure that supported the netting and improved air flow -- which also made it feel cooler that we could feel the wind without the burning sun on us.
I hope this helps! I attached some links to different posts in my thread for more information. I hope you have a nice day!
-- Elsie
Soli Deo Gloria

 

[Zobot0110]

Thank you very much

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Here in the desert white or silver tarps are popular on the tops of runs. Many people use these inexpensive reed fences on the west side of coops/runs/patios, which is where the most brutal heat hits:

They provide shade and allow air circulation. They come in 2', 4', or 6' heights. They need to be attached to an existing fence or other structure as reeds are not predator proof.