Keeping chickens cool in the summer?

[OKIE GRANNY]

I just hooked up a box fan in my coop and it works great. The chickens, turkeys and ducks just love it. The filter idea is good though....will keep the feathers out too.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I

I just hooked up a box fan in my coop and it works great.  The chickens, turkeys and ducks just love it.  The filter idea is good though....will keep the feathers out too.  

I use an oscillating fan that is on 24/7 this time of year.

 

[milniesmum]

Thats a brilliant idea. i'm going to try that with my girls.

 

[LindaB220]

It is about 122degrees F - it is very hot!

Oh honey, you need to put your feet in a bath of cold water. It's hot here but only high 90's.

 

[ChickenLilly]

Although it isnt the best idea, i set the hose to mist or even shower and spray mine down. they wont like it at first, but later on you can really see they liked it.

 

[cowhlb]

HERE'S A GREAT IDEA!

Get a large container and fill it with grass, berries, lettuce, ect. Fill it with cold water and put it in the freezer. When its frozen either put it in their water or in another container. They will peck at it and they will have some veggies! It works great and cools them down!

 

[MyPetNugget]

HERE'S A GREAT IDEA!

Get a large container and fill it with grass, berries, lettuce, ect. Fill it with cold water and put it in the freezer. When its frozen either put it in their water or in another container. They will peck at it and they will have some veggies! It works great and cools them down!

I will have to try this!!

 

[IttyBiddy]

Everyone got me going on all their ideas in keeping chickens cool. I brainstormed this one, with a long chain and "S" hooks. I happened to have a watermelon that needed to be cut and trimmed out. I always save the rinds, but don't like tossing them on the ground. If I put them in a pan or container, the chickens manage to pull them out and then they get full of dirt. Well, the chain and hooks are keeping the rinds off the ground. At first my flock had to figure out what was hanging on the chain....it's been since last summer since we've had a watermelon, so this is a real cool treat for them. By the way, I've got the water cooler running since early this morning, it's in the mid 90's here in Leakey Texas! We do see over 100 degree temps and I know it's coming!

 

[sixcitychicks]

I live in 50degree Celsius summer and my chickens run free all day. I usually hose them down to cool them off. They don't seem to mind it at all.

How much is that in American money?
?

I think you meant farenheit.

 

[Chicken_Girl75495]

My chickens like to stand in mud or muddy water. (I don't like it, but they do.)

I have set a small fan in their coop, but since they tend not to stay in there, that's not been a big factor, I don't think.

The best thing I've done (and I need to set it up again soon), is to hang one of those "mister" thingies--I bought mine at Lowe's--over a tree branch and turn on the water. It doesn't need to be on all that strong--it makes a mist and drops the temp by about 10 or 15 degrees. Then birds don't stay in the mist, but they tend to stand near it.

I tried offering them a wading pool, but they were not interested--that was some years ago.

Hope this helps!

Oh! You can also offer them frozen treats, like making a mash of feed and yogurt and water, or chunks of fruit (they're the only ones here who will eat frozen bananas!) and freezing that in chunks or cubes, and then setting it outside for them. They'll peck at it, which relieves bordeom, and the little bits they eat will help to cool them off.

But definitely don't let them stand around panting with their feathers fluffed out. I'd bring them in the house before I'd let that go on for very long!

Christine