Keeping chickens cool in the summer?

[Desert Willow]

I live in southern Arizona, temperatures for the last week have been 110+. This is what I do:
Entire run is deep litter that I water down about 3 times a day.

What type of litter do you use? I use straw and am reluctant to wet it down too much.

 

[arulnathan]

We have our wooden coop on the terrace of our building and have a roof of Tin sheets on Top & Sides, the upper & bottom of Tin Sheet is wrapped with Garden Green net (75%) and a Desert Cooler running for them. The temp. this time went up to 46+ deg. but they were comfortable.

 

[Dwells]

I do the exact same thing. Works great. I did lose a chicken a about 4 weeks ago but this will happen. Fozen treats are also a great way top keep them cool and happy.

 

[rcraig]

How about a Livestock Dog? Dogs are so underused. That's always my answer. It would keep away anything and everything and last years before replacing it with another. Can even run in pairs. I don't know how big your hobby is though. I think everyone should have the pleasure of seeing their own Dog guarding a flock of their own. I've only trained for Sheep, Goat and Cattle. Chickens will be new to me once we get our final place.

I have dogs.....but in they middle of training a new one, she still has a tendency to think they are food and not charges, but she's learning...plus until I can get a higher fence so they can't jump over, they're in the coops.....right now they can fly right over into the fields and neighbors yards....I try to be a good neighbor and keep my animals in my own yard lol. We're working on the fence, it will get done eventually lol...until then, I work with what I have.....

 

[byouland]

I put water in old milk or juice jugs and freeze them. I put them in the coop and all of mine love sitting by them and sometimes even perching on them! It helps keep them cool for a while, and I just always keep a frozen jug on hand to switch out with the ones that melt.

Love that idea!!!! I have two coops one for my hen who had chicks two weeks ago and one for my other hens. I've noticed them all panting and holding their wings out. I wonder if I could offer a frozen jug to the hen who has
chicks? I don't want the chicks to get cold, but I feel bad because momma hen looks very hot.

I'm definitely putting a jug in with the other hens.

I've also been digging dirt and putting it in coop because they enjoy the cool soil.

 

[rcraig]

I


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

Do the chickens and ducks get along well? I have both and I separated them worried either they'd fight with each other..especially the males... or the baby chicks would drown in the duck pond we have....it would be great if I could put them together...save me room on the coops....

 

[carnivore]

What type of litter do you use?  I use straw and am reluctant to wet it down too much.

I use Kellogg's bagged mulch, you can get it at any garden store. My soil is very sandy, and drains very fast. After a few weeks, the black carbonaceous material leaches into the soil, leaving behind a litter of small woody bits. Very good for the soil, and the chickens stay very entertained rummaging through it.

 

[ctchopper]

What type of litter do you use? I use straw and am reluctant to wet it down too much.

I've wondered this same thing. We've been breaking 100 degrees for the past week (and will likely continue to do so). I only have 4 hens right now and their run is small (3X10) but well shaded. It is sand based and since I've been watering it down because of the heat I've noticed that it's starting to stink. I rake it out daily. I think I'm going to have to go to a different tactic. I already use the frozen water jugs and sometimes a fan, but it's so stinking hot that it seems to just blow hot air around! I've also wetted an old towel for them to hang out on in the shade but then we're back to wetting the sand. They get out for an hour or so a day to free range before it gets too hot but their predators live with us (the dogs) so it's tricky to keep them separated.

I like the mister idea and even bought one a few weeks ago but when I got it home I realized that I'd be wetting down their feed as well (tube feeder that's attached to side of run). Would pine shavings be any better? Maybe on top of the layer of sand? Or would they get moldy and keep the poop wet?

 

[Blooie]

I've wondered this same thing. We've been breaking 100 degrees for the past week (and will likely continue to do so). I only have 4 hens right now and their run is small (3X10) but well shaded. It is sand based and since I've been watering it down because of the heat I've noticed that it's starting to stink. I rake it out daily. I think I'm going to have to go to a different tactic. I already use the frozen water jugs and sometimes a fan, but it's so stinking hot that it seems to just blow hot air around! I've also wetted an old towel for them to hang out on in the shade but then we're back to wetting the sand. They get out for an hour or so a day to free range before it gets too hot but their predators live with us (the dogs) so it's tricky to keep them separated.

I like the mister idea and even bought one a few weeks ago but when I got it home I realized that I'd be wetting down their feed as well (tube feeder that's attached to side of run). Would pine shavings be any better? Maybe on top of the layer of sand? Or would they get moldy and keep the poop wet?

I've never had pine shavings mold. They get wet, they dry out. Toss some treats in for the girls and let them scratch it up to mix it and help it dry and cut down on any odor tremendously. We haven't had near the heat you have had - this is the first week we'll see above 80 and our first nights over 55 - but mine dig out little hollows in the pine shavings and lay in them where it's cooler. They also love to dust bathe in those little spots.

 

[kayla14mwz]

I'm in Az where it's presently 108 degrees. To help keep my chickens cool, we put a box fan and a standup mister in their coop. The fan blows the cool mist and my girls will all lay in front of it when they need to cool off. Freezing water bottles and putting them in their water helps too. I often find them standing in their water dish