Keeping chickens in extreme heat

[BorregoMike]

I have 25 hens, just beginning to lay, and one rooster, all 6 months old. I live in the SoCal desert and we will be seeing temps into the 100s in a month or so. By June we consistently will be in the 110 range and we can hit the low 120s. It’s like that until August when we get a monsoon season with lower temps (105s) But very high humidity. Does anyone have experience in keeping chickens in this kind of environment? Their run provides enough shade but I’m concerned if they will be able to handle the temps.

PS. They are Buff Orpingtons, Delawares, Black New Jersey Giants.

 

[Chicka_deee]

Make sure they have fresh, cool, and clean water at all times.

Make sure the water doesn’t get to warm, keep it in the shade.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Well you already have your birds but the key to keeping chickens in your climate is breed selection.
It can hit 110 here with high humidity but we've had a year with weeks above 100 highs. However, we can get to -19F so breed selection is very difficult here.
Mediterranean class breeds, cubalayas and famoumis can take the heat.
I lost a nice Welsummer hen to heat one year.
Foot baths help a lot for less heat tolerant birds.

 

[Theladiesandagentleman]

Ventilation with fans moving the air. Ice in their water. Frozen ice blocks with watermelon. Access to cool dirt to dust bathe in. Electrolyte supplements. Heat can be harder on Buff Orpingtons.

 

[Fishkeeper]

If you make a sandbox and keep it full of wet sand, with a fan blowing across it, that should cool them down by a lot. You can look up evaporative coolers that people make. Shade, shade, shade, make it so they can't get in the sun if they try while it's hot out. Multiple water containers so they can't possibly run out. Ice in their water. A 2" deep pool of water they can stand in to cool their feet, maybe even put ice in that. Multiple fans might be a good plan. If/when you get more chickens, pick breeds that are good in the heat.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ice water in hot weather may seem appropriate but that can constrict the capillaries so it isn't the best idea. Cool water, not icy is the way to go.

 

[jolenesdad]

As much ventilation as absolutely possible in the COOP so they can fully take advantage of the nighttime to cool off.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Oh, yeah, you don't want ice water. Water with a couple of ice cubes to keep it cooler is still good, though. Water holds temperature well, but it'll still get hot eventually. I know I've had ice cubes melt in no time flat when it's hot out, and I'm in Texas, not a desert. A little extra cold is good, just not a lot of extra cold.

 

[TheOgdensmenagerie]

I'm in California also.
I always have old milk jugs filled with water that I freeze. I put them in their waters mid morning and switch them out later in the day if needed.

I have mister fans going through out the day that I turn off the misting part around roosting time.

I have a ton of big bushes that they like to dig under. I wet the run down in the mornings to help keep the soil cool.

I have the mesh shade cloth over the top and sun side of the run.

Also make sure the coop and run is plenty big enough for them to spread out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
When I had less heat tolerant breeds, I used big rubber feed tubs with 16 oz. frozen water bottles floating in them.

Oh, yeah, you don't want ice water. Water with a couple of ice cubes to keep it cooler is still good, though. Water holds temperature well, but it'll still get hot eventually. I know I've had ice cubes melt in no time flat when it's hot out, and I'm in Texas, not a desert. A little extra cold is good, just not a lot of extra cold.

X2
When I had less heat tolerant breeds, I used big rubber feed tubs with 16 oz. frozen water bottles floating in them.