Keeping Chooks Cool in Summer

[Tsickum]

Hi all, I had no idea which category to post in! I'm in New Zealand and we're having average 34c temperatures (93F) and I'm trying to figure out how to keep my girls from cooking! I've put out shade for them, have been giving them frozen vegetables and ice into water, but aside from that I really don't know what to do - they're always panting!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Throw a fan behind a pan of cool water and aim into coop or wherever they like to hang out?

 

[aart]

Fan behind some ice would work.....if it's not humid.
Misters would be even better......if it's not humid.

Deep all day shade is best. I have shade cloths but it's not deep shade.

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
it really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Ice water and frozen food doesn't really do much, IMO.
The best thing I've found is BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice that last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.

Make room in your freezer!

Oh, and.... Yes, you're in the right category.
Welcome to BYC!
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Ridgerunner]

34C isn't that bad with shade, water, and ventilation, but if that is your average, your extreme is higher and that can become dangerous pretty quickly. One thing I've found helpful is to wet the ground in the shade where they can lay. As the water evaporates it cools the ground, mine like to lay on that cooler ground. If it is that hot I would not expect the ground to be wet. If you are near water it might be humid but I'd still expect that to cool the ground and help.

You don't want to create an oven. Good ventilation in the coop is a really good thing, especially up high. Another potential oven might be the nests, especially if they or a wall of them is in the sun.. I'd want them on the shady side of the coop and again, ventilation up high.

 

[Mrs. K]

Really check your shade at 4:00 in the afternoon, that is generally the hottest time of the day. And often times what was providing shade during the day, is no longer providing shade in the later afternoon, and needs to do so.

I too, do the wet ground thing. But I have sand. Mine will often do a wet sand bath. And water, they need water available all the time. That time of year, I do the multi-gallon and nipples, so that it is always there.

Mrs K