Keeping my chicks cool!! Help...

[lcountry]

Fowlweatherfriends - first let me say, I'm just learning about chickens so I'm FAR from an expert. Overall, I think you've got good points.

However, to me, the difference is that we are most likely keeping them in closer confines than in previous generation. For example, my chickens will be confined to a roughly 10x10 area with shade. This limits their natural ability to find the best place for them. So I feel keeping them caged increases my responsibility for them - thus keeping water cool and providing extra cooling. If my birds were free range, then I would probably be less concerned.

I feed my horses a small amount of grain plus hay 2x a day. In their natural environment, they wouldn't have the need. However, since mine are pastured on a small (4) acreage, I feel the need to provide supplemental feed. When we take animals out of their natural environment, it increases our workload and responsibility.

Then there is the fun of spoiling them to a point, just because we can. To some, chickens are simply a means to eggs/meat. To others, they are pets as well. The pets may get a cushier (air conditioned) ride...

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

So do you all think that if our chickens were freeranged that they would be better off cooling wise? I am very interested because I really didn't think much about this issue. I guess I always assumed that chickens would do ok in 90 something degree weather.


Anyone else have chickens die? And if so, where are you located, and what were the conditions-freeranged, high humidity, heat wave, length of high temps, and or breed of chicken.

I find this fascinating, and hope things go well for mine in the hot humid south.

I have to run, but will check back in.

 

[mudhen]

I'm gonna keep an eye on this thread too.

As for my girls, they have shaded areas in the run (covered by honeysuckle and grape vines) the small coop (4x4) doesn't get too warm as it is constantly shaded. The larger coop (10x12) is in full sun but has a fan running continually pushing air through.

We'll only hit 95 today, and it will cool down to the 80's tomorrow, but I am glad to learn about the ice in water and that chickens won't drink warm water.
I checked both waterers and neither felt warm, not very cold either, but I don't think I'll mess with it for today.

 

[bayouchica]

Hey yall, it gets pretty hot where I'm at & I free range my birds... I have 2 shallow wading pools for them.When it gets over 90 or so I freeze water in milk jugs & put in their pools.They love it. I've also got some soaker hoses under my fig trees & artichokes & they love to hang out after I run them awhile.
Usually I'll run some water under my old truck & that's their most fav spot to hang out.
it's funny they are more like ducks than chickens during the summer.

Later,Miriam

 

[jackiedon]

My husband has had his chickens for about 3 yrs and we have very hot and humid summers here in Arkansas. He never lost one.

I am worried about my polish because they have so many feathers and their bodies seem so hot when I hold them. I let them free range during the day and it's a very shady place. Yesterday it was in the 90's and they found a spot behind the coop where they have dust bathes. I may try the kiddie pool the only problem is their crest. I guess we can bathe them really good for county fair.

jackie

 

[allen wranch]

Fill some empty 1-2 liter bottles, or other size bottles that will fit in your coop with water and freeze them.

Put them in your waterers with the tops off. As the ice melts it will replace some of the liquid in the waterers.

 

[countrygirl4513]

fowlweatherfriends I tend to agree with you. In the old days you'd never see my mom fussing about her chicks like I do and they were not free range, but did have a good sized run. Mine are free range-ing crazy! Right now I"m at work and a big storm is desending on us. We sure need the rain! Hope the chickens have the smarts to go to the house. They say 60 mile winds and hail! NOT GOOD!
I have noticed that the chicks love the fresh cool water that I give them. I will have to start with the ice bricks my self. But as far as a fan or mister... they will have to use the little brain that God gave them and search for shade like they do already. They have discovered the crawl space under the main house that the dogs use and it is very cool under there. But I hate the idea of poop under my house.

But what 's a mom to do?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
When the heat wave hit last year there were day after day of reports on the ezboard forum of people losing chickens to the heat. It was especially bad out in California where even cattle were dropping dead in the fields. If it gets much over 100 you need make sure they have cool water and an open area with shade.

When talking about the heat not being a problem with free range chickens in the old days, you have to realize that chickens with a run of the farm are going to find cool places to beat the heat, whether it be in the woods, a cool spot next to a watering tank, the bottom of an empty silo. There are few places like that in a suburban yard where many here are raising their birds.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205661,00.html

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=060727234618.ryu821kk&show_article=1

 

[akyramoto]

my runs are covered & have a mister & a fan both on timers. instead of ice cubes I'm putting a regular size water bottle thats frozen in the dishes, which makes it easy to switch out with new ones every morning & seems to last longer than regular ice cubes. I've found personally my chickens have one of the coolest spots on the property. I also hose down the pen when it gets REALLY warm. others have suggested putting large frozen bottles of water in the pen so that the chickens could lean against them if they chose to.

 

[Godiva]

Great ideas all! I have been having a bit of a time with my chickens in this hot weather! We have had a number of 100+ temperatures in the last couple weeks. We just don't have enough shade yet and it sure has been keeping me busy trying to keep my chicks cool enough! They are in a portable coop which is pretty shady but on those really hot days the whole bang shute are panting. I now have a jug of ice for them to snuggle with (though I haven't seen any of them getting particularly close to it) The waterer is double walled and seems to stay nice and cool. I hang old blankets over the roof(3feet high) and spray them down with water and then I have a fan going full blast down the length of the coop. Today they were all lined up right in front of the fan. I really don't know what I am going to do when the humidity goes up. We don't have a regular coop yet.... and a number of the chicks are really doing a LOT of panting. We just relocated the 3 remaining hens down to the workshop where they are in a temporary pen there. HOpefully they will do a little better in there.