Keeping poultry cool

[Tinkey71]

i know there was a lot of discussion here about a month ago about how to keep chickens warm with temps up north having dropped really low.
Now I’m asking about the other end since I live in Florida and it’s already warming up a lot. What are some ways to keep my chickens and ducks cool besides providing water? And also what are ways people control flies and bugs around the coop?

 

[Ribh]

I'm in subtropical Queensland & we've had a scorcher of a summer. Freeze some plastic bottles full of water & add those to their water [ice cubes if you don't have a water trough]. Frozen bottles in the coop also help to cool & deter mozzies. Frozen treats or things like berries frozen in ice cubes. I plan on growing these natural repellants around my new coop for next years mozzie invasion: citronella, lemon balm,catnip, marigolds, basil, lavender, peppermint, garlic, pennyroyal, rosemary & geraniums. I urge caution with this next one ~ like you can't leave one burning in the coop or leave it too long ~ but before lock up I wave a mozzie coil around then immediately add my frozen water bottle which deters the mozzies briefly & gives the girls a chance to settle unbothered. I'm just not sure about the smell so it is quite literally a quick wave & gone & I give the coop a chance to air before the girls go up. Some people use misters or fans. I can't do that so I hose down my coop & a patch of soil in the shadiest part of the run. The girls love it!

 

[aart]

Deep all day shade would be number one.
Cool water is good...not sure ice water in any quantity is good tho.
Have seen a bird get 'brain freeze' after guzzling ice water.

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.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Works way better than small ice cubes.

Make room in your freezer:

 

[chickens really]

I hose around the Lilac bushes and provide frozen water and cold water. Frozen watermelon..Lots of shaded areas.