Keeping them cool

[Raindrops]

I have a couple of young pullets and these days we are having 100+ temperatures. I’m looking for some tips to help them keep cool.

They are usually panting with their mouthes open by noon and will do that until evening. Poor things! they do have access to shade and they will stay in the shade until the sun goes away.

Sometimes I give them a cold slice of watermelon .. and I also come outside and put ice in their water container so they always have access to cold water to soothe from the heat.

But what if I wasn’t home to do all these things? Is there anything else I can provide them to keep them cool?

 

[snow5164]

Search hot weather or hot chickens ... there are a million posts about this because it’s hot everywhere right now ... good luck

 

[Raindrops]

Oh I did. That’s how I learned about the watermelon. Just thought I’d see some more tips than what I already found. ^_^ if we just google everything then what’s the point of a community!

 

[dawg53]

I have a box fan under the main coop and a small rotating fan under the small coop that helps circulate air. Sometimes my older birds will lay in front of the fan when it's real hot and high humidity. I also have fans inside both coops running on medium speed. They blow air out a vent forcing indirect air coming in through the other vents.
I also put out ice and ice water around noon time. It stays cool until the birds go to roost for the night.
Careful with the watermelon, too much will cause diarrhea.

 

[Raindrops]

I think I can set up a fan for sure! Thank you.

I heard of people giving them a big hunk of ice but I tried that and they got really scared of it. They are so skittish.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

If you live somewhere with low humidty the mister will work wonders. They may be scared of it at first but will learn to love it. Fans can help a lot too, you can even put big frozen bottles in front of it so it blows cooler. Once again they will be scared at first but will get over it. Hose down the roof of the coop/run, hose down the run and create mud puddles for them. You can also put out shallow pans of water for them to wade it. If they are looking very hot you can place them in shallow pans of cool water (not cold) to help them cool off.

You can freeze milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, gallon bottles and put those in trays of water to keep them cool or lay them out for your chickens to lean on. Freeze smaller water bottles and use those to keep the water cool. When it is really hot I usually change them out every 2 hours.

You can use a muffin tin to freeze big ice cubes or put frozen fruit in them with water for a treat for the chickens. Frozen watermelon is a lifesaver too. I usually put it in a pan of some sort so that as it defrost the liquid stays in the pan.

Lastly I wouldn't feed them extra corn because it raises their body temperature too much when they are digesting it.

I hope this help! Dealing with the heat is stressful and scary. We've been consistently at a 100-100+ for about three weeks now and I have been doing everything I can to keep the ladies cool.

 

[Raindrops]

I lovvveee the muffin pan idea. That way the ice “cube” lasts longer.

I’m doing that!!! Thanks so much y’all. I just hate to see them panting like that.

 

[Relleoms]

My girls love frozen grapes! I’ll bring enough for 2 each, then toss them around so they can all get some. I also feed water with electrolytes in the afternoon if the heat index is over 95*. And I have an oscillating fan in the coop, pointed on the nesting boxes during the day & on the roosting bars at night. We have quite a bit of humidity during the summer, so I don’t really use the misters, but I will make puddles in the shade for them to dig in/lay in.
The heat makes me nervous, the cold makes me nervous...raising chickens is hard

 

[Raindrops]

Grapes.. ok! I’ll do that too. I’ll do whatever it takes to make them more comfortable.

I have a feeling they are gonna be freaked out by grapes but they are curious enough.

Thanks Relleoms.

 

[dawg53]

I dont recommend mudpuddles. Chickens poop in it and then drink from it before drinking from a waterer....not good.