Keeping them cool

[Sam The Yam]

Just a suggestion to help keep the chickens cooler in this heat: When I turn them loose to free range on the lawn in the late afternoon/early evening, I turn the sprinkler on and let it run through the three stations. It wets the grass and gives them the chance to "cool their heels" and pick at the water drops. I think they must like it.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

yup! I turn on my garden sprinkler super high, and it sprays over the garden fence. Everyone including our turkeys sit in the water sprinkling on them and eat the bugs, and just mill about in the "rain".

But then again us being in AZ rain is a welcomed thing for the birds!

 

[elmo]

Hosing down the grass every hour or so is the only thing getting us through this heat spell we're having. I have to go let the girls out and hose down their tractor again right now.

 

[azmotogirl]

We use a small "personal" mister that keeps one corner of the run cooler at all times. We also keep a fan going on really hot days. They like to go under the mister and then stand in front of the fan. Here is a picture of what we use...... (found our's at Ace Hardware but have seen them at Home Depot also)

 

[fuzidragonbunnie]

We're in southern Nevada and the temperatures have been soaring past 100 degrees or more. We also bought a spray mister and attached it to the roof of the hen house. I also make them chicken popsicles with their scratch and crumbles mixed with what other scraps we plan to give them and enough water to make it stick, then I pour the concoction into a large plastic butter tub-like the country crock ones and freeze them. The girls looked at it funny the first couple of times, but are now really excited to see me with them. They can peck at the outside bits as it defrosts and it keeps them cool as they munch.

 

[zDoc]

I installed 8 misters in the run, it took them a while to get used to it but now they love it.

 

[Mahonri]

I keep the AC cranked on in the coop and sprinkle the back lawn in late afternoon.

 

[ZaneyMama]

I put frozen ice packs in their nesting boxes to keep them cool while they're laying and run a large fan and misters. It's been so hot here in Boulder, CO for the past couple weeks!

 

[JimWWhite]

Quote:
Hey, I went in and saw you're personal page. Too funny with attaching the satellite dish to the coop! Living in NM do you collect what rainwater you do get? I know if I lived out there (I used to live in CO) I'd be saving all the water I could and hook up the downspount to a barrel or something. But way funny on the dish.

 

[patman75]

I have zucchini by the tons coming out of my garden, I put them in the frig and after they are nice and cold cut them length wise and give them to the chickens for a cool snack.