Mega Heat Wave!

[americana-lover]

Hey!
Its been really hot out lately, today it got to be over 90 degrees! Ive heard its going to be like this for a while, and its only June! I was wondering if theres an easier way to keep my girls cool. I have 5 Americanas, and there coop isn't that big, it only has 2 egg boxes and a window. I can fit inside of it. There is a small fan fan near the top of the coop, and the egg boxes are open from the top for air circulation, along with the window.
There are bowls of water lying all over the area they are allowed in. About 3-4 different water dishes. Usually my girls just hang out in the shade, but they are still panting like crazy! This is what I'm wondering about! Is there an easier way to keep em cool? I'm going to the Spree tomorrow, so I'm going to be gone during most of the day, and I want a way to keep them cool. Maybe feeding the yogurt?

Please Help! I need to know some answers by later today or early tomorrow!
Thanks!
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[chicks are me]

I've heard you can spay the walls of the coop with cold water and that will help
you could also get a big container of water(if they like water) they could fit in and put it in the shade so it stays cool, and let them walk around in that.

 

[onetallgirl]

We've hit some 106° temps here in the central CA valley, and we bought misters for our flock from Home Depot. $24 roughly and included an expansion so you can have some extra length. They aren't total fans of being wet, but it cools them down. I tend to run it from 1 (they get pretty substantial shade until then) until about 5 or so. I've also put ice in their waterers to keep the water cool for them out there.

 

[Emily1220]

I have a foot tub, like you would soak your feet in, filled with water that my girls like to stand in and sometimes sit in, to cool off. But then I also have another one that I fill with water and I add a gallon milk jug that I froze with water sitting in the middle of it to keep it cool all day. The jug not only stays frozen most of the afternoon but also takes up space so they cant walk into the tub therefore keeping it clean and fresh as drinking water for them. Works great!!

 

[MaineGigi]

Thanks for the milk jug idea. We hit 95 in Maine and its been pretty cool til now. I have 7 hens and only 1 layed today....is this due to the heat? I also have a dozen pullets and they all were laying around panting all day. I felt so bad for them and trying to keep them cool....yikes, don't want to lose any of them!
~Gigi

 

[americana-lover]

thank you all so much! I will try each idea tomorrow!