misting system to cool up to 30degrees lower

[mdbokc]

I run misters in my cedar tree about 5' above ground and are 5 feet apart. I operate only above 95 degrees. The girls choose their places as it does cool (effectiveness depends on humidity). The misters in the run are 6' above ground and I use three in a distance of about 35'. Again, they stand where they want to. The misters (Ocean Breeze) use about 1/2 gal per hour each.

I also set three misters to run softened water on the A/C coils, one on each side, when temps are above 90-95 degrees. The increase in A/C coil efficiency is clearly noticeable as the unit cycles on for less time, less often. Electrical savings and comfort far exceed the water cost for the few hours each day. Saw it in last year's electric bill as it was significantly less and the summer temps were hot, hot, hot.

Mine also have swim pools as seen in the background...they use them. I change water every couple of days as a rule.


Wind is not a problem here, most always always plenty of it.

 

[BoltonChicken]

As noted, misters do NOT work in humid weather like we have down south. Since our air is already so humid, fans work well and do not get the floors of the
run wet, which is another problem. The mist cools humans here because it gets on our skin and evaporates. Chickens have feathers that keep the mist from
getting to their skin, so it doesn't help. Provide shade and use fans if you got 'em. I asked my 94 year old mother today what her mother did to keep the chickens
cool in the southern Mississippi summers. She look at me as if I were crazy. For centuries chickens have not had wading pools, misters, fans or air conditioners.
Mom told me that she does not recall losing a single adult chicken to heat. Think about it. How many Robins, Sparrows, etc. do you see dead in the streets
because of the heat? We tend to over worry.

 

[pinkwindsong]

Quote:
good to know... thanks )O(
Pink

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

The only chickens that get pampered around here are my silkies! I am threatening to move them into the house. I did put out a box fan, just above the ground since they are so short

blowing into the lot, and plan on adding another by this weekend if needed. They seem to be panting less with some air moving.

Since we are working on our yard, the only shade I can give from 10a-3p is a tarp. I do mist it with the hose once or twice during the time the sun hits it & when it gets over 90* hoping to at least cool that off some. I have gotten most pens and coops moved back into the cleared area, and most have shade trees at least. Just a few more to move, silkies included.

Most of my pens & runs are open air. I have one dog house I use as a henhouse that needs ventilation, but all runs and other structures are more open wire than closed wood. Seems to work best with our humidity.

I would like a mister for ME. Don't think the silkies would like it too well though.

ETA: It seems my free-rangers manage to stay cooler.......whether it is in the duck pool or some deep woodsy shade where they scratch down to the dirt.

 

[pinkwindsong]

Quote:
ya know that is sooo true .. we as these later generations were raised differently .. maybe it was the 80;s and the gen x. or maybe it was even further back to the boomers .. that decided we need convienice and comfort and we then pass this on to our children ( i know mine are much more spoiled than I was ) and our animals.. my great dane has his own full size bed.. for his comfort.. husband thinks Im crazy .. but I know it helps him and his bones and older age is not as hard on him.. its that comfort zone.. got to have it got to give it.. In my mind I know your grandma and mom are right.. its a chicken... but my heart says ooohhhh he's panting.. he's hot... she must be miserable cause I am...

thanks for asking your grandma.. I bet it brought back a bunch of memories to talk about.. wish mine was still around to ask.. my g parents raise many a chicken.. take advantage of her being there,, enjoy her now.. I know you will ...

smiles and blessings to all
)O(
Pink

 

[pinkwindsong]

sorry bolton chicken.. I didnt read clearly, that it was your mom, that you talked to. but still holds true.; I find I am spending alot more time with my mom as she gets old.. and ya know.. I have found that I like my mom.. shes pretty great..
smiles
Pink

 

[Chicklette 1]

I have a covered sand box for them and I wet the sand down when it gets really hot here in KY. They just love it and I guess it cools them down as they usually take their nap in there. I just use a fan in the inside of the coop. I think it helps a lot to keep the air moving. And of course cold watermelon hydrates and cools down at the same time.

 

[secuono]

My chickens hate the 98F heat and humidity we keep having in Virginia. They pant like dogs, drop and keep their wings away from their bodies, they are just miserable. The chicks love it though, saves some $ on the electricity since I don't need the lamps during the day.

I bought a circular saw and cut out one panel in the coop, added a small fan. I'll be cutting two big windows, another window on the opposite wall that already has a window. Need to install a screen door swinging in at the human door and also plan on adding another window at the front of the coop facing the run. Gonna make hinged covers for winter. The extension of the coop will wait until fall, just too hot to be out there. I'm already very tan from work, too bad it's just my arms and face, everything else is so paper white, lol!

My fiance got a large 6 fan unit for servers, going to pop out 2 of them for the coop, maybe a 3rd.
Added a bin of water out into the run. There's 3 1gal waterers in the coop, change them daily, 2 quart waterers for the chicks in there too.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Except, here's the thing, every summer a number of BYCers DO lose chickens because of the heat.

Historically, local chickens were descended from (obviously) the SURVIVORS... breeds/lines that did not deal well with the local climate did not stick around for your Mom and others to be acquainted with. Ditto with any particularly heat-sensitive wild birds... if they choose to locate themselves in a climate they can't survive, well, there is no next generation to repeat the mistake.

Now however people buy chickens according to purty catalog pics and have them shipped all over the country, there ARE no locally-adapted populations, and therefore yes, people actually DO have chickens die of heat-stroke.

Plus which, in the old days most chickens were relatively free-range and therefore had a greater ability to find (or dig themselves) a nice cool spot on a bad-hot day, as compared to some chickens in some peoples' coops today.

So I don't think it's unreasonable to try to deal with it as best you can.

Although of course ALSO selecting suitable breeds helps too.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[rudimyers]

Thank you mdbokc for posting the picture of your swimming pool. I will drag mine out, clean it out, and use it for the birds.