Nearing 100 degrees F

[Es_In_Miami]

In the deep deep south where it's hot and muggy most of the year cooling off is essential. My spoiled chicks have a big swamp cooler aimed at their pen. I also added a 10 x 10 canopy next to the coop. I use a canvas tarp for additional shade and ventilation. Sun shade will also work for this. Clip them onto the frame using xl binder clips and attach a strip of 1x2 furring strip to the bottom. This matter when winds kick up or rains come. They have plenty of places to perch both directly in the path of the swamp cooler or under the canopy. I too use water to cool off the ground. Their dust bath holes get very deep otherwise as they seek cooler soil.

This is what I have https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hessair...-Swamp-Cooler-for-1-600-sq-ft-MC61V/304078773

It has a hose attachment to keep he reservoir full. No, I did not buy this for the birds I have it as a backup for when the AC breaks at our shop. You can make a DIY version pretty inexpensively. Get a good fan, a cheap submersible pump and a healthy dose of creativity. Your chickens will be much happier.

 

[aart]

Man! You must have this post copied to your notepad! Lol

I do...a word doc filled with notes and 'posts' I am a terrible typer, but a great paster

 

[Severne]

I gets 120 here and I’ve never had any problems, (even with breeds like RIR, Wyandotte and other cold hardy breed) as long as i give them plenty of water, shade, and space.

 

[K0k0shka]

Mine like it when I pour a bucket or two full of cold water on the ground and it makes puddles. They wade through the puddles and cool their feet down, and, as an added bonus, the water hydrates their yard waste bedding (which is otherwise very dry, as my run is covered), and all of a sudden they find little crass clippings and leaves and stuff to eat as they get moist again. So, added entertainment. I haven't managed to get them to use a wading pool of any other kind yet (the sled method, trash bin lid, baking tray etc - they just don't want to step in it). But they do like the puddles.

 

[aart]

they just don't want to step in it

IKR!? Chicken are such chickens!
Mine didn't like it either at first, until I took my calmest bird and held her in there.
She struggled a bit, for about 10 seconds, then I swear she gave this great sigh of relief and relaxed...then she showed all the other birds(well, most of them) the way to cooling their feet.
It's important that the container is stable when they step on the edge of it.

 

[Acre4Me]

I’ve only had 1 chicken that has stood in the cold water-no other chickens followed suit!

Shade, deep shade!! Another way to provide shade is to take large scrap sheets of OSB or plywood and prop against the wall or fence-whatever provides the shade...put this where they like to dust bath if possible. Do not create a dead-end, so don’t prop it in a corner. The chickens will find this shade pretty quickly. You can wheel in a wagon or similar bc it will provide shade for them too. Previous owners left a shade umbrella with a broken pole - this worked awesome for shade when stabilized and anchored. We used blocks to stabilize the pole, and to prop up the umbrella, and anchored it with more blocks to prevent it blowing away.

Gold stars for keeping up with fresh cool water. Place it in shade or prop up another board to shade it. This is what we have to do for ours to keep it cool.

If one looks like she’s struggling more than the others, bring her into a cooler area, even your house, if needed. Give her cool water or electrolytes and some food, even a scrambled egg. Let her reset her internal thermostat and return her to coop by roosting time.

Good luck!

 

[aart]

Let her reset her internal thermostat and return her to coop by roosting time.

Had to do this before using EL regularly, both in winter and summer.
The 'reset' is pretty amazing.

I’ve only had 1 chicken that has stood in the cold water-no other chickens followed suit!

Yeah, not all will indulge....but they all sip the cool water.
I have one 11wo cockerel right now, he stands right on the ice as soon as I bring it out.

 

[rayrose]

When I built my coop and run, I covered the entire run 28 x 18 with galvanized steel that is painted white on both sides. It makes the run at least 20 degrees cooler than outside temps and blocks 67% of the suns uv rays. It also keeps the entire run in deep shade. When I let the girls out of the coop, they literally fly out of the coop and into the run, find a roost and chill out.
They also spend a lot of time taking communal dust baths in the cool dirt.

 

[K0k0shka]

IKR!? Chicken are such chickens!
Mine didn't like it either at first, until I took my calmest bird and held her in there.
She struggled a bit, for about 10 seconds, then I swear she gave this great sigh of relief and relaxed...then she showed all the other birds(well, most of them) the way to cooling their feet.
It's important that the container is stable when they step on the edge of it.

All of ours are tame and the kids and I take turns holding each with their feet in the water. They don’t mind, but as soon as we put them down, they walk out. One of them stayed for a few seconds once, but that’s it. We’ll keep trying, maybe they’ll get used to it with repeat exposure...

 

[gpresdo]

Normally chickens do not like being in water. ...or having water on them...it scares them. Even rain creates a state of anxiety for most. It is a change in their environment and that is a typical
bird response to anything new around them.
We are reminded..they are not ducks.....or other water fowl.