Nearing 100 degrees F

[Double Yolked]

I'm in the NW corner of Oregon and have a simple solution to the heat for my mixed flock (Which includes black chickens) I planted a grape arbor. 16 feet of arbor to be exact. I bought some gold colored wine grape out of the bargain bin a few years ago (no tag on it) and built it an arbor that built like an open box 16 ft long, 10 ft wide, 6 ft tall with wires strung the full length of it on top to give the grapes something to grab onto. I just let the grape cover the arbor with no attempt to prune it except where it wandered off the arbor and down the fence. Now I have the best and coolest of chicken summer shelters around. They spend their summers happily chilling in the heavy grape leaf shade under the arbor, and the grapes are incredibly prolific and delicious for all the extra fertilizer.
Something about greenery used to create a shade spot seems to work so much better than any of the tarps and other shelters I've used in the past.

 

[schmedlap]

I hang a sheet ($1 at the Goodwill) on the side of their run that's getting the sun. Clothes pins work fine. The top is covered by a canvas tarp. I'm wiring a solar panel to a 12 volt fan I have mounted in their window, but it will only work when the sun is out unless I put a battery system in.

 

[corriemartin]

I'm in the NW corner of Oregon and have a simple solution to the heat for my mixed flock (Which includes black chickens) I planted a grape arbor. 16 feet of arbor to be exact. I bought some gold colored wine grape out of the bargain bin a few years ago (no tag on it) and built it an arbor that built like an open box 16 ft long, 10 ft wide, 6 ft tall with wires strung the full length of it on top to give the grapes something to grab onto. I just let the grape cover the arbor with no attempt to prune it except where it wandered off the arbor and down the fence. Now I have the best and coolest of chicken summer shelters around. They spend their summers happily chilling in the heavy grape leaf shade under the arbor, and the grapes are incredibly prolific and delicious for all the extra fertilizer.
Something about greenery used to create a shade spot seems to work so much better than any of the tarps and other shelters I've used in the past.

What a GREAT idea! How long did it take your grapes to grow up over the arbor?

 

[Robeenop]

Right now, as I'm typing this, it's 90 degrees in Oregon.
Inside, the temperature is terrible. We have no air conditioning, and even using multiple fans isn't enough to keep us cool.

And as for our birds? They're out in the sun.

We hung up towels over the roof of their run to give them shade, and they've been in the shady spot for most of the day.
All day long they've been 'panting' with their beak open.
Two of our girls- Chickety and Valentina- have started lifting their wings whenever they get up and move to regulate temperature.
They have access to electrolyte water and we've been changing their fresh water constantly to keep it as cool as possible. They've spent most of the day laying in the shade or pecking at ice cubes we've frozen bits of apples into.
Right now, I have half a gallon of water in the freezer that- when frozen or very cold- I'm going to set into the coop so they've got something cool to huddle around.
Our girls are almost fully grown, about a month away from when we expect them to start laying.
However, from what we've gathered, young chickens have a harder time regulating their temperature than older chickens.

We're especially worried about Valentina- who, as opposed to our novogen browns- is a fully black australoop. She's been showing more signs of exhaustion from the heat than our other girls.

Is there anything more we can do for them to cool them down? We've given them shade, are offering them frozen treats, changing and cooling water constantly, and we're going to give them a frozen gallon to lean against in an effort to cool them down a bit more. But it's only supposed to get hotter as the week goes on, and we're getting increasingly worried that our girls are going to be suffering.

I went thru that my first year here in Arkansas many years ago. Right now 95 with heat index if 107. First thing I changed was the roofing on my main coup. I have 4. It had asphalt shingles which absorb and retain heat. I changed to residential colored metal roofing. The temp difference was astonishing! I also covered the run. I planted fast growing trees and crepe myrtles for shade. I let them out and leave them alone all day. They spend it in the shade. I have ducks as well. They all share the kiddie pools, and I bought 8 gal standing waterers from premier one. They are in the shade as well. My birds (40 of them) love frozen peas and carrots. Frozen bananas, frozen strawberries etc. Always helps. Yes, they pant, and lift their wings. I also bought 18" wall mount fans that are for poultry and livestock. The motors are sealed so they don't suck in dust and feathers. My flicks love there fans at night. At night I wet all the dirt and sand down,(it used to be grass) also drops the temp. I just check on them and leave them alone. They will find something shady to get under. We used to lean wheel barrow s, and odds and ends to make shade everywhere. Put up silver reflective tarps as well, makes a difference.

 

[Maggie13]

Maybe try putting up tarps for more shade. Freeze fruits and or chicken feed in cool whip tubs to peck on to help cool them off. Put frozen water bottles in thier waterers to keep the water cool. I use 1 1/2 litre soda bottles in thier 5 gallon bucket I converted to a hanging waterer and it helps alot here in Tn. I use 2 litre soda bottles for my rabbits.

I agree with you 100%
I use a chicken tractor so moving it into a cold shady spot is first thing I do. My hens free range all day so they choose where they want to take their afternoon siesta. They are trained to come for treats when I ring a school bell During the hot dog days I give my girls refrigerator cold watery veggies like cucumbers, watermelon and or cantaloupe during the course of the day to help keep them hydrated and cool them down some.

 

[Mike and Darlene]

Electrolytes , Frozen containers of water, Fans along with good dusting areas, Thick slices of Watermelons, grapes, frozen blueberries and Lots of water have really helped my girls with our HOT Florida weather.

 

[Wendee]

My tractor coop and run are under a magnolia tree. We have plenty of shade for they free range during the day. Many places to get water, and a small fan in the coop for the night. Our temp. at 7 AM is 79 degrees with 96% humidity.

 

[corriemartin]

This discussion makes me think that I am CRAZY to even consider moving my girls from their super-shaded chicken yard/area where they are happily spending their days under an enormous old mulberry tree into a chicken tractor in the blazing sun. This issue is that they're not protected from predators under the mulberry tree. Their nighttime coop is safe, but they fly out of the yard and it's impossible to net up due to its size and the fact that the mulberry branches hang down so low.

The tractor has an apron of chicken wire to prevent diggers, and once they decide that it's home, they can be let out there will be an electric net to keep out predators, but the only shade will be in the tractor and whatever other small things I can rig up, nothing like their current oasis. What do I do?????? (We've had heat indexes well about 100 for the past several weeks, and they've not seemed bothered at all by it where they are. But I just lost 5 birds to a rogue neighborhood dog, and another one to a fox.)

 

[Mike and Darlene]

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.

This all sounds like a a wonderful way to go! Florida Sun and Humidity along with High Winds makes your creativity go into SuperDrive!

 

[Mike and Darlene]

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!

Yes, Protein definitely helps the girls to help keep cooler