need some advice!!

[One Lucky Momma]

gotcha, thank you!! ice water a good idea? to help them cool down more?

I’ve never done that personally, but I know many people do. What I do have great experience with is this - get a watermelon, cut it into quarters or eighths depending on size, cut the best part out of the center and you eat that. Put the rind with lots of red flesh in the freezer overnight.

Serve. For your size peeps one or two sections would be enough at one time.

 

[mcdze]

at that age i wouldnt let them out and about unless youre right there with them and put them up before you leave .. thats too little to just 'let out' .. if your coop is a shed thats bound to be hot unless its under the trees .. what ive done before, and i gave it away wish i still had it lol .. is you can buy a roll of 1/2" mesh, unravel it to make a hoop about 4' across and zip tie that .. then cut a couple of pieces for the top and bottom and zip tie that .. make a door just out of wire enough so you can access it .. now you got a 'mobile' for them you can throw in a sandy spot under a tree ...

 

[NatJ]

our coop is actually a repurposed shed (10x10) with a vent, 1 window, and double doors. what do you think about letting them out and about but leaving the coop doors wide open?

Can you make a "door" out of 1/2" hardware cloth? That way you could leave the big solid doors open for air circulation, but the chicks would be safe inside and predators would be stuck outside.

 

[WILIFORD]

I wouldn't advise putting an A/C unit in. That would cause more problems than the heat itself. If they have access to shade and water, and they have room to move around they will be fine.

 

[cheecharrones]

I’ve never done that personally, but I know many people do. What I do have great experience with is this - get a watermelon, cut it into quarters or eighths depending on size, cut the best part out of the center and you eat that. Put the rind with lots of red flesh in the freezer overnight.

Serve. For your size peeps one or two sections would be enough at one time.

i’ve heard of that! & frozen cucumber. all those high water fruit/veg sound like a great way to beat the heat. thank you for the info!!

 

[cheecharrones]

at that age i wouldnt let them out and about unless youre right there with them and put them up before you leave .. thats too little to just 'let out' .. if your coop is a shed thats bound to be hot unless its under the trees .. what ive done before, and i gave it away wish i still had it lol .. is you can buy a roll of 1/2" mesh, unravel it to make a hoop about 4' across and zip tie that .. then cut a couple of pieces for the top and bottom and zip tie that .. make a door just out of wire enough so you can access it .. now you got a 'mobile' for them you can throw in a sandy spot under a tree ...

yeah that’s what i was thinking! i mean theyre so little how on earth could they be okay outside! what i started doing today is bringing them out with me when i let my dogs and my kids out to play, and when i go tend to the garden. then i bring them back inside/to the brooder. they spent about 30 mins outside today in increments.

 

[cheecharrones]

I wouldn't advise putting an A/C unit in. That would cause more problems than the heat itself. If they have access to shade and water, and they have room to move around they will be fine.

why would a/c cause more problems? i’m feeling painfully clueless at this point lol. we have lots of trees, and couple awnings attached to outbuildings but i plan on building them their own awning type thing right next to the coop. i know those feather keep them nice and warm which is great in cold weather but not so great in 100° summer months. am i overthinking? lol

 

[NatJ]

i’ve heard of that! & frozen cucumber. all those high water fruit/veg sound like a great way to beat the heat. thank you for the info!!

Another thing that's good in hot weather: put some of their feed in a dish, and add cold water. That makes it cold and wet, and helps make sure they eat enough of the complete feed even when they don't feel like eating it dry. Of course, don't do too much at a time--you don't want it to spoil.

 

[WILIFORD]

why would a/c cause more problems? i’m feeling painfully clueless at this point lol. we have lots of trees, and couple awnings attached to outbuildings but i plan on building them their own awning type thing right next to the coop. i know those feather keep them nice and warm which is great in cold weather but not so great in 100° summer months. am i overthinking? lol

Keep in mind chicks need a heat lamp for the first 6 weeks of life. Now that does not mean they will live under the heat lamp 24/7, but they will move to it, and away from it to regulate their body temperature. My point is cold is a bigger threat to chickens, than hot. At 3 weeks old their plumage is still very thin and undeveloped. An AC unit will chill them in the evening temperatures, and make them sick, at they very least, if not worse. Chickens are also susceptible to respiratory issue and I would think (I can't say for certain), an AC unit would increase the likelihood of respiratory problems. Furthermore 90 degrees is not excessively hot for chickens. On hot days they are going to find a damp shady area and relax. I say this with confidence. I live in southern California in a hotter climate, my chickens do just fine. At the end of the day you have to do what you feel is right for your animals, and It's obvious you committed to the well being of your animals, and I commend you for that, It's just my opinion that not only is an AC unit unnecessary, but could potentially do more harm than good. That's just my opinion. I hope it helps