Not an emergency. How to keep chickens cool?

[5lovelyhens]

It's been getting really hot here and I feel bad for my hens. My Ameracana (not sure how to spell it) doesn't seem to be handling it very well. She's acting really slow. I was just wondering if anyone has any tips to help keep them cool?

 

[CascadiaRiver]

When it gets hottest here at about 2pm i dunk them in water, only about 1/2 up their wings. It seems to work, as does making sure they all have water.

 

[Eggcessive]

I place extra flat pans of water in the shade for drinking, but also for the chickens to cool their legs in hot weather. Adding ice, frozen water bottles to water, or changing it in the afternoon helps. Adding electrolytes to the water on the hottest days, or every other day is good. Finally, lots of shade and fans in the coop can help.

 

[5lovelyhens]

Okay thanks guys!!

 

[trailrider330]

You can also try things like a mister or giving them cool treats like watermelon, grapes and yogurt.

 

[5lovelyhens]

Okay thanks! They seem the hottest in the nesting box because they lay in the afternoon. (We had to change their schedule because the neighbors got mad when they squaked early ) could I spray them with water while they're in there?

 

[trailrider330]

Although giving them the option of walking under a light "mist" of water, I am not sure I would recommend "spraying" them when they are in the nesting boxes. Too much water and you could scare them off the nests, interrupt their laying and possibly cause them to lay elsewhere. Any chance you could just add a fan in the coop to circulate the air? But again, I am not sure you would want to blow it directly on them as that might scare them off the nest.

 

[IllegalChx]

My Buff won't move this evening, she has had drooping wings and some panting, she will either lay or stand but in the same spot, it's 103 degrees, what should I do?

 

[chicken155]

My Buff won't move this evening, she has had drooping wings and some panting, she will either lay or stand but in the same spot, it's 103 degrees, what should I do?

Keep her cool. Spray her with mist, give her a slushie, find a shady spot. Heat can be really hard on chickens. When temperatures get above the 90 range chickens may get heat stressed.

 

[IllegalChx]

Thank you she passed last night. I just didn't know what else to do for her. We did the mist, fan, frozen treats, little water bath and we gave 2-3 sources of cool fresh water.