Official BYC Poll: How Do You Keep Your Chickens Cool In Summer?

[BYC Project Manager]

Summertime is a wonderful time, but with the sunshine and long days comes a potential hazard for our flocks: extreme heat. Chickens naturally wear a warm coat of feathers and can overheat easily, therefore it is essential that we provide means for them to cool down, if needed, and regulate their body temperatures.

So How Do You Keep Your Chickens Cool In Summer?

Please place your vote above, and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

Further Reading:

• Keeping Your Chickens Cool In Summer
• A Simple Way To Keep Chickens Cool In Summer
• Coop Health: Designing & Maintaining A Healthy Coop

(Check out more Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Shaded run, acreage of pasture under-brushed but not cleared, well-ventilated coop (one of which is raised, so they can dig and dustbathe under it in the shade, the other is better ventilated still), and I'm selecting for clean legged chickens with prominent combs to help them bleed heat more easily.

Considered selecting for large surface area to body mass - but rejected that immediately. I like meaty birds.

Water is lukewarm. to warm-ish, but not hot - around 80F?

They still pant a lot mid summer.

 

[Silviaschicks]

My girls have some shade in their run, but I let them out and i mist them and give them water, and they like to take dirt baths under shady bushes in my garden. Here's a pic:

 

[topochico225]

I live in Louisiana, so shallow pans of water are mosquito breeding grounds. I let my 3 standard hens free range all day. I have lots of trees and bushes, so they find shade easily. I just ordered a hanging waterer for their favorite shady spot! I usually add ice to the water and feed them fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.

 

[Chuckie chicken]

There is no "other" to select, but I'm hoping that letting them free range with an acre of shady pines right behind the coop will help. Our warm weather is just starting. So far they like to dig into the ground and sit in the cool earth. I make sure they have plenty of water throughout the day and a well ventilated coop for the night.

I'll be checking in here for more ideas.

 

[Warrior Creek]

Lots of cool water and mine loves her fan. She sings into it. Just got her a new smaller, black one and she’s not happy. Going out to the shed for the standard box fan she loves.

 

[aart]

Ice blocks and a weekly dose of electrolytes during heat waves are the most effective tools.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[amk122284]

Shaded with a mister outside and fresh water.

Inside well ventilated 4 inches around the entire top perimeter plus barn fan, very well insulated, and an air-conditioner to keep the inside temperature at 85 max.

 

[Mutchi]

I chose other cus my coop has installed instalation and it's cool in the coop during the summer and warm in the winter!

 

[Bryce Thomas]

are silkies heat tolerant? i think definitely not but some sources say they do
they have small wattles so it would be no right