Overhead coop fan running at night

[Frazzled chicken tender]

Good that you have a naturally shaded area, including their run. Any "extra sunny" areas can easily be shaded with some shadecloth (Lowes, HD). I use it everywhere; makes a huge difference.

One thing I notice: you have a metal roof on the coop with no insulation on the interior side. I have a big metal stick-frame barn and had insulation installed underneath the roof when built. You can see it if you look up. Came in a large roll, 4' wide, very thin, easy to install. Came with a roll of wide white adhesive tape to cover the seams. The rolls are wafer-thin fiberglass (?) insulation sandwiched between a sheet of waterproof film (white side faces the interior) and a shiny reflective side (in contact with the metal roof). Super thin, cuts with scissors, easy to put up and (a) definitely keeps barn a bit cooler (b) prevents condensation from dripping.

I used this leftover insulation and some leftover roofing metal when we expanded a covered run space last summer. Really mitigates the heat. Should not be a problem for you to retrofit some appropriate insulation onto the ceiling of your coop. Even in shade, the air temp still affects the heat absorbed/radiated by all outdoor structures. Just a suggestion!

Thank you! You are correct, super thin metal, and no insulation at all. I'll look for that insulation, bet it will help. I'm glad the area they roam is mostly shaded, but it is still so hot. Last night, I wet their feet in a bucket of water before putting them on the roost. Have no idea if it helped cool them down, but we all were stressed afterwards. My husband said we could get a small window ac unit and run it a little bit during the day. I also wet the ground down (not sure that will cool things down in humid areas?). And i have a kiddie pool with shallow water but they wont get in it.
I'll look for shade cloth at Home Depot!

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you! You are correct, super thin metal, and no insulation at all.

The roof on Neuchickenstein, the coop featured in my hot climate article (link in signature), is uninsulated metal and that coop stands in full sun all day. But it's the coolest place in the yard because of the airflow design and the use of local microclimates.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

The roof on Neuchickenstein, the coop featured in my hot climate article (link in signature), is uninsulated metal and that coop stands in full sun all day. But it's the coolest place in the yard because of the airflow design and the use of local microclimates.

That is great! We have a natural windflow that comes up into the run occasionally. And shade covering most of the chicken area. Still....very hot here. I'm trying to find the link, but didnt see it anywhere near your profile name. Computers confuse and frustrate me

 

[aart]

I'm trying to find the link, but didnt see it anywhere near your profile name. Computers confuse and frustrate me

A signature line is below the block of poster text.
If on a phone, you might have to go to horizontal mode to see it.

 

[3KillerBs]

That is great! We have a natural windflow that comes up into the run occasionally. And shade covering most of the chicken area. Still....very hot here. I'm trying to find the link, but didnt see it anywhere near your profile name. Computers confuse and frustrate me

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

Here you are. I tend to forget that it's harder to find this stuff on a phone.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

Here you are. I tend to forget that it's harder to find this stuff on a phone.

Gorgeous coop! Looks like great airflow! Thank you for the link...ive been keeping everything completely open until we get the improved ventilation. Even at night leaving open

 

[3KillerBs]

Gorgeous coop! Looks like great airflow! Thank you for the link...ive been keeping everything completely open until we get the improved ventilation. Even at night leaving open

I know that the design works because they spend most of their time there instead of out in their run.