Poll: How often do you check on your chickens in the heat?

[thecatumbrella]

I'm at "More than I'd like to." We don't free range and there's zero shade on our property. I'm out multiple times hosing the roof down, moving shade cloths, and refreshing the waterers. Summer is the roughest season, by far!

 

[GodLovesU]

I check on mine just about every night, so I guess bare minimum.

 

[C Siena]

We're retired so I check every couple hours and collect eggs...and treats. The treats are sometimes just regular feed but when it's in my hand, well it must be a treat.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I check on mine every hour or two during the hottest part of the day. Some of my hens are dumb enough that they’ll sit on their eggs after laying them, instead of getting down where it’s cooler. I also change out their water if it’s warm, and spray their run with the hose so it’s cooler.

 

[KRack]

I see them if they’re around when we get them water once a day or collect eggs in the evening, otherwise I don’t check on them. They free range and have about 300 acres of shaded woodland to stay cool in. Then most of them sleep in a tree at night, so sometimes I don’t see much of them lol.

 

[FrostRanger]

It's been hot most of their lives and I've observed them enough to know that they've adapted to this weather (although no one is happy about the weather). Because of that I don't do as many checks as I did when they were pullets. I check to make sure their water is good and no one is too hot (and lately if Basil is still broody.....) before I go to work

 

[Mother of Chaos]

We let ours in and out of the run into the yard several times a day, so probably more than the 3-4 I voted. But they’re not specifically heat checks.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I check on them when I get eggs but not because of heat. They are always in their chicken grotto in the shade and they’re still young so I do a head count to make sure no one has been eaten. Their little grotto is nice and cool and they stay in there through most of the midday heat except the older hens come out to lay eggs then they go…somewhere else.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I check on them when I get eggs but not because of heat. They are always in their chicken grotto in the shade and they’re still young so I do a head count to make sure no one has been eaten. Their little grotto is nice and cool and they stay in there through most of the midday heat except the older hens come out to lay eggs then they go…somewhere else.
View attachment 4164441

I need a shady grotto. For me.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I need a shady grotto. For me.

Come on over! I have your camp chair all ready! I’ll make lemonade