Question: Do you need to cool day olds in summer heat?

[Anika Bren]

I have got some chicks coming on June 3. Where I live that could mean temperatures anywhere from 90 degrees to 115 degrees. At those temperatures the office that they are going to be in will be anywhere from 80 degrees to 105 degrees.

I know that too high of ambient temperatures will kill them faster than the temperature being too low.

What is the best way to deal with the temperature getting to high? A larger brooder? Though since it is ambient temperature that will not cool them down. Ice bottles would be way too cold. What about bottles with cool, 50 degree, tap water at one end of the brooder? Or would that even be to much of a shock it they layed against it? Or would they just lay close enough to get the coolness?

If I give them a large brooder ring with shavings and paper towels over cement, with a low watt heat lamp at a far end, and cool water bottles at the other, would that help?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:
Hi,I think you have some very good ideals. Before I have gotten chicks I always have everything set up a few days before. I lay the thermometer on the top of the bedding under the heat lamp. I check the temp several times and adjust the light as needed so the temp under the heat lamp is correct. I try to provide a large enough area so the heat is at one end and there is another end without the direct heat.

The chicks grow quickly and I try to start them in an area large enough for them to grow plus be able to get away from the heat lamp if needed. I have never dealt with your temps but I would set things up a week in advance and experiment with the varying temps of where you will keep them. Use at least 2 thermometer's with one under the heat lamp and one at the other end.

At 115 degrees the I would try the ice bottles. The chicks would only be against them if they were too crowded IMO.

Another thing I observe the chicks in relation to the heat to make sure it is right for them.

I hope this helps. Good luck with them. BTW how can you stand 115 degrees in your office? And to think I thought mine got hot.

 

[Anika Bren]

Luckily we don't get 115 all summer, just a week here and there.

The office is mainly for making buiness calls, filling out and storing paperwork, other than that I am either outside or in the main house, which has air conditioning.

Most days the air is fairly dry so I have been outside working in 108 and it didn't seem so bad, just had to watch the water intake.

Hopefully the first week of June will be in the low 90s(80s would be great) but 3 years ago it was 115 for 5 days..

The adults chickens get in the shade by the pond and dig themselves nice cool couches in the moist ground. But the little ones won't have that luxury the first couple of months.

Thank you.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Make sure they've got plenty of fresh water and good air flow in their brooder and they'll be alright. This time of year I turn the brooder lights off during the day since the outside temperature is high enough not to need them.

 

[LarryPQ]

Shade shade shade shade.

Come see us in the AZ thread. Lots of good ideas there!

 

[Anianna]

Try something like this:

Turn a milk crate on it's side and layer some litter on the side that is now the bottom (or put a board on it to block the holes).
Put frozen water bottles or cooler ice packs on the upturned side.

Cool air will fall into the crate without the ice coming in direct contact with the chicks. The air in the crate should be several degrees lower than the air outside the crate. If you have a lot of chicks that may crowd this (thus defeating the purpose) put a few of these up. You can increase the efficiency of this by tenting some fabric, a tarp, or even one of those Mylar emergency blankets over the crates to keep the cool air in and the hot sun out.

 

[Anika Bren]

Thank you for everyone's suggestions.

Anianna, great idea. Keeps the chicks from getting too close to the cold, lets them come and go as they please and keeps the ice packs clean.

No chance of the sun hitting them were they will be at, though there is plenty of natural light.