Simple and easy ways to keep your chickens cool

[silkie10]

Hi guys!
so over the years, I've had a lot of birds die from the heat. So over the years, I have learned how to be able to cool them off and keep them alive over the years as well. There is one important rule for keeping your birds alive in the summer. It is NO FANS. I have a problem with fans because they could keep the birds to cool. What I mean is, fans work so well that when they are taken off, the birds get really hot and die. I have found other ways that in my opinion work better than fans. one is (and my favorite) water. You all know that chickens don't like water, but I found that if I put my hose on mist or sprinkle it cools them off quite a bit. I put it on a couple times a day, usually not at a specific time just when I feel they are REALLY hot. Another one is frozen watermelon. I love using frozen watermelon because it cools them down and they love it. While I give them the frozen watermelon, I also give them fresh, cold water and put apple cider vinegar in it. Depending on how tired or lazy or hot they look I'll put sugar in there too, just to boost their energy. Last but not least I freeze jugs of water. The jugs help quite a bit if they know how to use them. I personally had to train my birds to use them but some of you may have smart birds (unlike me) and don't have to train them. I'm sure you all know but your birds need shade. If they don't have shade this REALLY affects them, I had three birds die once because they had no shade. These methods have helped me a lot lately, though some of my birds still die, this helps there not to be as many as there would be.
Hope this helps someone!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I freeze watermelon rinds for my chickens and they love it.

 

[silkie10]

I freeze watermelon rinds for my chickens and they love it.

Same, it's awesome

 

[Theladiesandagentleman]

Keeping the coop cool at night is important to help them recover from the heat of the day. We use frozen bottles suspended in front of two small, quiet solar fans that help move air through and create evaporative cooling. The fans are above the roosts so not blowing on them.

In addition to all of the great things you mentioned, my husband built a little platform bed and we have some frozen cooling pads inside a towel. We can change them out every few hours. My ladies are fortunate enough to be out in our fenced orchard all day where it is much cooler in the shade. The buried irrigation comes on in the afternoon and gets moisture to the soil.

It's already been over 100 here in our area and I've only had some occasional panting from them.

And yes I am overprotective and obsessed with the chicken heat health index.

 

[snow5164]

I give my girls cat littter boxes full to the top with water , they drink it and as it gets lower they stand it in ... my chickens like water ... put some ice cubes in and they’re entertained for hours ..

 

[silkie10]

I give my girls cat littter boxes full to the top with water , they drink it and as it gets lower they stand it in ... my chickens like water ... put some ice cubes in and they’re entertained for hours ..

your girls sound cute!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I freeze seltzer bottles with water and cut it open and put the ice into the chickens waterer.

 

[annaBsChick]

Here is a link to a good infographic on the topic - http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/keeping-chickens-cool-in-hot-weather

 

[aart]

fans work so well that when they are taken off, the birds get really hot and die.

Huh.....not sure this is accurate. None of mine have died when I turn the fan off.

 

[aart]

@silkie10 it would be good for you to add your location to your profile, so all know in what climate your techniques might work.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!