Small battery powered fan for chicks?

[sandychicks]

My chicks are outside in a upper level coop, it's suppose to get very hot this week and probably until August. Would putting a small fan in with them be ok? What would be the pros and cons?

 

[my sunwolf]

How old are they? As long as they are young and have plenty of fresh water, they should be fine. Sometimes I freeze fruit and throw it to the chickens on a hot day as a treat, or freeze bottles of water and place them in the run for the chickens to lean against when they get hot. I really don't think a fan is necessary, but some people do use them.

 

[sandychicks]

5 2 WEEK OLDS AND 10 3 WEEK OLD RIR, I LIVE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, IT CAN GET ABOUT 100 IN THE DAY. THE OTHER DAY A FEW OF THEM WHERE PANTING. IF THEY CAN TOLERATE HEAT THEN IM NOT WORRIED, JUST DONT WANT STRESSED BABIES.

 

[Angelicisi]

I took a 16oz water bottle and froze it, set it standing in the far corner of the brooder where they didn't really hang out...last few days they sat reeeeal close lol breaking 90s here in southern Louisiana

 

[Sharon Bee]

Do you have a window for ventilation? They would still need air.

 

[sandychicks]

PLENTY OF VENTILATION, JUST THOUGHT THEY MAY LIKE A FAN... I TRIED THE WATER JUGS BUT THEY ARE SCARED OF IT, LEFT IT WENT BACK OUT AN HOUR LATER AND THEY STILL WHERE SCARED AND IT MELTED. I AM AT WORK DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY SO I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH THE WATER JUGS WILL HELP...MAYBE A MISTING SYSTEM?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I do not think chickens sweat. Without sweat a fan that is just blowing hot air will not help cool them down at all. A fan with misters may be a better way to go. Provide as much shade as possible.

On our really bad hot days I usually freeze water bottles and dump out all the ice in my freezes ice maker a few times a day to help cool off the shady places even more. They were a little weary of it the first time but now they will go stand in the cool spots.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

If you have any shade, place the fan in the shaded spot to move that cooler air onto the birds. We created a shaded area and put the fan underneath it so it would blow air a few degrees cooler than the surrounding temp. The girls love it and will sit in front of the fan when it gets hot.

Shade helps the most. I've used everything from tarps [silver side up] to bed sheets to block the sun. When it gets really hot, I'll wet down the tarp/sheet to cool it a bit. Iced water bottles in the run are a big help, too.

I also keep a gallon baggie in my freezer where I throw leftover fruits and veggies. I pull them out on these hot days and the girls really enjoy frozen green beans, melon, strawberries, etc.