summer coop woes

[arrienwilliams]

Hey guys I was hoping for some insight in managing a coop in hot weather. This is my second summer with chickens but my first summer with a real coop and having some issues!

1. How do I keep it cooler? Its under my carport next to my house where it's protected from the sun. I have the window open (with a screen) and even have to prop open the nesting box door for more airflow. Its incredibly hot and stuffy in there and I can't put my hens to bed until it's basically dark and that just doesn't work with my schedule all the time.
2. What bedding is good for hot summers? I'm currently using fine shavings and I think it's contributing to the warmth. Not only that but it's also disgusting and smells bad which means I have to completely clean out the coop at least 3 times a week. I've heard good things about sand, does anyone use that or recommend another type of cool bedding?
3. Flies. Everywhere. How do I get rid of the flies in the coop? I have horses so I'm familiar with flyspray, sticky tape, fly predators, etc but I'm not sure what is safe for chickens. I'm worried if I put the tape up the hens will get into it. Any tips there would be appreciated!

Also, I have 6 hens in the coop and live in VA where it's incredibly hot and humid. TIA!

 

[Mrs. K]

More ventilation is the only thing that will work. Some people use fans.

I don't think that bedding has anything to do wih the heat retention.

Just leave the pop up door open, they will put themselves to bed at dark.

Mrs K

 

[arrienwilliams]

I've been thinking about putting fans up, I just have to figure out how to do that without leaving a door in my house cracked for the cords.

I have an odd chicken arrangment, the girls are kept in a movable pen and are placed all over my property due to losing so many chickens to predators, even during the day time. Also I have two roos that are incredibly aggressive towards the hens so they must be separated. I know that the best way to mend that is to stick em all together so that they can work it out but some of my girls have permanent feather loss and have nasty scarring along their backs. I'm more than happy to keep them separated even if it means more work for me. Anyways, because of my arrangement I have to carry them to the coop at bedtime lol so I can't let them wander in when it gets dark. Thanks for the suggestions!!

 

[can you hear me now?]

Another thing I know my boss does with rabbits on the really hot days is freeze 2 liter bottles for putting in the cages. it's not a permanent fix but it helps.on the worst days.

 

[arrienwilliams]

That's a great idea! My friend has rabbits and does the same thing and didn't even think about doing that for chickens! I do put a rubber pan full of cold water in the pen during the day and I come out to find them standing in it haha, so frozen water bottles might work!

 

[eviemethugh]

Search for the deep litter method. It will save you so much time. We have one traditional red clay run in addition to other coop types. The red clay run has a coop that we only completely change the bedding twice a year. We add pine shavings probably two other times a year. The chickens turn the bedding and their poo into a sweet smelling compost, that is one of our only set ups with NO flies. Even our tractors keep some flies hanging out. It is also very cool during 90 degree days they stay in there and there is no shade on the outside of the coop to help. I don't think the deep litter keeps it cool. But pine shavings probably don't contribute to the heat in our set up. And we honestly are really bad about remembering to open extra windows. They have one large one that stays open.
To help them beat the heat, we offer frozen watermelon (you could do anything, we see people do frozen corn in muffin tins) just keep it minimal. And put frozen bottles IN their waterer. Like a reusable ice cube.

 

[arrienwilliams]

Awesome thank you! Those are some great tips!

 

[Wyandotte Momma]

You started a very good thread! I have some of the same questions! And for flies I found that hanging sandwich bag size full of water around the coop or your problem areas drastically reduces the number of flies. Of course with chickens you can't eliminate the flies but this reduces it!