Desert style cooling works.I've never tried the frozen water bottle thing. I get their run wet and they love the mud in the shade. They have a box fan, but in the heat of the day it doesn't help them. In the evening it's really nice.
We're having watermelon for dinner tonight, so they'll certainly get the rinds
1. Get a misting wand (like the kind you put on the end of a garden hose). Tie it up somewhere 3-4 feet off the ground in some shade, so your flock can hang out in the mist. I usually stick ours in the lemon tree they like to hang out under.
2. Kiddie pool. 4-5" of water in the bottom and some paver stones so they can stand on them. Float a block of ice. It'll keep them cool and they can peck the ice.
3. Veggie cubes. Like Ice cubes, but with little peas and carrots and other veg. Again, they'll peck them and get a cool treat.
4. Fresh fruits, with high water content. Just smash those bad boys on the ground and let them go after it.
5. I run box fans in the coop door to get some air flow at night. I don't like running misters with them unless it's really hot (staying over 100f at night and topping 115 in the day). I don't want them to end up soggy and get respiratory infections on top of it being hot.
We also have a wallow for the tortoises and pigs, and the girls will dip in on occasion.
And of course, plenty of fresh water. I like auto waterers, but whatever works for you,. Keep them in the shade and fill them with cool water from the fridge periodically during the day if you can.
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