Tips for keeping nest boxes cool

[SusanD]

Any tips on keeping nest boxes cool? I have a RIR hen today, that was panting like crazy while waiting to lay (she's a small bird, and it seems like she usually takes longer than the others). I poured some coolish water on her back, which she seem to like at first, but then she got up and scolded me. I don't think I want to try that again, because it seems to stress her a little.


Like

Like
Love
Haha
Wow
Sad
Angry​

C

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sometimes the act of laying is painful, especially on young layers, she's not hot, she's stressed.

 

[SusanD]

Good point. I suspect it may have been a touch of both. She does seem to take longer laying, and her eggs tend to come out elongated. Also, our temperature is supposed to be up in the 90s today.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She's getting double wammied, you could try a fan blowing the nest direction, not sure if they would find it a disruption. I'd rather deal with our cold winters, than deal with hot summers, which can be deadly.

 

[aart]

I've taken to cracking open the egg collection door a tad about an inch, have a secondary screw to catch the latch, not sure if it helps much.