Tips to cool down nesting boxes

[Baileybunchx5]

Just wondering what you all have done to cool down nesting boxes in the summer? We added a small fan for ventilation, added a window (3 windows now) and the coop is in the shade. I have one hen (newly laying now 5 months) and she sits a long time to lay. I have a camera and she pants alot. I am worried she may get too hot. Can I add a small water frozen water bottle to the boxes? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. We are in Maryland and temps here today and tomorrow will upper 90's.

 

[Saveria]

You can do frozen water bottles. These articles have some tips as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-ways-to-keep-your-chickens-cool-in-summer.76731/

What is your coop/boxes like? If you put up some pictures we can brainstorm some ideas of how to get more airflow in there.

 

[Baileybunchx5]

You can do frozen water bottles. These articles have some tips as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-ways-to-keep-your-chickens-cool-in-summer.76731/

What is your coop/boxes like? If you put up some pictures we can brainstorm some ideas of how to get more airflow in there.

 

[aart]

Doesn't look like the coop is in the shade, lots of sun coming thru the window.
Do you have a thermometer in the coop so you can monitor the temps in there?

Show the whole coop, inside and out, so we can help with better ventilation.

 

[Baileybunchx5]

Doesn't look like the coop is in the shade, lots of sun coming thru the window.
Do you have a thermometer in the coop so you can monitor the temps in there?

Show the whole coop, inside and out, so we can help with better ventilation.

The coop is mostly shaded, that side is toward the sun. I do have a thermometer inside the coop, What temp should be the highest?

 

[SchwartzLakeFarmNC]

Just thinking out loud here, but could you put in a window fan since you have the access right at the boxes and just drill maybe a 3 of 4 inch hole in each box so the air could reach into each box?

We had a setup similar to yours in our first coop, we put a barn fan in to circulate the cooler air from the side of the coop that stayed shaded all day, I wish it would have oscillated at the time as it would have been more effective,but our coop stayed nice inside, never got too hot after the fan was installed.

 

[aart]

The coop is mostly shaded, that side is toward the sun. I do have a thermometer inside the coop, What temp should be the highest?

Best to keep it less than the outside temps.
That can be hard to do, why I asked to see the rest of the coop.

If it's hot they will pant, hard to avoid that.
Here's some stuff that I do, and it helps, but they still may pant.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[TwoCrows]

Along with the suggestions above, you might put some curtains on those windows to block the strong sun coming in. This should drop the temps a few degrees.

 

[Baileybunchx5]

Along with the suggestions above, you might put some curtains on those windows to block the strong sun coming in. This should drop the temps a few degrees.

Planning that for tomorrow thank you

Best to keep it less than the outside temps.
That can be hard to do, why I asked to see the rest of the coop.

If it's hot they will pant, hard to avoid that.
Here's some stuff that I do, and it helps, but they still may pant.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

Thank you. I have added a few pictures but they were early on before chickens were in the coop. I will read what you attached as well.

 

[Baileybunchx5]

Planning that for tomorrow thank you

Thank you. I have added a few pictures but they were early on before chickens were in the coop. I will read what you attached as well.

There is shade on half of the coop now that the trees have leaves. The picture shows before leaves were on.