Too hot for chickens in Florida?

[NanaLantana]

My chickens live in Florida! They're fine, they have lots of shady lady palms to fuss around under. And the mango trees - they love mangoes! Their little faces are black with mango juice mixed with dirt! I have the nipple water system, and sometimes I wonder if they drink enough. But they must. They also pant, I count that as normal, seeing as it's so hot. I get only 2 eggs a day from 6 hens, I think they're alternating! They just started laying a couple weeks ago.

 

[ChicKat]

Everyone here has made good suggestions-- I can add that spraying the ground around the run and even the shade tarp and shade cloth over it helps some. You can feel noticable cooling and so will they.

Make sure that they have deep shade available.

They like to dig down to where the dirt is moist and cool and then flop.

When the temperatures are high they will eat less, and thus they will produce fewer eggs.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I keep a large baking dish of cool water out for mine to stand in. I have also noticed they seem more uncomfortable if I give chicken feed during the heat of the day, I feed mornings and evenings only. They do like a bit of cool watermelon or other chilled fruit or veggies during the day. I have found that misting them in high humidity can cause mildew to grow on their feathers.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I'm not sure how many total chickens and turkeys I have just now. Should be around 100 or thereabouts. I don't set up misters, feed them frozen watermelon, or put ice in their waterers, but I've never lost one to heat.

What I do provide for them is shade, good airflow, and plenty of fresh, clean water. Those are vital and without them you can lost birds to heat. My chicken tractors are open all the way around the bottom so they can always be in the breeze. Everyone has shade to get into and I refill their waterers at least twice a week. The growout pens are very full right now so theirs get refilled every day.

They'll spread their wings, pant, eat less, and so on, but that's because it's summer. In the mornings and evenings they'll be active. In the heat of the day in the afternoons they'll lay around like anyone with any sense would do (only mad dogs and Alan Hagan go about in the noon day sun at my place!)

Folks have been keeping chickens in Florida longer than any other place in the United States. They're hardy creatures as long as you give them shade, air flow, and water.