Topic of the Week - Keeping Chickens Cool in Summer

[Chickenpoonumber2]

there is a frozen gallon jug of water in the tote. They seem to really enjoy this spot when it's hot

 

[Clukcluks]

Also try to minimise any hard surfaces eg pathways, concrete, that get full sun all day. These grab and radiate heat far more than grassy patches. Soil/dirt that goes hard and dry like concrete also grabs heat, dig it up a little, scatter leaf/garden litter and a bit of water late evening now and then, it helps some. A few shallow water bowls for wading/standing in is popular with some of my DP birds.

DP birds =

 

[ChicnRitch]

Glad you are managing to keep everyone comfortable! Just two things, because these keep popping up:
1. Fans do not help animals that don’t sweat cool down if they are just moving hot air. In cool air, fans can cool because of windchill alone (more air cooler than skin taking up more heat from the body); in the heat though, what makes us feel better is actually the moving air evaporating the sweat on our skin faster, and cooling us down faster as a result. Chickens don’t sweat and blowing warm air at them will not help. Fans can only be useful if the chickens are in an area where the air is hotter than what your fans blow in (like in an enclosed coop).
2. Sweet food is fine in the heat. It will not make them warm. Easily digested carbs can help chickens in the winter to stay warm, because they provide energy, but they don’t in themselves have a warming effect. Sweet fruit, like watermelon (or corn) in the heat can be a help for chickens because they tend to want to eat less when it’s hot. Carbs deliver energy, not heat.
Hope this helps!

I should have specified that these are swamp coolers... So there's actual cool air being blown around.

 

[bluebeth]

The best place to put a coop is under a tree that looses it's leaves in the winter, that way they get plenty of shade in the summer and sun in the winter. I also asked my vet for cool packs. they get their medications shipped in coolers and they always have tons. I freeze them at night and put them under their favorite perch around noon with a little shavings over the top to prevent heat conduction. Yesterday one of my hens was sitting in it. Silly girl.

 

[Stephine]

I should have specified that these are swamp coolers... So there's actual cool air being blown around.

Yes! That makes a big difference.