Warm Climate Summers

[MooresonaMission]

You all are always so helpful so maybe you can help me stop stressing... we are in the South and it’s starting to get rather warm. It was 92 today. Do I need to do anything to help keep them cool? I have 8 hens and they have been laying at least 6 eggs per day. Today they only laid 2. I’m thinking it’s because it’s getting hot, but I don’t know how to keep them cool. We built the coop to have a 4x8 space of shade all the time and the whole coop has a roof for shade for midday sun. I’ve been giving them fresh water each day. They don’t get out a whole lot, because we aren’t home much and my kids worry too much about predators, but when we get them out they go into the bushes.
When it starts to actually be summer heat here, what do I do to keep them cool? Do I even need to worry about it? I am sure there are people with chickens in warmer climates, so what do you all do? My kids suggested a pool, but I think they could drown in a kiddie pool... so I haven’t put that out yet.
Thanks for any help!

 

[BlueBaby]

As long as they have lot's of ventilation for air to pass through, and lot's of water they should be ok. Also, adding a pan of water of some sort that they can stand in can help as chicken's cool off through their feet it seem's. If there is enough room in there, a small misting system can be put in for the higher heat temperatures. It can be set up to run on a timer. I live out here in the desert where the summer temp's can reach 118-F.

 

[MooresonaMission]

As long as they have lot's of ventilation for air to pass through, and lot's of water they should be ok. Also, adding a pan of water of some sort that they can stand in can help as chicken's cool off through their feet it seem's. If there is enough room in there, a small misting system can be put in for the higher heat temperatures. It can be set up to run on a timer. I live out here in the desert where the summer temp's can reach 118-F.

Thanks! I can add a pan of water. We have the hose right out there so that’s easy. And I’ll have the hubs work in a misting system.

 

[Mrs. K]

Check the shade position at 4:00 all through the summer. That is generally the hottest part of the sun, and very often shade earlier in the day is gone. I too am in a dry climate, and have a sandy soil. I will take down a gallon jug and just soak an area in the shade. They will often dig it up and take a "mud" bath.

But most important is Water and Shade. Most animals can generally take heat if they have shade and water.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

My birds are confined with no great deep shade for last half of the day so I have to be vigilant during heat waves. I do have shade cloths up on run, which helps, but still not deep shade.

To help cool down the coop I also have a box fan in the east window of coop, where it's shady most the day, and turn it on late afternoon...blows cooler air into coop and pushes hot air out.

To determine heat stress levels I go by activity level, if panting and wing holding seems extreme, I throw out a few treats to see if everyone is moving well.

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves, it really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.

Make space in your freezer!

 

[Acre4Me]

great suggestions above - shade and water!

Also, not sure what your breeds are, but having breeds that are not so heavily feathered is another way to meet the challenges. We have two black Jersey Giants, and they are not only large in size, but they are very heavily feathered with an amazing amount of very fluffy feathers underneath. However, there are several breeds that can be considered heavily feathered.

We will freeze watermelon rind, and put it out in the afternoon, and they peck it clean. We also fill their drinking water with ice cubes, so they cool the water that they are drinking. They run to the water when we come out with the ice cubes!

Ventilation fans can be installed to circulate the air, and can be attached to a thermostat, so they turn on at a certain temperature. We have a thermostat for the winter (for a doubly secured heat lamp), and put the associated thermometer at roost level. This thermostat also has an outlet to plug in a cooling apparatus (like a fan) so I could use it for both heating and cooling at the same time (and apparently these thermostats are popular for home brewers). However, our coop is fully behind the barn and is fully shaded by 2pm, so we haven't needed to put in a cooling fan. Also, there are roof vents that will turn due to rising heat or the wind, and will pull hot air up and out of the coop.

Good Luck and stay cool!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Thanks! I can add a pan of water. We have the hose right out there so that’s easy. And I’ll have the hubs work in a misting system.

Be aware that garden hoses leach lead unless they are made for potable water. Also, misting isn't going to help if you live in humid place.

 

[Acre4Me]

made for potable water.

As I needed to find a potable water hose last year, I found them in the RV section of Walmart. Just FYI, as I had to ask around to figure that out! There may be garden hoses that are ok too, but the label would have to state that fact.

 

[IamRainey]

I'm with aart! Ventilation is key. You can't have too much.

Shade cloth can make a tremendous difference in hot climates. I double 80% shade cloth (they're rated from lightest shade to deepest) and attach it to my roof overhang. Then you want to elevate the other side as well so it doesn't cut down any saving breezes. Plant some uprights or lash it to nearby fences/trees/whatever you've got.

Box fans are also great on the bad days and, on the worst ones, you can get blocks of ice and place them in front of the fans for some impromptu air conditioning.

Make sure they have LOTS and LOTS of water. You can put some ice cubes and electrolytes in there too.

Wet down a portion of the run. And some people swear by absorbent pavers or cinderblocks sitting in water for evaporative cooling. I'm definitely going to give that a try this Summer. The people who do it report that their birds stand on them which makes sense since they cool from their feet.

Finally, (maybe this should have been first!) don't forget to do a bit of research on which breeds tolerate heat best.

 

[silkie10]

You all are always so helpful so maybe you can help me stop stressing... we are in the South and it’s starting to get rather warm. It was 92 today. Do I need to do anything to help keep them cool? I have 8 hens and they have been laying at least 6 eggs per day. Today they only laid 2. I’m thinking it’s because it’s getting hot, but I don’t know how to keep them cool. We built the coop to have a 4x8 space of shade all the time and the whole coop has a roof for shade for midday sun. I’ve been giving them fresh water each day. They don’t get out a whole lot, because we aren’t home much and my kids worry too much about predators, but when we get them out they go into the bushes.
When it starts to actually be summer heat here, what do I do to keep them cool? Do I even need to worry about it? I am sure there are people with chickens in warmer climates, so what do you all do? My kids suggested a pool, but I think they could drown in a kiddie pool... so I haven’t put that out yet.
Thanks for any help!

I always have found that frozen watermelon really helps. they enjoy it and it's great for keeping them cool. You could also spray them with the hose on mist whenever you think it's most hot. It's not much but it really helps for me.