What to do about heat?

[ChickenThunderdome]

Here in NC an average summer is high 80s to high 90s with lots of humidity.
Our 9 week old chickens have shade under their coops and a small tin roof covered portion of their cage run. However I've noticed our houdans and a couple easter eggers have been walking around with their beaks open, even one houdan spread out on ground.

We have a couple small solar powered fans I plan on adding to the underside of the coops(where they hang when its hot) but unsure if that'll be enough?

I'm sure pre electricity times chickens did fine without this pampering but I don't want any of them to die.

 

[Daisy Minotaur]

How big is the run does it have any bushes etc. in it. I know bushes and trees are a natural way to mitigate extreme temperatures and humidity my ducks tend to hang out under dogwood shrubs and a short maple tree when it’s particularly warm and sunny.

 

[gtaus]

...I'm sure pre electricity times chickens did fine without this pampering but I don't want any of them to die.

Different chicken breeds evolved in different climates. I live in northern Minnesota, and we have to get chicken breeds that withstand our cold winters, or have to provide expensive heat for the winter months. Your Houdans should tolerate heat very well. The Easter Eggers, from what I understand, can be a mix of any number of breeds. In any case, I would think shade cloth over the run would help. If you can keep the ground from heating up, that should really help. Also, judging by activities of our previous dogs, the ground is a lot cooler even 1 foot down, which is why our dogs continually dug holes all over the yard, in the shade, on those hot days. I also read somewhere that people would freeze large bottles of water and put them in a water pan to help keep the water temp cooler, at least for a period of time. There are companies that sell heated insulated chicken waterers to keep the water warm, but I would imagine those same insulated waterers would keep the water cooler for longer, if that is what you want.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

How big is the run does it have any bushes etc. in it. I know bushes and trees are a natural way to mitigate extreme temperatures and humidity my ducks tend to hang out under dogwood shrubs and a short maple tree when it’s particularly warm and sunny.

My chickens always like to go underneath the bushes and the trees when it is really hot.

 

[Tiana's chickens]

We wet cold towels and hang them on the run. Have to wet the towels multiple times a day though

 

[aart]

We have a couple small solar powered fans I plan on adding to the underside of the coops(where they hang when its hot) but unsure if that'll be enough?

I would not blow warmer air under the coop.
Depending on the size of the coop, it's probably cooler under there anyway.

Peruse these threads for more info:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/60742386/?q=hot+weather&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

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.

I put out large shallow pans of ice cubes late afternoon, they walk in and sit on them and sip the water as it slowly melts...used to add water but they would gorge on too much too fast, I have seen a chicken suffer from an 'ice cream headache'. Tho they do get some frozen melon (rind only) on occasion, cold/frozen food is not the way to go, IMO.

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.

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 some space in your freezer:

 

[chkva]

Buy watermelon... I buy the smaller sugar baby ones and shove them in the freezer, on hot days I bring one outside and break it open. The chickens love it. I'm actually growing melon this year for them plus zucchini, squash, cucumber, and other water based veggies/fruit... I'll freeze them all in the chest freezer and give on warm days.

Take a Tupperware and fill it with water, drop berries in it. Put it in your freezer then when it's solid, pop it on the ground, in a bowl, or in a plate. It'll melt slowly and the chickens will get berries and cool water.

I make puddles on the ground about twice a day for my chicken, they run through them and kick their feet in them to cool themselves off.

You can freeze diced melon chunks too in baggies. I do about two cups in each bag and on hot days, I'll throw it out there for them.

My OE has a really hard time with the heat so I try to make sure I always have something cool outside for them. She's the only one who doesn't like the heat.