what to do when it going to be 100 out

[jjthink]

OP, the temps you will be having are very hard on many chickens. Yes, there are exceptions but generally it's hard for them, so it's great that you posted. There are many great posts here on BYC with tips for cooling so you might want to use the 'search' feature up above.

A few things:

- - Fans, fans, fans, so the birds have the ability to access them at will but can also move away from them if they wish (some folks also add AC, as I did last summer when NJ landed on the sun with very few breaks from relentless heat and over-the-top humidity).
- - Shade, shade, and more shade.
- - Access to lots of cold water. I always provide more than one source in case the other gets knocked over somehow. By putting blocks of ice in the water it will stay cold longer. (e.g. you can freeze regular water in empty bottled water containers...)
- - Cold fruit treats at intervals if you can. You can, for example, freeze watermelon slices and put them out - they'll last a little longer starting out frozen.
- - If birds are panting a lot electrolytes can be added. If poultry electroltyes are not on hand, in a pinch a splash of Pedialtye or Gatorade on watermelon or anything else they'll eat...
- - No heavy food during the heat of the day
- - Ample ventilation in coop

The heat is headed east. Wish my feathered friends and I could out run it....
JJ

 

[chick on a stick]

I put ice in their water 3 times a day. I put frozen jugs of water in their run. And, I give them cold watermelon or cantaloupe for a treat. They also have plenty of shade.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

My gals have a patio to go under for shade. I put a 6 quart bucket of water with crushed ice under the patio. Also have cold water container their coop as well. DH added 2 rows of misters in the run and a window unit A/C in their coop in addition to their ceiling fan. We also have shade cloth covering the run. They also get cold watermelon and grapes.

New addition to coop A/C set at 80

This view is looking from their coop. The misters are on two beams misting downward. (pic taken prior to installing mister)

(This was the new gals "apartment" while integrating them with the established gals)

View from "apartment"

 

[Momaha]

Quote:
Momaha,

Can you post a pic of yours please?

Here ya go! Just by watching their behavior in the heat of the day, much like when they're chicks and we are judging brooder temp, they were doing so much better. They were up walking around, eating, chest bumping, etc. Not layed out panting looking like they are they are going pass out like before I added the mister. And we hit 104 yesterday.

 

[meowmmy65]

Love the coop pictures! I'm in Ohio and we've been unseasonably cool this summer. We often have 90 - 100 this time of year. Being new to chickens, I've appreciated learning how others are handling this so I can be prepared.

We picked almost 50 pounds of strawberries a few weeks ago, and I've got the tops in the freezer, waiting for a hot day. And we've already learned how much the girls love watermelon. Hadn't thought of freezing it, but it makes sense. I'm going to start looking for a mister when I'm out and about.

 

[KDK1]

Quote:
I bought one at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago ($10.) just to see if they would like it and they love it. One of the RIRs stands under it till she is dripping wet, litterally. She drinks the water that rolls off her wings.

 

[Momaha]

That's awesome! I tried it closer to their coop but with the wind the mist just floats out of their coop.

 

[Cadjien_De_Louisiane]

Quote:
x2

 

[rufus]

What do we do when it is going to be hundred outside? Celebrate! It is already 117 in my backyard.

My sprinklers go off twice a day and that saves my chickens. They spend the day hiding under the citrus trees. They love to lay in the damp soil.

With lots of water and shade, your chickens will make it. I hope you do too.

Rufus

 

[ParadiseChickens]

Quote:
Momaha,

Can you post a pic of yours please?

Here ya go! Just by watching their behavior in the heat of the day, much like when they're chicks and we are judging brooder temp, they were doing so much better. They were up walking around, eating, chest bumping, etc. Not layed out panting looking like they are they are going pass out like before I added the mister. And we hit 104 yesterday.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83267_mister.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83267_mister2.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83267_mister3.jpg

Hope yours works better than the one we bought just like this. It lasted 1 day and then clogged up and wouldnt work, we took it back. I am in Texas and sure could have used it for both horses and chickens. My chickens have it better than the horses tho, chickens have a fan in their insulated coop and shade cloth on their run. I take frozen jugs out around noon. They lay quietly in the late afternoon but other than that, they seem to be doing ok.