Thursday, July 12, 2012

How to Keep Chickens Cool in Hot Summer Temperatures

We are having a heat wave here. It is vital to keep chickens cool in summer heat.  Heat can be deadly for chickens so of course being a new chicken momma I am being very careful with my girls. 

ways to keep chickens cool in summer

When the afternoon heat hits I let them out of the run and flood there favorite shady area under this bench which is completely shaded most of the day. They walk through the water and this helps cool them down.


I just let the hose trickle so they have plenty of water to cool off in.


I keep these trays near them with cold water and frozen bottles to keep water cool. I also freeze two liter soda bottles to put in their hen house and help keep it cooler at night. So far, besides some panting they seem to be faring well. By the late afternoon they dig a spot in the damp soil and stay pretty still until it cools off.


I am also giving them an electrolyte in their water that I found a recipe online from Fresh Egg's Daily. A couple times a day I give them ice and frozen fruit and veggies. Just anything that is getting old I toss in the freezer to put in their water tray. Normally of course they don't get this much attention but when it hits 102 I don't want to risk a chicken dying after all the raising I have been doing. I need some eggs soon so I am caring for my investment umm I mean chickens.


22 comments:

  1. you are a wonderful chicken momma, I show my husband photos of your chickens when ever you post them, its such a refreshing treat to this old farmers eyes,

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  2. oh I forgot to say, I hope your dreadfully hot temperatures end soon, it must be horrid to try and work in this heat, does your husband work outside? If so tell him I will try and send some cool Northern Ontario air your way, our temperatures are hot too though but our hot is nothing like your hot!

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  3. You are a good chicken Mama! I sometimes set a mister up for them. But they have lots of shade here. If they are in distress, I put them in cool water.
    XO Kris

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  4. ha! I love these ideas... my chickens too, like to lie down in the cool dirt under the shade trees.
    I hadn't thought of electrolytes in the water. Going there to check out the recipe...thanks!

    Pat

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  5. Will be checking out that electrolytes recipe, too! Who knew - my chickens love to mess around in the water, too, and dig holes in the mud to lay in! I feel your pain in this heat! We get that nearly every year here in Texas!

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  6. We know that the chickens are no investment...they are your babies and pets!! and naturally you are caring for them like that...I am sure in chicken love, they are crazy about you!!

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  7. Wow! They're a lot of work...like having kids! LOL! Even my dogs aren't that much trouble. But then the dogs come inside to the ac with me and they're never going to give me any eggs! LOL! I don't imagine you want the chickens inside though. We had triple digits but now we're staying in the 90's and without the humidity it's tolerable but I'm not out there working in it either. I go out early or late and water.

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  8. I've been watering down the run on hot days and mine seem to be fine. They were used to an overheated, overcrowded barn and my have developed a tolerance for it. You take really good care of you feathered friends! ~ Maureen

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  9. It is awful...this heat. You have great ideas to keep the chickies cool.

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  10. I do that too, and we added a mister to the garden area, since it uses little water and was cheap $8.00! It's also great when you're doing garden work. We try to conserve water since we're in high desert, and it keeps the water bill down...

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  11. Elaine, your chickens are lucky to have such an attentive momma (er, investor). I would guess the big chicken farms must have a/c in their places during heat like you are experiencing. The misters sound like good ideas! Ann

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  12. You can call them an investment, but I am quite sure they are also pets :)

    Great ideas to keep the little darlings cool!

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  13. You take superb care of your girls, Elaine! I wish I could get some. You have to have a special permit here. And right now, I couldn't hobble outside to care for them anyway...
    Brenda

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  14. You take good care of your girls.. We also have about 16 chickens an 1 rooster.. We had triple digit heat in the afternoons here for about a week.. It was horrible.. Everyday I made sure they had a bath to go in..Hope the heat wave breaks for you soon!
    Robyn :)

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  15. Wow, you sound on top of the situation. My cousin, who raises chickens for the past year on their farm, actually brought some of her hens into the house ... I'm going to send her your link so she can read what you did to help your chicks through the heat. Thanks for the info. Mary

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  16. I think I have my hubby talked into getting chickens! I'm learning alot! Sounds like you have pretty lucky chickens to have you so attentive to them!

    Tammy

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  17. What a great idea for keeping "the girls" cool. xo Diana

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  18. car loan

    Great job chicken mama. You did wonderful with taking care of your girls from the heat. Now, I think I would love to be chicken mama too. lol

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  19. you are taking care of your chickens! yes..it is so hot here too..I don't even want the kids to play outside!
    the heat wave will soon be over!

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  20. I love hearing about your chickens :)
    Hope it cools off ~

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  21. Those chickens must be pretty happy that they live with YOU :)

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