Combating the heat in the chicken coop
Wowza it sure is hot outside and that means its time to keep your favorite feathered friends cool. Trying to keep them cool can not only be a bit of a stressful pain but it is super important. Some breeds are better in the heat than others but all appreciate and need ways to cool off in this weather. Heat stroke is a serious thing to watch out for in your flock. I have a few tips and tricks im doing for my flock this summer to keep them cool.
Frozen Snackies
This is probably their favorite and its easy to do! I take a silicone mold (Bundt pan, popsicle mold, ice cube mold) and fill it with water and some yummy treats such as frozen peas, carrot shreds, meal worms, grubs, frozen fruit ( strawberry, blueberry, raspberry) and I freeze it overnight. In the morning I take one of the aluminum feed trays and put about 1/2" of water in it and then add the frozen snacks in it. it does melt early on but it keeps them cool for a while.
Frozen Water Bottles
I took a few water bottles that we were going to throw out and put sink water in it and froze it, taking the label wrap off of it. I put one in their main waterer everyday that its going to be hot to keep the water chilled.
Ice Cubes
I often times will add ice cubes to their snackie tray or in their secondary waterers to try to keep those cooled off for them. The ice cubes in the tray sometimes they will peck them as well keeping them chilled.
Fans, Fans, Fans
You get a fan, and you get a fan, EVERYONE gets a fan! But seriously I have multiple fans for my coop and run. I have one standard box fan I have zip tied to the run that i keep on high. At night i also have 2 rechargeable battery operated fans that I run every night blowing on them to help keep them cool.
Misters
Misters are glorious for everyone in this heat but your chickens sure will appreciate them. They have different options for misters- ones that connect to a hose is the most common one. For me I don.t have close access to the hose for my coop and we also have well water so I didn't want to have water going all day. I needed a solution, so i found a rechargeable one that connects to a small bucket with a hose thats attached to the fan and it blows a cool mist. I actually use just the fan part in the coop at night as well!
Sun Shade Curtain
Shade is super important for your chickens. Its always recommended to try to build your coop along tree lines for natural shade and I know some folks don't have that option. Even if you do and you built in shade this still pertains to you! Your going to want to make sure your run is covered especially if you don't free range (I don't free range, we have way too many predators in our woods). You can cover it with a durable tarp, completely build a roof over it or use patio shade roofing panels. But on top of all of that I'm adding an additional suggestion- a shade curtain! Their pretty inexpensive online and you can hang it on the side of the run where the sun tends to blaze in.
Electrolytes
Now too much of a good thing is bad, okay? But electrolytes are great when your having consecutive days of hot weather. I wouldn't offer it everyday, maybe 1-2x during the heat stretch. I also recommend having additional cool water that has no electrolytes added so they have that option as well. Some great options are the HydroHen electrolytes and probiotics, Rooster Booster electrolytes and vitamins, and Grubbly Farms electrolytes and vitamins.
Ventilation
SUPER important and the thing I'm struggling with most! But I will share what I've done thus far. Chickies are super susceptible to respiratory diseases which is one major reason you need ventilation. Their poos create a ton of ammonia in the air which isn't good for anyone to breathe in. Plus chickens are dusty creatures! So keep those coops clean clean clean!!! But back to ventilation, I personally use a resin shed for our coop and the ventilation stinks in it! The size we got had 2 non-functioning windows on the front double doors and 2 small vent screens in the front and back. That was for sure not enough! So we added a small shed window next to the their roost bars and sh*t shelf that I'm leaving open completely. I may eventually add an additional fan on the opposite side facing into the run for a cross breeze. Also exhaust fans are essential! I had one I ordered online that was absolutely awful. I don't have power out in my coop (if your building and have the option to add electric- DO IT!). The original fan, although having decent reviews, did not work for more than 1 minute. It was useless. I ordered it because it was solar and came with a battery backup so it could run at night when I needed it most. So that one went back and I ordered a bigger one from another place that is solar with battery backup and so far its working great! I put this behind the roost bars. But moral of the story add more ventilation you cant have too much! PS- if you have windows in your coop make sure you have 1/4' hardware cloth over the screen to protect your babies from any predator trying to get a snack at night.
Thermometer/Hygrometer
I have a digital Govee hygrometer thermometer inside the coop that tells me the temp and humidity on the coop and also connects to my phone so I can digitally see it. This is great but my one complain is that I can only know the temp in the coop from my app when I'm actually home, it doesn't tell me when i'm away from home. But having something like this is essential all year because your flock is very much effected by the temperature
Splash Pads
If you have larger breeds of chickens a kiddie pool is a great way for them to dip there feet in and cool off. I would add pavers and bricks in it for them to stand on. I would also put some on the outside and against the side inside so they can get out and in especially if you have bantam breeds. Chickens can easily drown so its a good idea to not make the water too deep and have the stepping stones as mentioned. If your a little panicky like I am I just take another one of the aluminum feed pans and put water about half full for them to drink and stand in.