Ways to keep chickens cool in summer? With the end of spring comes summer creeping in its glorious form. For most of us summertime is the most memorable and fun-packed moment. Never to forget due to the fantastic weather and also summer means holidays for most countries. Chickens, however, do not share in this excitement as summer is a horror show for them.
Chickens usually struggle under the heat, and in places where the temperatures exceed 32oC. Your chickens will have a hard time adjusting to these conditions. In this article, we will focus on how you can identify. When your chickens are feeling the heat more intensely and offer a solution to this problem. You will find that this article will provide you with 7 ways you can choose to practice to keep your chickens cool in summer . Ensure that your birds feel comfortable in the summer heat. Let’s begin.
What are the Signs of Heat Stroke in Chickens?
Different breeds of chicken find it easier to deal with the heat than other breeds. An example being the Black Minorcas. Still, when the temperatures exceed 27oC, it will not matter which chicken breed is affected; they will not handle the heat.
And they do suffer, and the suffering ranges from going off lay and in extreme cases. Heatstroke in chicken can lead to death. You will start noticing that when the temperatures exceed 32oC, the egg production will begin dropping and halt when the temperature reaches 38oC and above.
When proper measures are not taken with the heatstroke problem, you will notice your birds showing off the following signs;
- Lying on the ground and spreading their wings
- Consuming less food
- Their beaks wide open most of the time
So now, let look at the 7 ways to keep your chickens cool in summer and ensure constant production of eggs.
Read my other article on chicken egg colors.
Feeding Your Chickens Frozen Feed
The first step to do is to feed your chickens’ frozen feed. Chickens enjoy a variety of fruits, including apples, pineapples, bananas, strawberries, and watermelons. You can chop these fruits into small partsand put them in a freezer. It will take a couple of hours, and once frozen, you can feed your birds straight away.
Yogurt can be a good source of food for your birds, and they will really enjoy it if you make it a habit of mixing it with the fruits. Plain yogurt will do just fine and should be combined with frozen fruits inside.
Always ensure to feed your birds with the right food during the heatwave. Avoid feeding your chickens with diced or scratch corn since the digestion of maize takes longer in chickens and will result in the rise of body temperature.
Ensure Your Chickens Drink Water that is Iced
This is easier said and done, and the water supply should be chilled to keep your chickens cool in the summer. During this time, you should replace the drinkers with shallowdishes spreading them throughout their pen so that your birds are always near water. The advantages of using shallowbowls are that they allow for easier refilling during the day, which keeps the chickens cool since chickens drink water occasionally.
Also, ensure that the dishes are kept in shades and add ice cubes at midday to maintain the coolness of the water.
Employ a Misting Attachment
Employing a misting attachment for your birds will be of big help to them. You can use it for your hose and hanging it down on top of your pen, or if you like on top of a tree branch, then leave it on during the day.
This will reduce the ground temperature drastically to about 15oC. if the weather conditions do not exceed temperatures above 26oC, you do not have to use this method
Give Your Chickens Adequate Shade
Adequate shade for your birds will help them survive the heatwave. If they lack a proper shade, it is common to see chickens digging in nesting boxes or in the ground if the birds stroll your compound from time to time. They do this try and get beneathto try and cool themselves.
Free-standing parasols can be an excellent choice for your birds, and they are cheap as well. During the summer, you can set the parasols up, and you will notice the chickens will occasionally hide belowat midday when the temperatures are at their peak.
Ensure Chicken Coops are Well Ventilated
If you are located in hotter regions, you might be required to make the necessary modificationsto your birds’ coop, since it is most likely it is heating up before letting out your flock to their pen in the early morning hours.
To maintain a cool environment for your chicken coop, ensure that it is well ventilated. Moreover, the easiest way to make sure of this is to install a window leaving it somewhatopen when your flock has gone roosting. This will ensure that they get cool air during the night.
Conclusion
Different breeds of chicken find it easier to deal with the heat than other breeds, an example being the Black Minorcas. And your birds suffer ranging from going off the lay, and in extreme cases, heatstroke in chicken can lead to death. Always ensure to feed your birds with the right food during the heatwave and keep it frozen.
Also, ensure that your chickens drink chilled water to help in regulating their temperatures during the heatwave. Employ a misting attachment for your birds, which will help them keep cool. You can use it for your hose and hanging it down on top of your pen, or if you like on top of a tree branch, then leave it on during the day. Adequate shade for your birds will also help them survive the extreme heat.
To maintain a cool environment for your chicken coop, ensure that it is well ventilated. So there you have it now you have the knowledge that will keep your chickens cool in summer.
If you are interested in a DIY mini chicken coop read here.
